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Spain edge Argentina in World Cup final as halftime show draws backlash
Developed over time first seen 4 months ago
A blunt on-air verdict from former England striker Wayne Rooney about the World Cup's first-ever halftime show went viral, drawing a wave of similarly scathing reactions from public figures and fans online. Speaking to BBC presenter Gabby Logan, Rooney said his highlight of the show was "when it finished", branding the performance "crap" and "too flat" despite liking several of the artists involved. His comments resonated widely, echoed by historian Tom Holland, Oasis's Liam Gallagher (who compared it to "a bad trip") and a Norwegian broadcaster who made an even earthier comparison, while others singled out Justin Bieber's solo performance for particular criticism.
The reaction followed Spain's 1-0 win over Argentina in the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 19 July, settled by a Ferran Torres goal in the 106th minute in front of a celebrity-packed crowd including Donald Trump, Beyoncé and Jay-Z. The match featured the tournament's first-ever halftime show, curated by Coldplay's Chris Martin, with performances from Madonna (joined by Ronaldo and Ronaldinho), The Muppets, BTS, Justin Bieber, Shakira, Burna Boy and Coldplay themselves, backed by the PS22 children's choir. Despite the show's starry line-up, the loudest lasting reaction was the mocking backlash it provoked rather than praise for the spectacle.
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In short
- Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup final via a 106th-minute goal
- Chris Martin curated the tournament's first-ever halftime show
- Wayne Rooney's "crap" verdict on the show went viral
How this story developed
- 4 months ago Further reporting confirmed the acts by name, specifying that The Muppets had covered The White Stripes, BTS had performed "Dynamite" and Bieber, Shakira and Burna Boy had duetted the tournament anthem "Dai Dai", cementing Rooney's viral verdict as the defining reaction to the night.
- 4 months ago Coverage broadened to detail the show's line-up itself, revealing that Madonna's cameo with Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, a Muppets rock cover, BTS, and a closing children's choir set had drawn objections over specific song choices even from viewers sympathetic to individual performers.
- 4 months ago Wayne Rooney's on-air dismissal of the World Cup's first-ever halftime show as "crap" and "too flat" went viral, joined by fellow public figures mocking the Chris Martin-curated spectacle that followed Spain's 1-0 final win over Argentina at MetLife Stadium.
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The case for
The halftime show represented an ambitious attempt to create a historic cultural moment by assembling world-class artists—Madonna, Coldplay, Shakira, and BTS—for football's greatest stage. Executing such a complex multinational production with multiple international acts, celebrity cameos, and a children's choir involves substantial creative coordination and logistical achievement. Critics may have applied excessively high expectations; entertainment prioritising global celebration and inclusivity rather than conventional spectacle doesn't always resonate with audiences accustomed to slicker formats, and meaningful innovation necessarily carries the risk of disappointing some viewers.
The case against
Despite its star-studded lineup and considerable resources, the halftime show failed to deliver an entertaining spectacle befitting the World Cup final's magnitude. Critics spanning diverse fields—athletes, musicians, and broadcasters—converged on a consistent verdict of uninspired, flat execution, suggesting substantive quality problems rather than mere subjective disagreement. When a performance featuring such renowned talent and significant investment cannot generate lasting appreciation and instead becomes defined by ridicule, it indicates a genuine failure to match ambition with realisation.
Explained simply
Spain and Argentina met in the World Cup final on 19 July at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with Spain winning 1-0 thanks to a late Ferran Torres goal. The match drew a star-studded crowd, including Donald Trump, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, reflecting the scale and profile of the tournament's showpiece event.
For the first time in World Cup history, the final included a halftime show, curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. It featured a wide-ranging line-up including Madonna, alongside footballers Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, plus The Muppets, BTS, Justin Bieber, Shakira, Burna Boy, Coldplay and a children's choir.
Rather than being remembered mainly for the football or the performances themselves, the show has become notable for the strong negative reaction it triggered. Former England striker Wayne Rooney's blunt on-air criticism proved especially widely shared, and was echoed by other public figures and fans, making the backlash itself a significant part of the story.
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Originally published by NME as “Fans react to Chris Martin’s World Cup halftime show – and Wayne Rooney’s viral assessment”.