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International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Clark Garret Alvarez

Did FIFA Break Its Own Rules? World Cup Final Halftime Duration Sparks Questions

Spain and Argentina are introduced before a packed MetLife Stadium crowd in East Rutherford, New Jersey, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on 19 July 2026. (Credit: FIFA World Cup/Facebook)

Questions have emerged over whether FIFA followed its own competition regulations after the halftime break during the 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain appeared to exceed the standard interval permitted under football's Laws of the Game.

The final, played on 19 July at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, featured FIFA's first-ever Super Bowl-style World Cup halftime show. While the performance itself reportedly lasted around 11 minutes, reports suggested the full interval stretched beyond 27 minutes, significantly longer than the traditional 15-minute break.

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