World Cup final half-time show mocked by reporter who claims pre-game chaos was “a better experience”

The first-ever FIFA World Cup final half-time show has sparked a backlash, with journalists and former players among those criticising the spectacle.

What was intended to be a landmark entertainment event instead became one of the most divisive talking points of the tournament's showpiece occasion.

2026 World Cup final half-time show gets negative reviews

FIFA's decision to introduce a Super Bowl-style half-time show at the 2026 World Cup final has been met with widespread criticism following Sunday's clash between Spain and Argentina.

The 11-minute performance featured global music stars including Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber and BTS, with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin serving as curator. To accommodate the concert, the traditional 15-minute half-time interval was extended to almost 30 minutes.

Among the critics was former England captain Wayne Rooney, who bluntly described the show as “c**p” while working as a BBC pundit during the final.

Journalist Miguel Delaney also mocked the performance on social media, joking that spending two-and-a-half hours waiting outside the stadium in the heat while the Secret Service carried out security checks for US President Donald Trump had been “a better experience than that Bieber song.”

Meanwhile, The Athletic's Adam Crafton criticised FIFA's event management, claiming stadium workers and volunteers were left queuing for hours outside before kick-off because of enhanced security procedures, describing it as another example of organisational issues after similar scenes at the World Cup draw.

We were made stand outside in the heat for 2.5 hours as secret service checked everyone and it was a better experience than that Bieber song.

— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) July 19, 2026

FGG says: Not every American tradition belongs in football

The World Cup final is already one of the biggest sporting events on the planet.

It has never needed a half-time concert to elevate the occasion, and the reaction suggests many supporters feel football's greatest stage should remain focused on the match itself.

While FIFA is understandably keen to attract new audiences and maximise the commercial potential of its flagship event, it also risks alienating the traditions that have made the World Cup so special for generations.

It is difficult to disagree with much of the criticism. Football has its own identity, and the World Cup final should not become a copy of the Super Bowl.

Extending half-time for a concert disrupted the flow of the biggest match in the sport and felt like an unnecessary piece of Americanisation that has little place in football's most iconic occasion.