The World Cup final has always been one of the biggest sporting events on the planet, but Sunday’s match between Spain and Argentina will be different from any that has come before.
Spain reached the final after beating France 2-0 in the last four, while Argentina edged past England 2-1 to book their place at New York New Jersey Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for Sunday 19 July at 3pm local time which is 8pm here in the UK. As well as deciding who will lift football’s biggest prize, the final will also feature the first official World Cup half-time show.
The idea has been introduced by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who has looked to bring a touch of the Super Bowl to football’s biggest stage. It means the usual 15-minute half-time break is expected to be extended to around 25 minutes to allow for a full live performance.
Fans watching at home won’t miss out on the action, with both the BBC and ITV showing the full half time show along with its regular analysis from pundits on either side of the performance.
View 2 ImagesSpain will take on Argentina for the World Cup trophy (Image: Getty Images)
The World Cup final half-time show has been curated by Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin, who has assembled a star-studded cast of co-headliners. Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, Burna Boy and K-pop group BTS are all set to take to the stage during the 11 minute performance.
Shakira and Burna Boy are expected to perform the tournament’s official anthem, Dai Dai, while Madonna’s appearance comes just weeks after the release of her latest number one album, Confessions II.
BTS will also perform following the group’s return to the world stage after its members completed South Korea’s compulsory military service, while Bieber joins the line-up after making headlines with his comeback performance at Coachella earlier this year.
The show has been put together by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and will also feature Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, the PS22 Chorus and appearances from characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets.
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It’s not just about entertainment, though. The performance is being staged in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which hopes to raise 100 million US dollars (£75 million) to improve access to education and football for children around the world.
Infantino has described it as a “groundbreaking spectacle” that will “celebrate football, music and our shared values, ensuring a legacy that transcends the final whistle”.
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There will also be entertainment before kick-off, with the tournament’s closing ceremony taking place 90 minutes before the match begins. The closing ceremony will feature Tom Cruise, Robbie Williams and Jennifer Hudson, who is set to preform the American national anthem.
Nicole Scherzinger, Laura Pausini and streamer IShowSpeed will also be apart of the closing ceremony.