A Disappointing Spectacle
Following the intense 2026 FIFA World Cup final, which saw Spain edge out Argentina with a 1-0 victory in extra time, attention shifted from the pitch to the entertainment. While the match kept fans on the edge of their seats, English football icon Wayne Rooney was far from impressed by the inaugural World Cup halftime show.
Commenting live on the BBC, Rooney did not mince his words: «I thought the best part was when it finished. I like a lot of them artists, but I thought it was crap… I did, honestly.»
The star-studded event featured heavyweights such as Justin Bieber, Madonna, BTS, and Shakira, alongside surprise cameos from The Muppets and Jason Sudeikis in his Ted Lasso persona. Despite the high-profile lineup, FIFA president Gianni Infantino defended the production, stating that the organization, in collaboration with Global Citizen, successfully delivered a «spectacular and unifying» show meant to promote education and global joy.
Concerns Over Player Conduct
Rooney’s critique extended beyond the musical performance as he turned his attention to the behavior of the Argentine squad after the final whistle. The 40-year-old former striker expressed deep frustration regarding a post-match brawl.
«We’ve seen it with Argentina before,» Rooney noted. «It’s not the reaction you want. We saw it after knocking England out in the last round as well. Enzo Fernandez has got what he deserves. It’s disappointing. That’s just sad.»
Support from Fellow Pundits
Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart echoed Rooney's sentiments regarding the Argentine team’s lack of sportsmanship. Hart emphasized that the behavior was a stark contrast to the professionalism shown by Lionel Messi.
«It’s disgusting,» Hart remarked during the broadcast. «There was one man on the pitch who did have class and it was Lionel Messi. He shook hands with every one of the Spanish players. The game is done. They can have absolutely no complaints about what happened today. Disgusting behaviour.»