Wayne Rooney has slammed the first-ever FIFA World Cup final halftime show, saying he could not wait for it to end.
The former England captain shared his verdict while working as a BBC pundit during the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
When presenter Gabby Logan asked the panel for their favorite part of the performance, Rooney did not hesitate.
I will be honest, mine was when it finished.
He later explained that although he enjoys the artists who performed, the show failed to impress him.
I like a lot of them artists, but I thought it was crap. It just did not get me going and I wanted the football to come back on. I like Burna Boy, I like Bieber, I like Shakira, but that was too flat.
The halftime show featured Justin Bieber, Shakira, Burna Boy, BTS, Madonna and Coldplay in the first Super Bowl-style performance at a FIFA World Cup final.
Rooney’s comments quickly went viral, with fans split over his criticism.
While some agreed the extended halftime interrupted the match, others praised FIFA for bringing a new entertainment element to football’s biggest stage.
Spain went on to beat Argentina 1-0 to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup.