World Cup halftime show reaction: Wayne Rooney slams ‘flat’ show but Shakira’s BGT guests shine
The FIFA World Cup 2026 halftime performance delighted thousands – but not Wayne Rooney. The former footballer-turned-pundit revealed that he believed the performances were “flat”.
“Mine was when it finished,” he said of his favourite part. Rooney added: “I like a lot of those artists but I thought it was crap. I did, honestly, it just didn’t get me going, I wanted the football to come back on.” He later explained that he believed Justin Bieber’s performance was “flat”.
“I liked Burna Boy, I like Bieber, I like Shakira, but that was too flat,” he fumed. But fans at home instantly took to social media to disagree with Rooney’s comments. Instead, it was widely said that the performance was “better” than the first half of the match. So much so that even Oasis rocker Liam Gallagher waded in, praising Justin Bieber, who performed a rendition of his track Everything Hallelujah.
But Liam’s comments did come with a caveat. While he said Justin “rules”, he later shared his brutally honest thoughts. “This is like a bad trip,” he said, adding: “It’s a good job I’ve got my spiritual socks on or that halftime entertainment could have tipped me over the edge.”
Madonna, BTS, Shakira featuring Burna Boy and Bieber performed during the 11-minute performance, a historic first for the World Cup. And the names certainly didn’t stop there; the entire production was curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, and it even featured stars of Sesame Street.
Football reporter Jacob Steinberg expressed his view of the half-time show in a post on X.
“This doesn’t feel like the World Cup final,” he said.
“It’s all very weird.
“Just feels like some football is occasionally taking place around some random nonsense and shouting.”
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – JULY 19: A view of the performance during FIFA World Cup 2026™ Topps Final Halftime Show at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for Global Citizen)
One wrote on social media platform X: “This is supposed to be the biggest match in world football not a concert.”
Another said: “America didn’t win the World Cup. But we successfully created a half time show including Madonna and the Muppets and Cookie Monster. It’s a win.”
American actor Tom Cruise introduced the match after the show.
He said: “From every corner of the globe, we have witnessed greatness, and we have shared in moments of joy.
“Football is a language spoken without words, a force that unites people.”
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – JULY 19: Tom Cruise speaks before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Hector Vivas – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
The half-time performance ran for 27 minutes and 22 seconds – the longest ever for a World Cup.
The International Football Association Board rules state players are only entitled to a maximum 15-minute stoppage.
A view of performers during the halftime show at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – JULY 19: Shakira performs during FIFA World Cup 2026™ Topps Final Halftime Show at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Kevin Kane/Getty Images for Global Citizen)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – JULY 19: Justin Bieber performs during FIFA World Cup 2026™ Topps Final Halftime Show at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Global Citizen)