It’s a Crowded and Contested World Cup Halftime Show
The New York Times • • sports
Key Points:
- FIFA has approved a halftime show for the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, featuring major artists like Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira, BTS, Burna Boy, a school chorus, and the New York Philharmonic.
- The halftime show aims to attract more casual viewers to a match expected to draw over one billion viewers, significantly surpassing the Super Bowl audience.
- Traditionalists criticize the halftime show as compromising the sport's purity and catering to corporate interests, especially given the tournament's expansion to 48 teams and increased ticket prices.
- The tournament, hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, has also introduced mandatory hydration breaks, which some broadcasters use to air advertisements, further fueling concerns about commercialism.
