FIFA makes final decision in U-turn on World Cup final half-time show
It's World Cup final day and if we're lucky there might be time for a game of football amidst the pomp, ceremony, hydration breaks and the half time show.
Spain vs Argentina is the spectacle everybody wants to see, but when the players take a bit of a rest at half time the fans will be treated to the spectacle of seeing various performers do their thing all over the pitch.
The likes of Justin Bieber, Shakira, BTS, Madonna and Burna Boy will be making the most of whatever time they have on the pitch to perform, and FIFA has made a call on how much time that'll be.
Half time isn't supposed to last longer than 15 minutes and there'd been a lot of concern that the World Cup half time show was going to go all Super Bowl on us and stretch to about half an hour.
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Fortunately, according to Metro, FIFA have told the countries competing in the final that it's going to be a 17 minute break so it'll still be in breach of the rules but won't be quite as ridiculous as half a chuffing hour.
Apparently the acts performing during half time will have a grand total of 11 minutes to do their thing, while a further six minutes will be dedicated to constructing and dismantling the stage they'll do it on.
While the players surely appreciate the rest they get at half time, having it go on for too long is a dangerous thing as a longer period of inactivity risks the footballers damaging their bodies in the second half.
You're meant to warm up your muscles before you play sport and if you sit still for too long you'll cool down again, increasing the risk of injury.
Half time is already going on longer than it should, but FIFA will be hoping that a couple of minutes extra won't cause too much trouble.
The show will be available to watch on BBC and ITV, the UK's broadcasters had previously indicated they wouldn't be showing it but they are now going to screen it.
World Cup final halftime show artists ranked by their net worth
FIFA has put on an absolutely packed halftime show, with Shakira, Madonna, Justin Bieber and BTS co-headlining.
But onto the most important question: whose bank account is the healthiest…?
Here they are, ranked from very rich to very, very, very rich.
Gustavo Dudamel - $10 million
One of the lesser-known faces in the halftime show, Dudamel is a conductor and violinist who is leaving the Los Angeles Philharmonic for the New York Philharmonic in September.
Long story short, he’s not the kind of guy you’d expect to perform alongside Shakira and Justin Bieber.
According to Sportskeeda, he’s worth $10 million.
Burna Boy - $22 million
The Afrobeats artist has collaborated with Ed Sheeran, Dave and Shakira on hit songs, the latter being the 2026 World Cup anthem ‘Dai Dai’.
He’s worth a cool $22 million, according to Love Money.
BTS - $150 million to $350 million collectively
Recently back from a hiatus after completing compulsory military service, the K-pop group’s inclusion in the halftime show is sure to delight many.
Of the seven members, V is said to be the wealthiest, worth between $38 million and 40 million according to the Economic Times.
Collectively, they’re worth between $150 million and $350 million.
Justin Bieber - $200 million
Bieber made a generational comeback earlier this year at Coachella, marking his biggest live show in four years - and it certainly got everyone talking.
Is the World Cup ready for his laptop and YouTube Premium account?
He’s worth $200 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth, which happens to be the sum he sold his music back catalogue for back in 2023.
Shakira - $350 million
Her hips don’t lie, and neither do her paycheques. Shakira is the most successful Colombian artist in history, shifting over 100 million records worldwide.
Alongside Burna Boy, she’s responsible for the 2026 World Cup song ‘Dai Dai’, and who could forget 2010’s ‘Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)’ for the South Africa World Cup.
She’s said to be worth $350 million, according to Marca.
Madonna - $850 million
Madonna is one of the wealthiest female musicians in history, with her latest album Confessions II dropping this month and naturally debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart.
With hits including ‘Like a Prayer’, ‘Papa Don’t Preach’ and ‘Like a Virgin’, it’s no surprise she’s absolutely rolling in it - she’s worth $850 million, according to Forbes.
Joe Harker