World Cup announces mega-star half-time show line-up – but will it go over 15 minutes?

Global superstars Madonna, Shakira, and South Korean boy band BTS will headline the inaugural World Cup final half-time show - leading to fears the customary 15 minutes break could be extended. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, who curated the landmark performance, revealed the line-up via a social media video featuring characters from Sesame Street and the Muppets. The event is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who announced plans last March, also shared details on Instagram. This unprecedented spectacle could see the final's half-time interval extend beyond the customary 15 minutes. The show will be staged in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative working to raise 100 million US dollars to expand access to education and football for children around the world.

Half-time entertainment has become a major feature of sporting events in the United States, notably during the Super Bowl. Madonna headlined the Super Bowl half-time show in 2012, while Shakira shared the stage with Jennifer Lopez at the event in 2020. Last summer, FIFA staged a half-time show at the MetLife Stadium during the Club World Cup final, when Chelsea beat Paris St Germain 3-0.

Shakira performs at the closing ceremony prior to the FIFA World Cup Final at the Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janerio, Brazil (PA) This week it was confirmed that the Trump administration will not require fans from certain countries with tickets to ⁠the soccer ​World Cup ⁠to pay expensive bonds to enter the ⁠United States, the Associated Press ​reported ⁠on Wednesday, citing ‌the U. S. State Department.