The halftime interval during Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina is expected to last longer than 15 minutes to accommodate the tournament’s first-ever halftime entertainment show, according to broadcasting sources.
Sources told Reuters that setting up the stage for the 11-minute performance will take about seven minutes. One source said dismantling the equipment and clearing the pitch before the second half will “probably” require a similar amount of time.
The Laws of the Game, set by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), state that players are entitled to a halftime interval “not exceeding 15 minutes”. FIFA’s World Cup regulations, however, state that players are entitled to a “15-minute interval” without repeating the IFAB wording that the break cannot exceed that duration.
FIFA did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for clarification on the expected length of the halftime interval or how the planned entertainment show would comply with the regulations.
The performance will mark the first halftime show in the history of a FIFA World Cup final. It adds another feature commonly associated with major American sporting events to the tournament, which has already introduced mandatory hydration breaks and, for the first time, championship rings for the winners.
