For the first 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 combination of Madonna, Justin Bieber, soccer legends, and surprise celebrity appearances promised an unforgettable spectacle.
Instead, the ambitious production sparked wildly divided reactions, with many viewers questioning whether the historic experiment lived up to 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 center of the online debate.
After a playful introduction from Jason Sudeikis in character as Ted Lasso, the singer walked onto the field carrying only a guitar before performing a World Cup-inspired version of his song “Everything Hallelujah.”
Rather 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 Daily Mail, “Buzz killer. Totally sucked. Why choose that song that nobody knows. Beyond me.”
Another wrote, “Justin Bieber Hallelujah but this was not the right song choice for the half time show,” while a third simply called it a “terrible song choice.”
Others, however, appreciated Bieber’s decision to slow the pace amid the larger production. “Justin Bieber looked and sounded great at the World Cup halftime show today! Glad he’s cleaned up his act!” one supporter posted.
Another praised the performance by writing, “Best performance. He knows how to switch people’s moods in a second. That’s extremely difficult to do, most performers couldn’t.”
Madonna Helped FIFA Launch A Historic New 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 of the evening’s most unexpected crossovers between global music and soccer stars.
Madonna also delivered one of 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 field as thousands 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 disappointed fan wrote, “What a disaster this halftime show was. Pre-recorded stuff, no collaborations or surprising moments. Where was Madonna at the end? She could have sung a few lines with Shakira… everything was so weird. So much hype for nothing.”
Another took aim at the show’s creative direction, joking, “Who was behind the concept for that halftime show? Chat GPT?”
Others found themselves somewhere in the middle, with one viewer commenting, “Madonna’s performance was the strangest thing ever, especially followed by the Muppets. The rest of the show was decent. I thought JB’s performance was the best of them all.”
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 lot of things that FIFA does… but THAT halftime show was pretty spectacular,” while another praised the event’s uplifting tone, writing, “Light, bright, positive energy. We needed that. Really tired of dark and angry performances.”
Another 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 believe 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 success or a flop, Wayne Rooney made it clear which side he was on.
Appearing on the BBC’s post-halftime coverage after the former 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 lot of them artists, but I thought it was crap. I did, honestly.”
Explaining why the star-studded spectacle failed to 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.