The international press pointed to the halftime show of the 2026 World Cup final as a waste of figures that failed to connect. The New York Times summed it up: “Lots of stars and little point” and gave it two out of five stars.
The 27-minute show—twelve more than the regular break—included Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, BTS, Chris Martin and Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel with the New York Philharmonic. The American newspaper described the performance as “fluid and full of content”, but noted that it conveyed “a feeling of exhaustion and overload.”
Wayne Rooney, former English footballer, was more direct: “The best thing was when it was over.” In statements quoted by the media, he described the show as “rubbish.”
Mixed criticism and praise
The Telegraph, on the other hand, gave it three out of five stars and called it “charming, warm and intimate” compared to the Super Bowl. However, he criticized Madonna’s entrance – “a frog stole the show” – in reference to the vehicle with which she appeared with Ronaldo and Ronaldinho.
The Guardian noted that the intermission “flew by” as it packed a lot into 11 minutes with quick artist changes. But he questioned Justin Bieber’s version of “Everything Hallelujah” as being “melancholic” and inappropriate for a lively environment. He concluded: “Artistically, he accomplished so much that he ended up saying nothing.”
Time magazine compared the show to a generic “Now That’s What I Call Music” compilation album and noted that “the excessive cast proved to be the main problem with a show that was too short.” He added that he sought to please in a way that was “so banal and cloying that few moments really stood out.”
