Former England international Wayne Rooney delivered a blunt assessment of the first-ever World Cup final half-time show, branding the 11-minute spectacle as 'crap'. The performance, which featured global music icons including Madonna, Shakira, and Justin Bieber, notably extended the customary 15-minute interval during the Spain versus Argentina final in New Jersey to over 27 minutes.
Rooney, who was working as a pundit for the BBC at the MetLife Stadium alongside Joe Hart and Micah Richards, made his feelings clear when asked for his highlights of the show by presenter Gabby Logan. The 40-year-old responded, “I’ll be honest, mine was when it finished. I like a lot of them artists but I thought it was crap. It just didn’t get me going and I wanted the football to come back on. I like Burna Boy, I like Bieber, I like Shakira, but that was too flat.”
His candid remarks prompted a playful jab from former teammate Micah Richards, who labelled Rooney 'miserable'. Richards, in contrast, highlighted the performances of Colombian pop star Shakira and Nigerian singer Burna Boy as his personal favourites. The extended half-time break, a departure from traditional football match intervals, was a strategic decision by FIFA to incorporate a major entertainment element, mirroring the popular Super Bowl half-time shows in the United States.
The elaborate production, curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, saw Madonna make a grand entrance onto the pitch, driven by Brazilian football legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. South Korean boy band BTS also performed, alongside appearances from beloved characters from the Muppets and Sesame Street, adding a diverse range of entertainment to the global event. On ITV, pundit Roy Keane offered a slightly more tempered view, describing the show as 'a bit of an anti-climax' but acknowledging that stadium attendees likely enjoyed it more than those watching on television, adding, 'But it’s always nice to see Shakira.'
Beyond the entertainment, the half-time show served a philanthropic purpose, staged in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. This initiative aims to raise 100 million US dollars (approximately £75 million) to broaden access to education and football opportunities for children worldwide. The half-time extravaganza followed a star-studded closing ceremony before kick-off, which included appearances from Hollywood actor Tom Cruise, pop sensation Robbie Williams, and US singer Jennifer Hudson, among others.