Wayne Rooney rips 2026 FIFA World Cup halftime show

Wayne Rooney. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

Former English star Wayne Rooney rips 2026 FIFA World Cup halftime show

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Jul 19, 2026 5:40 PM ET

Former English striker Wayne Rooney wasn't among those who enjoyed the halftime show at Sunday's 2026 FIFA World Cup final.

The performance boasted a star-studded lineup that included Shakira, Madonna, Justin Bieber, K-Pop group BTS, Coldplay and, yes, the Muppets. Rooney likes all of these artists, but that didn't stop him from roasting them during BBC Sport's coverage at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Wayne Rooney reacts to halftime show

"My favorite bit of the halftime show was when it finished," Rooney said. "I like all of them artists, but I thought it was crap."

The length of the halftime show may have made Rooney despise it even more. The musical performance itself lasted 11 minutes. However, the entire intermission lasted 27 minutes and 19 seconds (per the Independent's Jamie Braidwood) because of all the stages the crew had to assemble and dismantle.

Former England captain Wayne Rooney wasn’t impressed with FIFA’s first-ever World Cup halftime show:

“My favourite bit of the half time show was when it finished… I like all of them artists but I thought it was crap.”pic.twitter.com/dtb8GCyEl5
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) July 19, 2026

Passionate soccer fans probably didn't appreciate the halftime show delaying the game. A typical halftime normally lasts 15 minutes.

They may not have liked some of the song choices, either. Bieber played his song "EVERYTHING HALLELUJAH," which is about appreciating mundane moments in life. His performance wasn't dreadful, but it was a bit slow for a high-paced sporting event like the World Cup. Bieber has more upbeat songs in his catalog that he could've selected, including "Boyfriend," "Sorry" and "Baby."

Justin Bieber performs a special version of "EVERYTHING HALLELUJAH" at the FIFA #WorldCup Final Halftime Show

(via FOX) pic.twitter.com/Y6NXjVnRDX
— Variety (@Variety) July 19, 2026

Shakira and Burna Boy helped reignite the energy in the crowd when they performed "Dai Dai" after Bieber's set. Even then, that may not have been enough to save the halftime show for some. They hadn't recovered from "Bieber Fever."

Rooney was clearly among those. The crowded halftime show made him feel like he was in a fever dream. One that he wishes he had woken up from.

Clark Dalton

Clark Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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