Wayne Rooney Rips Chris Martin's World Cup Halftime Show: 'I Think It's Rubbish'
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final took place on Saturday, July 19, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where Spain beat Argentina 1-0 on a 106th-minute goal from Ferran Torres. The match marked the first time a World Cup final has featured a halftime show, curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.
The Halftime Show Lineup and Running Order
Madonna opened the show performing "Music," joined onstage by football legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. The Muppets followed with a rendition of The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army," before BTS took over with "Dynamite."
Ted Lasso actor Jason Sudeikis, appearing in character, introduced Justin Bieber, who performed a solo, slow-tempo new song, "Everything Hallelujah." Shakira and Burna Boy then duetted on "Dai Dai," the official theme song of the 2026 World Cup. Chris Martin closed out the show with the PS22 children's choir, performing Coldplay's new track "We Dance."
Wayne Rooney's Blunt Comment Sets Off a Firestorm
Former England international and BBC pundit Wayne Rooney, asked by host Gabby Logan for his halftime show highlight, didn't hold back: "Honestly, for me the highlight was the moment it finished. I like a lot of the artists in there, but I think it's rubbish — it just didn't spark anything, and I just wanted the football to come back." The clip, posted by BBC Sport, quickly went viral.
Historian Tom Holland commented on X that "Wayne spoke for the whole of Britain," while other users compared Rooney to "an employee on his last day before a holiday who says whatever he wants." Norwegian pundit Aleksander Schau offered an even sharper critique. Liam Gallagher weighed in with two posts of his own, calling the halftime show "like a nightmare" — while also defending Justin Bieber against critics, telling them to "BEHAVE."
Bieber's choice to perform a slow ballad drew particular confusion online, with some calling it "the worst moment in an otherwise mediocre halftime show." According to NME, celebrities in attendance included Donald Trump, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and Timothée Chalamet.