FIFA is choosing to follow the American sports style by changing its own rules. The World Cup final will feature a 30-minute halftime to make room for a Super Bowl- inspired halftime show during the Argentina vs Spain final.
The interval will include an 11-minute performance window from a legendary line-up including Justin Bieber, Shakira, Madonna, and BTS, along with the normal 15-minute mid-game analysis from the sports commentators.
Many fans of the sport have voiced their frustration on social media, saying the sport is leaning too much into American traditions. Meanwhile, others have expressed excitement about the strong lineup ready to take the stage.
Is Bieber Ready For The International Stage?
The World Cup final half-time show will mark Justin Bieber’s first major performance since headlining Coachella in April, where he performed both weekends.
In recent years, Bieber has stayed out of the spotlight, avoiding tours and live shows. His last tour, the “Justice World Tour” in 2022, ended early as he recovered from Ramsay Hunt Syndrome.
His Coachella appearances generated a lot of excitement, with fans even calling the event “Bieberchella.” However, some attendees felt he put little effort into the performance because he showed up wearing a baggy hoodie, long shorts, and a pair of boots.
The most controversial moment came when Bieber sat down in front of a laptop on stage. He connected with fans via a livestream chat and played clips of his music videos and performances from YouTube, essentially singing karaoke-style.
With the World Cup being a huge cultural moment globally and only happening every four years, Bieber probably knows he can’t sell everyone short with his performance since millions of eyes will be mostly on him.
“The FIFA World Cup brings the world together in a way nothing else can,” Bieber said in a statement. “I’m grateful to be part of this Halftime Show, and even more grateful knowing it’s already helping expand access to education for children around the world.”
There is no doubt about Bieber’s ability to entertain and put on a great show. He has been doing this for nearly 20 years and has completed many world tours. Since this is the first time a halftime performance is happening in the tournament’s history, we can only hope that he and the other star performers make it unforgettable.
Why Does Everyone Hate The FIFA World Cup Halftime Show?
Made as an agreement on contract by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which is the board that governs football matches around the world, World Cup players are mandated to have a half-time break that “doesn’t go past 15 minutes.”
The new 30-minute break has a negative impact on player welfare and safety because it results in a much longer period of inactivity. This was the reason given for not extending the halftime at previous World Cups.
The halftime show for the final will last 30 minutes, far longer than the break players typically get during high-level matches. International fans of the sport outside of the U.S. claim that the sport is slowly becoming Americanized.
Not only does the halftime show serve an entertainment purpose, but it also plays a major role in supporting the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which is working to raise $100 million to expand access to education and football for children around the world.
So far, the fund has raised more than $50 million and will receive $1 from every World Cup match ticket sold to support its fundraising efforts.
Justin Bieber’s performance will offer fans a memorable entertainment moment, but the 30-minute halftime show has also sparked worries about player safety because of the longer break.
This is the first time in World Cup history that a 30-minute halftime has been introduced. Now, we wait to see how fans react to it during the finals and whether FIFA will keep this change in future tournaments.
What's Your Reaction?
