They’ve just announced there will be a half time show at the final.
Which is hardly among the most egregious problems with the upcoming world cup. But it’s still dumb. Who wants a longer half time? And who wants to see their favorite act play at half time in the world cup final? Like “oh wow my favourite singer of all time Madonna is playing, but I don’t give a crap because my team is defending a one goal lead and is 45 minutes from being world champions. Can we just get on with the game!”
I (an American) completely agree. Let’s face it, Americans have no idea how to televise proper football. The game itself is inimical to the gridiron football model they are used to because there is no room for commercial breaks during actual play. So the corporate TV wankers came up with this dumbshit idea, which only happened in gridiron football so they could draw in viewers who aren’t interested in the game. I also think the choice of the acts participating is pandering. I mean I love Shakira, but save it for after the game.
As a side note - living 45 minutes from MetLife stadium is not enough to get me to spend one red cent in today’s geopolitical/economic environment on the World Cup. In 1994 I got myself a gig as a translator so I could go to games, and I suppose with some digging in my address book I could have done so again, but I don’t want to be anywhere near that stadium. Even with Shakira (whom I have an undying crush on).
Football fans outside of the US mostly won’t care. They’ll go for a bathroom break, take up a drink and have chatter with other people about the game, while turning down or completely muting the TV sound in half time.
It has generated considerable indignation here, and I think it’s justified.
Imagine you are losing 1-0 the WORLD CUP FINAL*, halftime comes, now you have to wait for 35 minutes while some idiotic song and dance number runs for the entertainment of who knows what? It’s enough to drive people to violence.
The half time of the World Cup Final is, if your team is playing it, to go to the bathrom, drink some water to avoid dying and sit again. 15 minutes is plenty to do that, more is torture.
(Of course I’m not particularly worried because we are not going to be there, I see a discret and respetable exit in the round of 8 for us)
*I like that in Argentina sometimes we say “La final del mundo” which means the same but it can also be translated as “The end of the world”
OMG, I wasn’t aware that the half time break would be prolonged to more than 30 minutes! That’s really a joke, and has never happened in football ever. And I hope it won’t happen ever again after this final. I’m really pissed, I was already torn between ignoring or just barely watching this WC, but now I think even the final will be not worth watching.
Now I’m doubting myself, definitely It will be more than 15 minutes, but I’m not sure if 35 or 25.
A shitty thing anyway.
It happened in the last Copa America, where it was 25 minutes. 
Anyway, it’s too long. The players are kind of programmed for a 15 minute break.
EXACTLY
Me too. I was thinking like pushing out to 20 maybe 25 minutes. Which would suck, but 35 minutes FFS!
Again, I think I may be mistaken and it’s 25, it’s a travesty either way.
Yeah it’s some bullshit. Like the whole concept is based on the idea that the actual game is secondary to the spectical and ceremony surrounding it. Which is so not true for the world cup final
Welcome to America, where we Americanize so many things! Since we are used to this kind of lengthy break in the middle of the Super Bowl, the rest of the world must simply accept it or go to hell. None of the rest of the world understands fanfare! They don’t understand attracting people to boost ratings in the middle of the program!
The rest of the world is simply benighted we will show you the way. Plus, find me one person who doesn’t love Madonna! Gosh!
It’s really hard to understand for me, talk about cultural differences!.
If you want to see a show… why go to the WORLD CUP FINAL? just go and see your show.
Why shoehorn song and dance in an event that billions are going to be watching, glued to their TVs, eating their own elbows in anxiety and expectation?
Emotions generated by the actual event! no need for extra frills please.
Don’t even try and understand the adverts at the Superbowl it’s completely mindblowing 
One benefit of this extended-length halftime is that it will give the players more rest than a normal game haltime.
I’m not sure that’s a benefit. It means more time for players to get cold and their muscles may stiffen up. Or maybe I am just projecting my own physical limitations on professional players and they’ll be fine.
I wonder if we’ll get more injuries in the second half as the players’ bodies will have cooled down too much? If it goes on for 30 or 35 minutes they’ll likely need to warm up again before playing the second half.
Why do you think they would want that? They are professionals with decades of experience. They certainly don’t need more rest and I’m sure they want what they are used to doing.
It’s also good to be on the East Coast in the middle of summer. Which is far hotter and more humid conditions than most players are used to playing in (even the ones from places that are more tropical typically play in Europe where it’s not)
And extra 10 minutes to cool off isn’t the worst thing.
Still a dumb idea though.