World Cup final halftime show divides fans as Madonna, BTS and Shakira lead historic performance

Fans split after Fifa's first World Cup final halftime show extended break beyond usual interval for multiple stars

The first-ever halftime show at a Fifa World Cup final prompted mixed reactions from fans after a break featuring Madonna, BTS, Shakira, Justin Bieber and several surprise guests extended the interval during the Argentina versus Spain final.

Madonna opened the performance with her 2000 hit "Music", joined by Brazilian football legends Ronaldinho and Ronaldo, who won the World Cup together in 2002.

The show then moved through a varied programme that included The Muppets performing alongside Los Angeles Philharmonic conductor Gustavo Dudamel on The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army".

K-pop group BTS performed their 2020 hit "Dynamite", while Jason Sudeikis appeared in character as Ted Lasso alongside Brendan Hunt as Coach Beard.

Justin Bieber later performed an acoustic rendition of his 2025 single "Everything Hallelujah", before Shakira and Burna Boy took the stage with the official World Cup anthem "Dai Dai". Coldplay closed the performance with the accompaniment of a children's choir.

The halftime show lasted 27 minutes and 19 seconds, delaying the restart of the match. The Laws of the Game, governed by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), state that halftime intervals should "not exceed 15 minutes".

The extended break drew criticism from many supporters on social media. One X user shared a Godfather meme and wrote, "Halftime show at World Cup final. Look how they massacred my beautiful game."

Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher also reacted, posting, "It's a good job I've got my spiritual socks on or that halftime entertainment could have tipped me over the edge."

Some fans questioned the impact on players' match preparations, while others praised the spectacle. One viewer wrote, "Didn't even know there was a World Cup halftime show and it's better than any Super Bowl halftime show I've ever seen."

Former England captain Wayne Rooney described the show as "crap" during the BBC's coverage. Gary Neville said he "enjoyed it", while Ian Wright credited Burna Boy's appearance with Shakira.

Roy Keane offered a more measured verdict, saying, "It was a bit of an anti-climax, but listen, it's so nice to see Shakira."