The 2026 FIFA World Cup final in the New York New Jersey Stadium turned into a spectacle on and off the pitch yesterday, leaving fans in two minds over the new half-time show. Like a perfectly weighted punch, this bold innovation threw down the gauntlet to traditionalists who believe football should be about the beautiful game alone.
The day's musical offerings were a mixed bag before the main event. Post Malone's pre-match performance, teaming up with Swae Lee and online influencer IShowSpeed on 'Champions', was met with a lukewarm response from the crowd and largely ignored by UK channels BBC and ITV. The US national anthem sung by Jennifer Hudson and Robbie Williams' FIFA debut with Laura Pausini and Nicole Scherzinger didn't exactly get the stadium buzzing.
However, the real showstopper was yet to come – a slick 11-minute extravaganza that packed in no less than five A-list acts. Madonna brought her Mad Max-inspired vehicle, complete with Ronaldo and Ronaldinho at the wheel, as she performed a reworked version of 'Music'. The Electric Mayhem from The Muppets added their brand of zany energy with a truncated take on The White Stripes' 'Seven Nation Army'.
The star power didn't stop there – BTS brought the house down with a blistering performance of 'Dynamite', while Shakira and Burna Boy's condensed version of 'Dai Dai' got the crowd moving. Even Coldplay, often associated with anthemic football sing-alongs, delivered an emotional rendition of 'Believe in Love' backed by a children's choir that surprisingly worked.
Opinions are sharply divided over this radical change to the World Cup format. Some fans love the excitement and global appeal brought by top musical acts, while others see it as a step too far – an Americanisation of a sport with deep roots in tradition. And let's not forget the elephant in the room: can such an extended break truly benefit player momentum and tactical adjustments during one of the biggest fixtures in football?