FIFA officially changed the rules of football during the World Cup final.
FIFA made a big change during the World Cup final by breaking a long-standing football rule after halftime.
After 39 days and 104 matches, the 2026 World Cup final began at 8:00 PM BST on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Spain and Argentina faced off, with star players Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi making history—they have the biggest age gap ever in a World Cup final, separated by 20 years and 19 days.
Before the match kicked off, big names like Post Malone, Tom Cruise, and IShowSpeed took part in the closing ceremony, as this World Cup included lots of new ideas for pre-match events. But the final went even further, featuring the first-ever halftime show in World Cup history!
Similar to the famous Super Bowl halftime performances, this show included music from huge stars like Justin Bieber, Shakira, Burna Boy, Madonna, BTS, and even the Muppets. Coldplay’s Chris Martin helped produce the event. Fans had mixed feelings—some were excited, while others were frustrated—but no matter what people thought, it definitely stirred up some controversy.
Traditionally, the halftime break in football lasts only 15 minutes. The official rule from IFAB (the International Football Association Board) says the break “should not exceed 15 minutes.” But with the big halftime show planned, the 2026 World Cup final went beyond this rule.
The performance itself lasted about 11 minutes, but setting up and taking down the stage meant the whole halftime break stretched to 27 minutes and 22 seconds—almost twice as long as usual.
This isn’t the first time a long halftime show has caused a break this long. At last year’s Club World Cup final, held at the same stadium, the halftime break was 24 minutes for a show featuring Doja Cat, Tems, and J Balvin. Shakira was part of a 26-minute halftime at the Copa America final in Miami.
Even though FIFA put together a star-studded show, many fans watching from home weren’t impressed. Lots took to social media to share their thoughts. One fan on X wrote, “That World Cup final intro was peak cringe. A Louis Vuitton box and Tom Cruise monologue? We were there for football, not a Hollywood ad.” Another said, “The worst closing ceremony ever. Even the fans look bored.”
Some also criticized Tom Cruise’s message about bringing the world together, pointing out issues fans and players had with traveling to matches during the tournament. One fan commented, “Brought the world together. You banned Iran from entering your country until game day and banned a referee from turning up.”
No matter what people think, this World Cup final halftime show definitely made history—and got everyone talking!