Fans have reacted to the Chris Martin-curated World Cup halftime show – and Wayne Rooney’s viral assesment.
The World Cup final was staged at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey last night (19 July). President Donald Trump, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Timothee Chalamet, Kylie Jenner and Matt Damon were just some of the famous faces spotted in the star-studded audience. Spain triumphed against Argentina, with Ferran Torres scoring the winning goal 106 minutes into the game to beat their opponents 1-0.
For the first time ever, the World Cup also featured a halftime show curated by Coldplay‘s Chris Martin. Madonna performed her song ‘Music’ with football legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho making a cameo beside her. After a performance of The White Stripes‘ ‘Seven Nation Army’ by The Muppets, BTS took over to perform their hit ‘Dynamite’.
Ted Lasso actor Jason Sudeikis appeared in-character to introduce Justin Bieber, who performed ‘Everything Hallelujah’ solo, followed by Shakira and Burna Boy duetting the 2026 World Cup anthem, ‘Dai Dai’. Chris Martin rounded off the ceremony with a performance of new Coldplay song called ‘We Dance’, aided by children’s choir PS22.
The halftime show elicited some strong opinions from former England footballer and BBC commentator Wayne Rooney. When asked by journalist Gabby Logan for his halftime show highlights, Rooney responded: “I’ll be honest, mine was when it finished.
“I like a lot of them artists but I thought it was crap,” he added. “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.”
Fans have reacted to Rooney’s assessment of the halftime show, with historian and author Tom Holland writing: “Wayne speaking for the nation”. Another user likened Rooney to an employee “on his last day at work before his holiday,” adding: “Fair play Wayne, fair play”.
“What did you think of the World Cup final half-time show?”
Wayne Rooney: pic.twitter.com/1j6OQap9Yi
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 19, 2026
Wayne speaking for the nation
— Tom Holland (@holland_tom) July 19, 2026
Wayne Rooney is so on his last day at work before his holiday, fair play Wayne, fair play.
— Ben Carr (@DoctorBenjy) July 19, 2026
Was worth watching it on ITV just to hear Wayne Rooney say it was crap which it was 🤣
— wendy (@wendywt777) July 20, 2026
Rooney was not alone. Norwegian commentater Aleksander Schau remarked he would “rather watch my dad wipe his ass than this”, while Liam Gallagher wrote: “It’s a good job I’ve got my spiritual socks on or that halftime entertainment could have tipped me over the edge”.
He added: “This is like a bad trip”.
One of the Norwegian commentators on the halftime show: “I’d rather watch my dad wipe his ass than this.”
— Joakim 🌹🇳🇴🇪🇺 (@joakial_) July 19, 2026
It’s a good job I’ve got my spiritual socks on or that halftime entertainment could have tipped me over the edge
— Liam Gallagher (@liamgallagher) July 19, 2026
This is like a bad trip
— Liam Gallagher (@liamgallagher) July 19, 2026
Others critiqued Justin Bieber for his intimate rendition of ‘Everything Hallelujah’, with one user complaining: “Why would justin bieber do that sleepy ass song for the world cup?”. “Justin Bieber picking the 86th most famous song in his catalogue with a negative tempo for the halftime show was… a choice”, another person added. Others were more brutal, calling Bieber’s singing “easily the worst performance in an overall mediocre halftime show”.
Despite claims that Bieber was “absolutely destroying the mood” on the night, Gallagher swooped in to defend the popstar: “BEHAVE”, he wrote.
why would justin bieber do that sleepy ass song for the world cup 😭😭😭😭😭
— BIG BAD CHUCK ✰ (@yawningemoji) July 19, 2026
Justin Bieber picking the 86th most famous song in his catalogue with a negative tempo for the halftime show was… a choice
— JaguarGator9 (@JaguarGator9NFL) July 19, 2026
Easily the worst performance in an overall mediocre halftime show
— ayooo (@DigitalHazardo) July 19, 2026
BEHAVE
— Liam Gallagher (@liamgallagher) July 19, 2026
Others commented on Ronaldo and Ronaldinho’s confused appearance during their Madonna cameos. “They got Ronaldinho and Ronaldo in that vehicle with no idea what’s being said or done. This is elder abuse — Madonna included,” one user quipped. “Ronaldo look like he’s never even seen a soccer ball”, another added.
They got Ronaldinho and Ronaldo in that vehicle with no idea what’s being said or done. This is elder abuse — Madonna included.
— Zito (@_Zeets) July 19, 2026
ronaldo look like he’s never even seen a soccer ball
— bomani (@bomani_jones) July 19, 2026
Some were caught up in the disjointed lineup of the night, with one user dubbing it “the first AI world cup halftime show”. Another said: “I’ve seen Ronaldinho & Ronaldo driving Madonna in a car, Ted Lasso sub on Justin Bieber and now watching miss Piggy and Kermit the wrong singing on a piano. My head hurts”.
Meanwhile, one person simply said: “Are we all miserable or do Americans think this shit is stupid too?”
the first AI world cup halftime show
— Joshua Minsoo Kim (@misterminsoo) July 19, 2026
I’ve seen Ronaldinho & Ronaldo driving Madonna in a car, Ted Lasso sub on Justin Bieber and now watching miss Piggy and Kermit the wrong singing on a piano.
My head hurts
— Conn (@ConnCFC) July 19, 2026
Are we all miserable or do Americans think this shit is stupid too? https://t.co/vg6Ra2ZX5h
— 𝙇𝙞𝙖𝙢 (@OfficialVizeh) July 19, 2026
Before the halftime show, the World Cup hosted a range of pre-game performances including Post Malone. Actor Tom Cruise also gave a rousing speech before the game, while Jennifer Hudson sung the American national anthem.
Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger and Laura Pausini closed out the game with a performance of ‘Desire’.
Previously, huge names like Noel Gallagher and The Cure‘s Robert Smith have reacted to news of the halftime show.
Noel said he wasn’t a fan of the upcoming show, explaining: “I don’t like changes in football. I’m looking forward to these new rules about corners and time-wasting, that might be a good thing for the game, but I don’t like the razzmatazz of football; it’s been functioning perfectly for hundreds of years.”
He then cheekily added: “They’re not really football people who are performing anyway, are they?”
Smith shared Noel’s views, simply saying: “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH… #Breadandcircuses #MUGWANK #pleasejustfuckoff.”
He later clarified his remarks, writing: “For those of us not quite getting it: the point is not really about who is curating or performing, it is about the #mugwank ideas of a football World Cup final half time show,” he wrote.
He added that “Infantosser has said he and US President Trumpton will small hand over [the] trophy on Sunday. Sadly, there are not enough a’s left for the ‘argh’ that should follow… #breadandcircuses #pleasejustfuckoff #fuckfifa #justlookup.”
Elsewhere, Robbie Williams has shared the new version of Official Fifa Anthem ‘Desire’ featuring Nicole Scherzinger and Laura Pausini ahead of the World Cup final.
