🕺 Not 30 minutes: what the World Cup final half-time will be | OneFootball

🕺 Not 30 minutes: what the World Cup final half-time will be | OneFootball

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·17 July 2026

🕺 Not 30 minutes: what the World Cup final half-time will be

Article image:🕺 Not 30 minutes: what the World Cup final half-time will be

FIFA has resolved one of the biggest mysteries surrounding the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium. After rumors suggested a break of more than half an hour due to the musical performances, the governing body officially announced that halftime will last only 17 minutes, just two more than the usual regulation time.

Brief music and pitch care

The organizers specified that the highly anticipated performances by Shakira, Madonna, and Justin Bieber will take up a total of 11 minutes. The remaining time, around 6 minutes, will be strictly allocated to the operational work of setting up and dismantling the stage, as well as watering the pitch. This last point is especially important for the Spanish delegation, concerned about the dryness and slowness the New York surface has shown in previous matches.


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Hydration breaks will remain in place

The short break will not alter the health protocols established for the tournament. Due to the high temperatures reported throughout the competition, the usual two hydration breaks will remain in place, scheduled midway through each half.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.


📸 Kevin C. Cox - 2026 Getty Images

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