The World Cup final is the most anticipated sporting event of the year, but there looks set to be some disruption at the MetLife Stadium
Justin Bieber will be performing in the show(Image: AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
The BBC and ITV are set to U-turn on their decision to not show the World Cup final half-time show. England face Argentina tomorrow evening for a place in Sunday’s show-piece clash at the MetLife Stadium, where Spain await after they beat France.
If Thomas Tuchel does guide the Three Lions past the defending champions to reach the England men’s first World Cup final since 1966, the German may have longer than usual for his half time team talk. The show, which will feature the likes of Coldplay, Justin Bieber and Shakira, is anticipated to last between 25 and 30 minutes.
The International FA Board (IFAB) state a half time break cannot be longer than 15 minutes due to concerns about player welfare, but FIFA ignored the rule at the Club World Cup final last year. There was a 25-minute half time break in the clash between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.
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When Bieber was confirmed as one of the A-List names for the show, the BBC and ITV were expected to not show the concert, instead focusing the full 15-minute period on analysis and highlights. However, with the break expecting to take a lot longer, this is now not believed to be the case.
With the break expected to be longer, it’s understood there will be time to broadcast the entertainment while also including ample time for analysis. While music fans may be happy with the news, the IFAB will not be impressed.
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Football’s law-making authority, rejected a proposal from South American confederation CONMEBOL to extend the half-time break to 25 minutes, citing “negative impact on player welfare and safety resulting from a longer period of inactivity”.
This half-time event appears certain to exceed the 15-minute limit stipulated by the IFAB. A FIFA spokesman said: “Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber and BTS will co-headline the historic FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show. The performance will be curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay and broadcast live to millions of fans around the world.”
Considering the many changes which have been made for this tournament, many England fans may not be amused. Before the tournament, FIFA imposed ‘hydration breaks’ to take place at the halfway point of each half, typically the 22nd or 67th minute.
These have been greeted with boos by fans within the stadium, with many claiming they have divided the match into four quarters instead of two halves. The longer break at half time may feel unusual for the managers in the final.
They could have as long as 30 minutes to deliver their instructions instead of 15. Tuchel will certainly be hoping he will be the one delivering the team talk, as it would mean England have defeated Argentina in the semi final.
The Three Lions take on the South Americans on July 15th with the clash kicking off at 8pm.
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