Ahead of the first-ever halftime show at a FIFA World Cup final, the Cure's frontman Robert Smith took to social media to blast the concept, sparking a wider online row about the decision to add a music spectacular to football's showpiece match. Smith later clarified that his outburst was aimed at the idea of a halftime show itself rather than at the performers involved, who include Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira and BTS under the curation of Coldplay's Chris Martin.

FIFA president Gianni Infantosser described the show, which also features a Gustavo Dudamel-conducted tribute to earthquake-hit Venezuela by the New York Philharmonic and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, as a "groundbreaking spectacle" celebrating football's "shared values". Controversy has also centred on its length, with reports suggesting it could run up to 25 minutes despite tournament rules capping breaks at 15 minutes, though organisers insist the musical performance itself will last just 11 minutes. FIFA had not responded to requests for comment at the time of writing, while Smith remains on tour in Europe.