'An anti-football abomination' – The reaction to World Cup half-time show

Updated: 19 Jul 2026 23:04 BST |
8 min read

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For the first time in tournament history, a half-time show took place midway through Sunday’s World Cup final between Spain and Argentina.

And it is fair to say the Super Bowl-style display which disrupted the showpiece by almost 30 minutes received an extremely mixed reaction.

To kick things off, there was the hilarity of Madonna being chauffeured into the MetLife Stadium by Brazil icons Ronaldo and Ronaldinho.

But then eyebrows were raised a la Carlo Ancelotti as Justin Bieber whipped out his guitar and performed a bizarre, mood-killing number on the pitch.

If that wasn’t enough, fans were then treated – or tortured, depending on your disposition – to more upbeat songs from BTS and Shakira.

All the while Spain and Argentina were sat in their respective dressing rooms after serving up an opening 45 minutes which was drab to the say least.

It all made for a bonkers episode which completely divided football supporters across the globe on social media.

On X, The Independent’s Chief Football Writer Miguel Delay wrote: “A half-time show is an anti-football abomination. Players have gone through their career used to normal break. That rhythm disrupted, in the biggest game of their careers. It’s of a piece with absurdly high ticket prices and Balogun controversy – Fifa ushering this through.”

On the same platform, The Observer’s Football Correspondent Rory Smith wrote: “The Justin Bieber interlude was beyond bizarre: quite a haunting song for…a World Cup final, and then he just sort of walked off on his own, half the length of the pitch, as though they’d completely forgotten about him. If FIFA want this stuff, at least do it well.”

On Bieber’s depressing tune, @kylerd05 added: “Is justin bieber aware he’s not singing at a funeral.”

Speaking live on BBC, former England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney didn’t mince his words when asked what he thought of the whole show, saying: “I thought it was crap!”

Meanwhile, The Walking Dead actor David Morrissey wrote: “This half time show is simply embarrassing!”

However, fans were much more complimentary to South Korean boy band BTS, with @Abhi79OT7 writing: “BTS paved the way is more like BTS saved the day. Man this game is such a snooze fest, thank God for BTS. Only good part of the game.”

Another user, @DomainPro, sang the praises of Shakira, writing: “Shakira saved the World Cup half time show.”

How did the actual World Cup final end?

After 27 minutes and 18 seconds of half-time goodness – or badness, again depending on your disposition – the actual football resumed.

The quality remained in short supply, however – the match being a far cry of the thrilling 2022 showpiece between Argentina and France in Qatar.

For Enzo Fernandez, things soon went from bad to worse as the Argentina midfielder received a second yellow card for a ridiculous challenge on Spain defender Pau Cubarsi.

And Spain soon made their numerical advantage count as Ferran Torres scored the all-important winner in extra time, clinching just a second World Cup for his country following their 2010 success.

What a day…

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Matthew Judge is a freelance sports writer from Liverpool, United Kingdom. He has worked for/had words published by Everton Football Club, The Independent, Daily Mirror, Stats Perform, Goal, and Squawka, among others.

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