Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, Shakira, and Burna Boy performed during the 2026 World Cup final halftime show—which lasted nearly half an hour—but not everyone was impressed. Wayne Rooney was one of them.
The 2026 World Cup concluded on Sunday with Spain defeating Argentina (1-0) in extra time, but FIFA also innovated regarding the duration of the halftime break. World football’s governing body aimed for a Super Bowl-style spectacle, featuring multiple musical performances after the first half; this resulted in a halftime break of 27 minutes and 22 seconds—the longest in World Cup history, according to the BBC.
However, not everyone was thrilled by the appearances of Madonna, BTS, Shakira, or Justin Bieber. Former England international Wayne Rooney, speaking on the BBC, described the show at MetLife Stadium as “rubbish.”
“To be honest, the best moment was when it ended. I like many of those artists, but, honestly, I thought it was rubbish. Seriously. It didn’t excite me in the slightest. I just wanted the football to come back. It was all very flat. I like Shakira, I like Bieber, but that was just too lackluster,” Rooney remarked, drawing laughter from fellow former England internationals Joe Hart and Micah Richards.
Former Manchester United player Roy Keane also weighed in on the topic, though he opted for irony.
“It was a bit of an anticlimax, but I think the people in the stadium enjoyed the show more than we did. Still, it’s always good to see Shakira,” Keane quipped—in his signature style—while speaking on ITV.
So, what exactly happened during the final’s halftime show? FIFA’s idea was controversial from the start, as the International Football Association Board (IFAB) rules state that the halftime interval must last no longer than 15 minutes. Nevertheless, the organization led by Gianni Infantino proceeded with this innovative initiative, following a pre-kickoff closing ceremony that had already captured everyone’s attention.
Streamer IShowSpeed—known as an ardent Cristiano Ronaldo fan—was the first to take the stage at MetLife Stadium, followed by a musical performance featuring Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams, and Laura Pausini. Post Malone performed his single “Wow” before Jennifer Hudson took the field to sing the U.S. national anthem.
Tom Cruise appeared on the field to deliver a speech about a “language that needs no words.”
