The drama on the pitch was matched only by the fireworks off it last night, as the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina reached its dramatic conclusion. In a game that would keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish, Ferran Torres sealed the victory for La Roja in the 106th minute, sending shockwaves through MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The real showstopper, however, was the inaugural World Cup halftime extravaganza, curated by Coldplay's Chris Martin. It was a true spectacle, featuring an A-list cast of performers, including Madonna, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, The Muppets, BTS, and even a special guest appearance by Justin Bieber. Shakira joined forces with Burna Boy to deliver the 2026 World Cup anthem 'Dai Dai', while Chris Martin himself brought the curtain down with his new Coldplay track, 'We Dance', accompanied by the talented PS22 children's choir.
But for former England star Wayne Rooney, the show was an unmitigated disaster. When asked about his highlights of the evening by BBC journalist Gabby Logan, he delivered a blunt assessment: "I'll be honest, mine was when it finished." He went on to rubbish the entire production, saying, "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."
Rooney's brutal honesty sparked a social media firestorm, with fans from all over the world taking to Twitter to share their thoughts. Historian Tom Holland tweeted in agreement: "Wayne speaking for the nation." Norwegian commentator Aleksander Schau and Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher also waded into the debate, labelling the show as "a bad trip". Meanwhile, some fans were more forgiving, praising Rooney's candour and likening him to an employee on their "last day at work before his holiday", while others couldn't help but poke fun at the halftime show itself.
Justin Bieber was a particular target for criticism, with some viewers questioning his song choice and tempo. One user complained, "Why would Justin Bieber do that sleepy ass song for the World Cup?" Another remarked that Bieber's selection was "a choice", while others were more direct, labelling it "easily the worst performance in an overall mediocre halftime show". But despite the backlash, Liam Gallagher came to Bieber's defence at one point, simply tweeting: "BEHAVE."