World Cup final half-time to last up to 25 minutes
The upcoming World Cup final will feature an extended half-time break of up to 25 minutes to accommodate a high-profile musical performance. This decision deviates from standard football regulations, which typically cap the interval at 15 minutes.
Why it matters
It highlights the increasing commercialization of major sporting events and the tension between traditional sports governance and entertainment-driven event management.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, The half-time show for last year's Club World Cup final took place on a stage constructed in the top tier of the New York New Jersey Stadium
The half-time break in Sunday's World Cup final is expected to last between 20 and 25 minutes.
An 11-minute Super Bowl-style show, co-headlined by Madonna, Shakira and K-pop boy band BTS, will take place during the interval at New York New Jersey Stadium.
While sources within World Cup organisers Fifa suggest the break will be around 20 minutes, it is understood that one option is for the normal 15-minute half-time break and then the planned 11-minute show.
The laws of the game, governed by Ifab (the International Football Association Board), state that players are entitled to a half-time break "not exceeding 15 minutes".
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