Wayne Rooney pans World Cup halftime show after star-packed final
The former England striker gave a blunt BBC Sport verdict after FIFA’s first World Cup final halftime show at MetLife Stadium.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
3 min read
Wayne Rooney needed only a few words to become one of the loudest post-match talking points from the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
The former England footballer, working as a BBC Sport pundit, was asked on air by presenter Gabby Logan to pick his favorite moment from the World Cup final halftime show, according to Mashable. Rooney’s answer was not wrapped in pundit polish.
“I'll be honest, mine was when it finished. I like a lot of them artists, but I thought it was crap,” Rooney said during the BBC Sport broadcast, as reported by Mashable.
Mashable reported that the clip of Rooney’s straight-faced review has since been shared thousands of times on X, where the bluntness of the answer helped it travel fast.
A Super Bowl-style swing for FIFA
The show took place during Sunday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup final at MetLife Stadium, according to Mashable, marking a major departure for a tournament better known for keeping halftime focused on the football.
Mashable reported that the performance was curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin alongside Global Citizen. The lineup brought together a stack of global pop and entertainment names, including Shakira, BTS, Justin Bieber and Burna Boy.
The production also featured Jason Sudeikis appearing as Ted Lasso, plus a special appearance from the Muppets, according to Mashable.
Another Mashable report on the same event said the final was played between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026. That report also said the halftime show included Madonna, who appeared in a mostly prerecorded entrance using her 2000 hit “Music.”
Madonna was shown with football legends Ronaldinho and Ronaldo, Mashable reported. BTS performed “Dynamite,” while Sudeikis and Brendon Hunt, both associated with “Ted Lasso,” introduced Justin Bieber. Shakira appeared with Burna Boy to perform “Dai Dai,” according to the report.
Online reaction was split
Mashable described the broader online response as busy and mixed, with plenty of enthusiasm in some corners and criticism elsewhere. Its report said the show lasted under six minutes, a short runtime that became part of the online conversation.
Rooney’s verdict stood out because it came from inside the BBC Sport commentary setup rather than from a social media account watching at home.
The former England striker did not criticize any one performer individually in the quoted exchange. He said he liked many of the artists involved, but made clear that the overall halftime spectacle did not work for him.
For FIFA, the show represented a move toward the kind of mid-game entertainment long associated with the Super Bowl. For Rooney, at least on the BBC broadcast, the best bit arrived when the music stopped.
This story draws on original reporting from Mashable.