Robbie Williams has dismissed as untrue claims that a white object seen falling from his mouth onto a microphone during a World Cup television interview was cocaine, mocking the speculation in a follow-up Instagram video. The moment occurred during a post-match appearance on German broadcaster MagentaTV on 19 July 2026, shortly after Williams performed at the tournament's closing ceremony at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey; footage went viral, with some social media users alleging the object had fallen from his nose. The story gained extra traction because of Williams' long-documented public history with alcohol and drug addiction, which fuelled the online rumours, though he firmly and humorously rejected the suggestion once and for all.

In the Instagram clip posted on 20 July, captioned "Just woke up and feeling…. Mint", Williams lay in bed and joked in a mock-solemn tone that it was "deeply unprofessional" and that "people worried about me", adding "but it's OK, because I had several more!" before sticking out his tongue to reveal two mints. Williams, FIFA's official Music Ambassador, had performed 'Desire' with Laura Pausini and Nicole Scherzinger at the closing ceremony; he has said he has not drunk alcohol in 25 years and has previously spoken openly about past struggles with substance abuse, including calling in 2020 for the UK to be less "delusional" about drink and drugs.