FIFA plan to implement a 20-minute break for World Cup half time

FIFA plan to implement a 20-minute break for World Cup half time FIFA is planning to keep the World Cup final half-time break at around 20 minutes, even with a star-studded entertainment show planned for the occasion, The Athletic reports. The World Cup final will take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and will be the first to feature a half-time performance on the pitch. The show is expected to last around 11 minutes and has been described by FIFA as a major celebration that brings together football, music, and a wider social purpose.  The line-up has been put together by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. It is expected to feature global stars including Justin Bieber, Shakira, BTS, Madonna, Burna Boy, Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, and the PS22 Chorus.  Beloved characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets are also set to make appearances. FIFA has not officially confirmed the full length of the interval, but reports suggest organisers are working towards a total break of about 20 minutes.  This would be five minutes longer than the standard interval allowed under the Laws of the Game. According to the International Football Association Board (IFAB), half-time should not exceed 15 minutes unless the referee gives permission for it to be extended.  Longer breaks are uncommon in football, so players and coaches will have to adjust their usual routines before returning for the second half. Unlike the half-time show at the Club World Cup final last year, which took place on a stage built high in the stadium stands, the World Cup final performance will be held on the pitch itself.  Organisers will need to build and remove the stage quickly without delaying the start of the second half. This wouldn’t be football’s first extended half-time break. During the 2024 Copa America final, Shakira performed at Hard Rock Stadium during a half-time break that took 26 minutes. The World Cup final show will be produced by Global Citizen.  Reports indicate that the artists involved are performing without payment, with the event supporting FIFA’s Global Citizen Education Fund.  The initiative aims to raise $100 million to improve access to quality education and create more football opportunities for children around the world.