World Cup 2026: FIFA confirms 17-minute half-time break for Spain-Argentina final

FIFA has confirmed that the half-time interval for Sunday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium will last 17 minutes, ending speculation that the break would exceed half an hour because of the planned entertainment show.

The governing body informed the Spanish and Argentine football federations that the interval will be only two minutes longer than the standard 15-minute break.

The decision means players will spend an additional two minutes off the pitch despite a star-studded half-time show featuring Shakira, Madonna and Justin Bieber.

Music performances fit within revised schedule

According to FIFA, 11 of the 17 minutes will be allocated to the musical performances, while the remaining six minutes will be used for setting up and dismantling the stage, as well as carrying out routine pitch maintenance, including watering the playing surface.

Earlier reports had suggested the number of performances would push the half-time interval beyond 30 minutes, but FIFA has now dismissed those claims with its revised schedule.

Hydration breaks remain in place

While the half-time interval has been extended slightly, FIFA confirmed there will be no changes to the hydration breaks introduced during the tournament.

The cooling pauses have become a regular feature throughout the 2026 World Cup as teams continue to contend with the heatwave affecting several host venues.