Soccer legend Wayne Rooney did NOT hold back after the World Cup final on Sunday, straight up calling the star-studded halftime show “crap.” Yeah, you heard that right. The former England and Manchester United midfielder didn’t mince words, making it crystal clear the performance just didn’t get him hyped.
The Superstar Show Rooney Couldn’t Stand
FIFA really went all out for this World Cup final halftime. They pulled in some absolute titans: Shakira, Justin Bieber, Madonna, Burna Boy, and BTS were all headlining. Madonna kicked things off, then we saw Gustavo Dudamel with the Muppets, BTS, and Bieber. Shakira and Burna Boy even closed it out performing the 2026 FIFA World Cup theme song, “Dai Dai.” Coldplay’s Chris Martin curated the whole thing, supporting the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, and millions of fans around the world tuned in. The performance itself lasted 11 minutes, and the crowd at the New York New Jersey Stadium actually gave the performers a strong ovation. Organizers even extended the total halftime break to 27 minutes and 27 seconds just to set up and take down the stage. It was a massive production.
A Legend’s Brutally Honest Take
Despite all that pomp and circumstance, Rooney’s take was shockingly blunt. He was right there on broadcast, saying, “My favorite bit of the half time show was when it finished. I like all of them artists but I thought it was crap.” His co-hosts were visibly surprised by his comments, not expecting such a strong opinion. They then pivoted to discussing the actual game, where Spain and Argentina played physically throughout the first 45 minutes, with Spain dominating Lionel Messi and Argentina to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It just goes to show you, even with all those global superstars and a massive budget, not everyone’s going to be on board.
So, what does this tell us? When a legend like Rooney, who’s seen it all in the biggest games, rips a performance this hard, you gotta wonder if FIFA will be rethinking their approach for future major events. Millions watched, and one of the sport’s biggest names definitely wasn’t impressed.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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