For the primary time in World Cup history, FIFA borrowed a page from the Super Bowl playbook by introducing its first ever World Cup final halftime show.
On paper, the mixture of Madonna, Justin Bieber, soccer legends, and surprise celebrity appearances promised an unforgettable spectacle.
As a substitute, the ambitious production sparked wildly divided reactions, with many viewers questioning whether the historic experiment lived as much as the hype as Argentina and Spain battled for the trophy.
Although the World Cup final halftime show featured multiple stars, Bieber quickly found himself at the middle of the web debate.
After a playful introduction from Jason Sudeikis in character as Ted Lasso, the singer walked onto the sector carrying only a guitar before performing a World Cup-inspired version of his song “Every thing Hallelujah.”
Relatively than delivering a stadium-sized spectacle, Bieber opted for a stripped-back performance that ended with the lyric, “it’s the World Cup, Hallelujah.”
The understated approach immediately divided viewers. One critic blasted the set, noting per the Day by day Mail, “Buzz killer. Totally sucked. Why select that song that no person knows. Beyond me.”
One other wrote, “Justin Bieber Hallelujah but this was not the best song selection for the half time show,” while a 3rd simply called it a “terrible song selection.”
Others, nonetheless, appreciated Bieber’s decision to slow the pace amid the larger production. “Justin Bieber looked and sounded great on the World Cup halftime show today! Glad he’s cleaned up his act!” one supporter posted.
One other praised the performance by writing, “Best performance. He knows easy methods to switch people’s moods in a second. That’s extremely difficult to do, most performers couldn’t.”
Madonna Helped FIFA Launch A Historic Latest Tradition
Before Justin Bieber took the stage, Madonna was tasked with opening the World Cup final halftime show.
The pop icon emerged to perform her 2000 hit “Music,” making an entrance alongside Brazilian football legends Ronaldo Nazário and Ronaldinho.
The trio embraced before stepping onto the pitch together, creating one in all the evening’s most unexpected crossovers between global music and soccer stars.
Madonna also delivered one in all the night’s biggest fashion moments, wearing a Saint Laurent look that featured a pink satin teddy jacket layered over a corset, matching mini shorts, lace-up boots, and stockings.
Cameras later captured the three posing together on the sector as 1000’s inside MetLife Stadium welcomed the tournament’s newest tradition.
While individual performances earned praise, many viewers questioned whether FIFA’s ambitious concept matched the months of anticipation surrounding it.
One disillusioned fan wrote, “What a disaster this halftime show was. Pre-recorded stuff, no collaborations or surprising moments. Where was Madonna at the tip? She could have sung a number of lines with Shakira… every part was so weird. A lot hype for nothing.”
One other took aim on the show’s creative direction, joking, “Who was behind the concept for that halftime show? Chat GPT?”
Others found themselves somewhere in the center, with one viewer commenting, “Madonna’s performance was the strangest thing ever, especially followed by the Muppets. The remaining of the show was decent. I assumed JB’s performance was the most effective of all of them.”
Not Everyone Thought FIFA’s Gamble Fell Flat
Despite the criticism, many viewers applauded FIFA for trying something different.
One fan admitted, “I dislike a whole lot of things that FIFA does… but THAT halftime show was pretty spectacular,” while one other praised the event’s uplifting tone, writing, “Light, shiny, positive energy. We wanted that. Really bored with dark and indignant performances.”
One other celebrated the international spirit of the show, writing, “It was great! International and diverse, a positive message, family friendly, and soccer legends hanging with Madonna! Ronaldinho and Ronaldo probably couldn’t imagine it!”
Wayne Rooney Calls World Cup Final Halftime Show ‘Crap’
While fans continued debating whether FIFA’s first-ever World Cup final halftime show was a hit or a flop, Wayne Rooney made it clear which side he was on.
Appearing on the BBC’s post-halftime coverage after the previous England captain delivered a brutally honest review when asked for his favorite moment.
“I’ll be honest, mine was when it finished,” Rooney quipped per ESPN, before doubling down with, “I like a whole lot of them artists, but I assumed it was crap. I did, truthfully.”
Explaining why the star-studded spectacle did not impress him, Rooney added, “It just didn’t get me going. I like Bieber. I like Shakira. It was too flat.”
His candid remarks immediately went viral, with many football fans applauding the Manchester United legend for voicing what they felt about FIFA’s ambitious Super Bowl-style halftime experiment.