The World Cup final featured a star-studded half-time show, an innovation for the 2026 World Cup, which has generated discussion. This entertainment segment, reminiscent of the NFL Super Bowl half-time shows, extended the break beyond the International Football Association Board’s (Ifab) mandated 15-minute half-time period. The show ultimately ran for 27 minutes and 22 seconds, making it the longest half-time in World Cup history.
The event saw performances from global music icons such as Madonna, BTS, Shakira, and Justin Bieber. Madonna performed a version of her song ‘Music’ from a vehicle, joined by former Brazil football players Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. The performance by Madonna appeared to emerge from tunnels beneath the arena.
Prior to the main half-time spectacle, a closing ceremony also featured a range of musical acts. Jennifer Hudson sang the national anthem, and actor Tom Cruise delivered a speech. Streamer IShowSpeed performed on the field at the New York New Jersey Stadium, accompanied by drummers and dancers. Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams, and Italian singer Laura Pausini also performed together. Rapper and singer Post Malone performed his song ‘Wow’.
The pre-match entertainment included Post Malone debuting a new single and duetting with Swae Lee on ‘Sunflower’. IShowSpeed also performed ‘Champions’, a track that gained significant online traction and was included on the official Fifa World Cup album. However, the reception for ‘Champions’ at the stadium was notably quiet, leading to speculation about the audience’s engagement.
Half-time performances and reactions
The half-time show itself was described as a comparative triumph, compressing many acts into its 11 minutes by shortening songs and quickly transitioning between artists. Following Madonna’s performance, the strains of White Stripes’ ‘Seven Nation Army’ were heard, reportedly performed by three members of the Muppets’ house band, the Electric Mayhem.
BTS performed ‘Dynamite’, while Shakira and Burna Boy delivered a shortened version of ‘Dai Dai’, a song that had an impact on the British charts. Coldplay performed ‘Believe in Love’ with a children’s choir, a segment that was less saccharine than it might have appeared, due to the sound of vuvuzela players.
One perceived misstep was Justin Bieber’s performance of an acoustic ballad, ‘Everything Hallelujah’, which was considered perhaps not the ideal choice for the moment. Despite some mixed reactions, the half-time show was generally seen as effective in justifying its inclusion for this World Cup final.
Not all reactions were positive, however. Former England player Wayne Rooney, part of the commentary team, expressed his opinion, stating, “I like a lot of them artists, but I thought it was crap.”
Controversy and context
The extended half-time show has been a point of contention, with its existence breaking the International Football Association’s 15-minute half-time rule. Critics have drawn parallels to the NFL Super Bowl, suggesting it represents an imposition of American entertainment culture on the World Cup rather than an embrace of the sport.
The pre-match closing ceremony, which included performances by Robbie Williams, Laura Pausini, and Nicole Scherzinger, was not broadcast live by some major networks. Robbie Williams performed the Fifa anthem, ‘Desire’, which had previously debuted at a draw ceremony in December. The song had not charted globally and was overshadowed at its initial debut by news regarding Fifa awards.
Shakira and Burna Boy had also performed together at the tournament’s opening ceremony in Mexico City last month. BTS, the K-Pop group, made their return from a music hiatus to perform at the final. Several celebrities were observed attending the event, including Kylie Jenner, Timothee Chalamet, Beyonce, and Jay-Z.
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Source: theguardian.com
