Wayne Rooney, the former England captain, has sharply criticized the halftime show at the recent World Cup final, calling it "crap" and stating that the "best part was when it finished." The assessment was published by Kieran Gill for the Daily Mail, who characterized the performance as "nauseating" and a clear indication of FIFA President Gianni Infantino's "vanity project."
The halftime entertainment featured a medley of performers including Madonna, Shakira, BTS, Burna Boy, and Justin Bieber. The event, described as "spectacularly tacky," drew comparisons to the Super Bowl and was seen by the author as out of place for a World Cup final. Former players Gary Neville, Ian Wright, and Roy Keane were also mentioned in the context of their commentary on the match.
Beyond the halftime show, the article points to other pre-match and in-game elements that contributed to a perceived decline in the World Cup's focus on the sport itself. A pre-match speech by actor Tom Cruise was reportedly drowned out by crowd noise, and appearances by celebrities such as Will Ferrell, Matt Damon, and Adrien Brody were noted. The article also highlighted the presence of former President Donald Trump alongside Infantino.
Further complicating the event was the duration of the halftime break, which reportedly lasted 27 minutes and 18 seconds. This exceeded the 15-minute maximum stipulated by the laws of the game. The article suggests that "proper fans" would have booed the halftime show into oblivion, implying a disconnect between FIFA's entertainment choices and the traditional football audience.
Other elements contributing to the perceived excess included Robbie Williams performing FIFA's anthem "Desire" alongside Nicole Scherzinger and Laura Pausini, the trophy's delivery in a Louis Vuitton case, and the announcement of the finalists by Bruce and Michael Buffer. These additions, according to the report, contributed to a delay in the match's kick-off.
