Argentina and Spain are one game away from winning the World Cup but on Sunday at MetLife Stadium, the victorious captain will be forced to wait longer than normal to lift the trophy.
Because, for the first time in history, FIFA has controversially decided to add a halftime show to the biggest game in global soccer.
Billions of fans will tune into Sunday’s game as Lionel Messi and Co bid to secure a second successive World Cup triumph. This year, however, Messi will be forced to share the stage with the likes of Madonna, Shakira and Justin Bieber as soccer is given a slice of the Super Bowl treatment.
As well as a halftime show, the World Cup final will also include a closing ceremony that will feature performances and appearances from Post Malone, Tom Cruise, Nicole Scherzinger, influencer IShowSpeed, Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, Robbie Williams and Italian singer Laura Pausini.
Cruise’s specific role is unclear, with FIFA describing it only as a ‘special appearance.’ But soccer chiefs say the ceremony s will pay tribute to all 48 nations from the tournament.
Here, the Daily Mail explains what viewers can expect at halftime.
Justin Bieber is among the music superstars performing during the halftime show on Sunday
Madonna is also among the headliners for the controversial show at MetLife Stadium
Donald Trump is set to attend the final and hand over the trophy with Gianni Infantino
WHO IS PERFORMING?
FIFA enlisted the help of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin to curate the show and back in May it emerged that Madonna, Shakira and K-pop band BTS would perform.
Bieber was recently added to the lineup, while Burna Boy will join Shakira on stage and Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel is also down to perform.
Coldplay will have their moment in the spotlight, too. Martin and Co will perform alongside the PS22 Chorus, an award-winning group of fifth graders from an elementary school in New York. Also among the lineup? Characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets.
‘For the first time ever, football, music and social impact will come together as the greatest show on Earth reaches its pinnacle,’ FIFA said.
‘[The] Halftime Show will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative aiming to raise $100million to expand access to quality education and football opportunities for children worldwide.’
FIFA provided a glimpse of what to expect at last year’s Club World Cup Final, when Martin put together another halftime show for Chelsea’s win over Paris Saint-Germain.
That took place up in the stands of MetLife Stadium but, 12 months on, Madonna and Co are expected to perform on the field.
Nicole Scherzinger and Tom Cruise will headline the World Cup closing ceremony on Sunday
Twelve months ago, FIFA hosted a halftime show during the Club World Cup final at MetLife
HOW LONG WILL IT LAST?
We shall see. The performance is expected to be wrapped up in 11 minutes but there has yet to be official confirmation about how long the entire circus will take.
Recently, however, reports claimed that soccer chiefs are hoping the show will last around 20 minutes. That is despite the sport’s lawmakers stating that halftime should not ‘exceed 15 minutes’ – unless ‘altered… with the referee’s permission.’
On Sunday, Messi and Co look set to spend longer than normal in the locker room before returning for the second half.
That has raised concerns over injuries, while questions remain about how the process of erecting and dismantling the stage will affect the field.
Twelve months ago, at the Club World Cup final, halftime lasted nearly 25 minutes – despite the performance taking just 10 minutes.
Unlike last year, however, a stage will need to be put up and taken down on the field of MetLife Stadium. FIFA is also more squeezed for time than the NFL.
At the Super Bowl, halftime is typically extended to around half an hour – from 13 minutes in the regular season – to make room for the musical performance.
BTS, seen here in Mexico City, became the first K-pop group to receive a Grammy nomination
Bad Bunny performed the halftime show at Super Bowl LX between the Patriots and Seahawks
CONMEBOL put on a halftime show for the final of the 2024 Copa America in Miami. That performance, which also featured Shakira, saw Argentina and Colombia players wait 26 minutes before starting the second half.
World Cup games are already longer than normal thanks to FIFA’s controversial hydration breaks in each half.
WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING ABOUT IT?
Well, it is fair to say that Infantino’s decision to introduce a halftime show has been divisive and controversial.
The show’s executive producer, Guy Carrington, recently told The Hollywood Reporter: ‘We’ve spent months and months preparing this, developing it and working with all of the artists… it’s a carefully-curated performance that’s going to be spectacular.’
The FIFA president, meanwhile, said the artists will ‘play a key role in conveying a powerful message of unity and hope to billions of people worldwide.’
Infantino added: ‘As the world unites for the most significant football match in history… this groundbreaking spectacle, curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay, will celebrate football, music and our shared values, ensuring a legacy that transcends the final whistle.’
But the verdict of Robert Smith of The Cure was rather less effusive. ‘Please just f*** off,’ he said about the halftime show.
