The World Cup final half-time show was always likely to prove controversial.
Entertainment during sporting events might be something that American audiences are used to but they are seldom used in Europe, Africa, Asia and South America.
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With the World Cup final being staged in the US, however, FIFA have decided there will indeed be a half-time show on Sunday July 19.
Indeed, Justin Bieber will perform at half-time during the World Cup final, in an event that is set to break the laws of the game.
World Cup final show could exceed half-time rules in soccer
According to The Athletic, FIFA hope the show will not exceed 20 minutes when it had previously been claimed it would only last 11 minutes.
Other reports from The Times, however, suggest that the break could last as long as 30 minutes, quite literally double the amount of time the rules state that half-time should be.
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) state that half-time should only last 15 minutes, meaning a show running for longer than that would quite literally break a long-standing rule in the sport.
A stage will be erected on the field after both teams have left it once 45 minutes plus stoppage time have been played during the World Cup final, so it will have to be removed too.
Rule 7.2 of IFAB’s guide states: “Players are entitled to an interval at half-time, not exceeding 15 minutes; a short drinks break (which should not exceed one minute) is permitted at the interval of half-time in extra time. Competition rules must state the duration of the half-time interval and it may be altered only with the referee’s permission.”
There was a half-time show during the Club World Cup final between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain last year and it ran for 24 minutes.
Shakira performed at half-time during the 2024 Copa America final in Miami between Colombia and Argentina, which saw both teams wait for around 26 minutes before they could enter the pitch.
Spain will officially be one of the teams impacted by this after they booked their spot in Sunday’s final by beating France 2-0 in Miami.
Old rivals England and Argentina meet in Atlanta on Wednesday to earn the right to face the European champions in New Jersey.
Bieber will be joined by the likes of K-pop group BTS, Shakira and Madonna. FIFA say it will help generate revenue for their Global Citizen Education Fund, which is hoping to raise $100m to support children worldwide.
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