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FIFA has announced that Sunday’s World Cup final between Spain and Argentina will feature an extended 15-minute break to accommodate what is being described as an “action-packed” halftime show.

More details have now emerged about the celebration, which will feature stars including Shakira, Madonna, BTS, Burna Boy, Justin Bieber, and several others.

Fans previously speculated that FIFA drew inspiration from the Super Bowl. However, the show’s executive producer has dismissed the comparisons, insisting that the production was created as a global celebration.

FIFA Reveals Global Stars Performing At World Cup Final

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For the first time, the World Cup final will feature a global halftime show, borrowing a page from the American Super Bowl playbook.

FIFA announced in May that the show would feature performances from several major stars, including BTS, Madonna, and Shakira.

The football governing body later added more performers, confirming that Burna Boy and Justin Bieber would also feature alongside conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Choir featuring Coldplay.

The extensive lineup left some fans perplexed, with several speculating that the performance could eat into playing time and potentially affect the outcome of the match.

FIFA Producer Says Months Of Planning Went Into Show

The show’s executive producer, Guy Carrington, answered some of the lingering questions while sharing more details in a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter.

Carrington noted that the team has spent months perfecting the production to deliver a “spectacular” experience during what is projected to become the most-watched football match ever.

“Obviously, I’m not going to give anything away on the performance itself, but we’ve spent months and months preparing this, developing it and working with all of the artists,” he told the news outlet. “It’s a carefully curated performance that’s going to be spectacular.”

World Cup Show Will Feature Artists From Across The Globe

Carrington noted that the entire performance would be tightly packed into a highly coordinated mega mix, adding that several surprise elements remain in store for fans.

FIFA also prioritized global representation when selecting the performers, with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin overseeing the show’s bookings.

“This was always about bringing together the world’s top performers and creating a real moment of collaboration and unity,” Carrington said. “Chris wanted it to feel representative of the world, and so we have performers from all corners of the globe alongside these A-listers. It’s the idea of unity at a time when maybe things don’t feel as unified as they could be, and creating something fun.”

FIFA Takes Extra Steps To Protect Pitch For The Final

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To maintain the integrity of the pitch and prevent delays to the second half, Carrington said careful measures have been built into the production to ensure that the delicate natural grass is not damaged.

“We’re under no illusion that the priority here is the game,” he said. “We’ve done testing with cameras; we’ve done testing with the clothes people will wear. We’re going to lay out a big cloth over the pitch to protect the grass.”

Carrington continued, “We want to be careful that nothing could fall off anyone’s wardrobe. We want to make sure people’s footwear is lightweight; we’re considering how much time they spend in certain areas. All of our rehearsal process has been focused on making sure that we do a spectacular show, but we do it with zero impact.”

Fans had previously expressed concern that the spectacle could distract from the importance of the match and disrupt the atmosphere inside the stadium.

Weighing in on the concerns, Carrington said he had not heard much criticism. However, he reiterated that they were “here to create a show” and intended to do so with as “little impact physically on the final itself.”

World Cup Champions Will Receive Special FIFA Rings

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The halftime show is not the only first-time initiative being introduced during this year’s competition.

FIFA recently announced that the players who emerge as champions on Sunday will receive exclusive FIFA World Cup Championship rings alongside the iconic trophy.

One side of each ring will feature the World Cup trophy, while the other will be designed to represent the identity of the winning nation. As The Blast reported, a total of 1,996 additional rings have also been reserved for sale to fans.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump is expected to attend the final at the New York-New Jersey Stadium and join FIFA President Gianni Infantino in presenting the trophy to the winners. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Trump’s attendance, calling it “a fitting conclusion to a tournament that showcased America’s ability to host the world on the grandest stage.”

The FIFA Reveals First Ever 15-Minute World Cup Halftime Show first appeared on The Blast