FIFA to Debut Halftime Show at World Cup Final, Sparking Debate

The FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain on Sunday will feature the first-ever halftime show, a musical performance lasting 11 minutes. The event, curated by Coldplay's Chris Martin, will include Madonna, Shakira, BTS, Justin Bieber, and Sesame Street and Muppet characters. Traditionalist football fans criticize the move as an Americanization of the sport, arguing it disrupts the sacred pause. Concerns include potential damage to the MetLife Stadium pitch and extended halftime beyond the regulation 15 minutes. The only precedent is the 2024 Copa América halftime show, which lasted 7 minutes but extended halftime to 26 minutes. The Super Bowl halftime show tradition, dating back to the early 20th century with college marching bands, was revolutionized by Michael Jackson in 1993. Recent Super Bowl shows by Bad Bunny and Kendrick Lamar drew about 130 million viewers each.