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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Exclusive by Matt Hughes in Mexico City

TV rights holders frustrated over World Cup final half-time show delay

Tems, Doja Cat, Emmanuel Kelly, J Balvin and Coldplay perform at the 2025 Club World Cup final half-time show
Coldplay, whose lead singer Chris Martin will curate the World Cup final half-time show, performed at the 2025 Club World Cup final. Photograph: Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images

World Cup TV rights holders are growing increasingly frustrated at Fifa’s failure to confirm the length of the half-time show at next month’s final.

Madonna, Shakira and the K-pop boyband BTS have been booked to perform at the MetLife Stadium in the first half-time spectacle at a World Cup final, curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, who put in a surprise performance at last year’s Club World Cup final at the same venue when the break in play lasted 24 minutes.

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