FIFA trims World Cup final halftime spectacle to 17 minutes

FIFA announced Vandaag at 07:07 that the halftime show for the WK-finale between Spanje and Argentinië has been dramatically shortened, cutting the planned near‑half‑hour spectacle to just 17 minutes. The decision follows criticism and means the entertainment will be far more limited than initially promised.

Initially the programme was set to run almost thirty minutes, featuring performances by Shakira, Madonna and Justin Bieber, which would have filled the entire half‑hour slot. Such a length would have far exceeded the fifteen‑minute halftime allowance stipulated by FIFA regulations.

FIFA’s own rules state that a match break may only last fifteen minutes. The original plan therefore conflicted with the governing body’s timetable.

Gianni Infantino wanted the World Cup’s pause to match the grandeur of many Amerikaanse sports spectacles, where elaborate halftime shows are common. He envisioned a show that would rival those seen in the United States.

After the backlash, FIFA confirmed the halftime entertainment will now be limited to seventeen minutes. The musical portion has been reduced to eleven minutes, with the remaining six minutes allocated to stage assembly and field spraying.

Even with the reduction, the show remains officially two minutes longer than the fifteen‑minute limit. This slight overrun still places the entertainment beyond the permitted break duration.

The tournament continues, and fans can follow the WK 2026 coverage, including schedules, results and statistics, on the dedicated WK page. Further information about the event is available through the VI guide and weekly publications.