Half-time for football match na time to grab drink, run go toilet, or dey yab referee. But for this year World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, for first time ever, e get half-time show wey go feature Madonna, Shakira, BTS, and Justin Bieber. The show go make break last up to 25 minutes, even when International Football Association Board (Ifab) talk say players dey entitled to maximum 15-minute stoppage.
The show go happen on Sunday night at MetLife Stadium for New Jersey. Fifa call am a landmark celebration wey dey join sport, music, and global impact. Some people dey ask if dis kind performance go soon become common for stadiums near dem, and whether fans really want am.
BBC and ITV go show the full half-time show, with pundits dey fill the gap while dem dey set up and take down the stage. For last year Club World Cup final wey Fifa organise for New Jersey, e get 24-minute half-time wey feature Coldplay, J Balvin, Doja Cat, and Tems.
Sports broadcaster Betty Glover, wey don dey cover World Cup across US for the last month, work for last year Club World Cup final for the same stadium. She tell BBC say there is a battle to get more Americans involved and fall in love with dis game. She say, e no be dia main sport, but as you dey walk around dey talk to people, more dey join.
James Massing, wey dey Live Nation and dey put together the World Cup final half-time show, tell BBC say expectation from fans don heighten for big sporting events. E say sports industry need to innovate because e dey compete with any other live experience like museum, theatre, or cinema. Massing, wey work for Super Bowl and Club World Cup final show, feel say adding musical performance make a final feel like a final.
While The Killers perform before Uefa Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain for May, e say you feel the energy for stadium peak. But British football content creator Ellis Platten no be fan of some initiatives for dis year World Cup, including half-time show and hydration breaks. Hydration breaks take place 22 minutes into each half, and some US networks use dem to show adverts.
Platten tell us say e get say the World Cup final be the most-watched event for world already, so e no think dem need to add these things. E say as football fan for stadium, by end of half time people dey restless. Platten, 28, don dey travel around host nations to watch World Cup games for the last month. E say e dey curious to see how half-time show affect the game.
Ifab don previously reject proposals to extend half-times beyond 15 minutes, citing concerns about player welfare and potential for injury after prolonged inactivity. Platten note say you almost have to make a sub at half time because of player welfare. E add say dem no dey think about that, dem just dey think say we fit get Justin Bieber on stage, but Messi dey World Cup final, e think e slightly more important.
Glover agree and say she no sure football need half-time show. She say the World Cup dis year feel very American, with plenty adverts and barely any analysis for US coverage. Massing say there is no compromise when e come to integrity of the sport, and player welfare be absolutely fundamental when dey organise half-time shows.
Coldplay Chris Martin don curate the World Cup final performance, and e go feature Nigerian star Burna Boy. According to Fifa, the acts no dey get paid, but the event go raise money for education fund. The show go conclude North American World Cup where celebrities don dey seen at every turn, from delivering match ball to waving for cameras after dey flash on big screens.
Musical performances for sports events no be new thing. American football Super Bowl don get half-time show since 1967. But for UK and Europe, uptake don dey slower. First musical performance for Champions League happen 10 years ago, while British Grand Prix start adding music to F1 offering for Silverstone three years ago. American sports appear to dey set precedent, as international NFL games for European cities don add specific half-time shows to all games for 2025.
Massing say wetin dey start happen na say plenty sports dey become more global. When that happen, e natural to try make that event be an occasion and a moment rather than a game. Platten fear say following Fifa move, half-time shows fit become part of domestic football, something e say go be unnecessary. Glover no too sure whether the concept go catch on, and she say she no fit imagine dis happening for Spain, Portugal, and Morocco for next World Cup. For her, if entertainment attract new fans without compromising the football itself, then e be positive thing.
