Wayne Rooney Slams World Cup Final Halftime Show During Live BBC Broadcast
Wayne Rooney criticized the 2026 World Cup final halftime show during a live BBC broadcast, calling the performance underwhelming.
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Wayne Rooney (via Imagn)
Wayne Rooney did not hold back when asked about the first-ever FIFA World Cup halftime show. The England soccer legend criticized the star-studded performance during the BBC’s live coverage of the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina on July 19.
The halftime show marked a major change to the traditional World Cup final format. The performance featured several of the biggest names in music, including Justin Bieber, Madonna, BTS, Shakira, Burna Boy and Coldplay. The Muppets also appeared during the show, while Jason Sudeikis made an appearance as his popular Ted Lasso character.
Despite the impressive lineup, Rooney was not impressed by the performance. The former England captain shared his opinion during the live BBC broadcast after the show ended.
I thought the best part was when it finished. I like a lot of them artists, but I thought it was c*** … I did, honestly.
Wayne Rooney said via BBC
BBC presenter Gabby Logan responded to Rooney’s blunt assessment during the broadcast. “I’ll tell you what else you get on the BBC — honest reviews.”
The halftime show was created in partnership with Global Citizen and supported the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. The initiative works to expand children’s access to education and sports programs in underserved communities.
The performance featured a rapid succession of musical acts. Madonna performed “Music,” while BTS performed “Dynamite.” Shakira and Burna Boy also performed before Coldplay took the stage with a children’s choir. Bieber also appeared during the 11-minute show.
The halftime performance was the latest major addition to the World Cup final experience. However, Rooney’s comments ensured that the show became a talking point for a different reason after the final whistle.
Wayne Rooney also criticizes Argentina after World Cup final loss to Spain
Wayne Rooney’s criticism was not limited to the halftime show. The former Manchester United and England star also addressed the scenes involving Argentina players after the final.
Argentina suffered a 1-0 defeat to Spain after extra time in the World Cup final. Rooney criticized the reaction from the Argentina team following the loss and referred to the team’s previous post-match behavior after England’s elimination from the tournament.
We’ve seen it with Argentina before. It’s not the reaction you want. We saw it after knocking England out in the last round as well. (Argentina midfielder) Enzo Fernandez has got what he deserves. It’s disappointing. That’s just sad. If you lose a game, get out of there. That’s just not good enough. It’s a reaction to them being outplayed, outfought, outthought. They resort to that at the end. It’s sad.
Wayne Rooney said via BBC
Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart, who was also part of the BBC broadcast, shared a similarly strong reaction to the post-match scenes. Hart singled out Lionel Messi for his conduct after the final and contrasted it with the behavior he criticized from other Argentina players.
It’s disgusting. There was one man on the pitch who did have class, and it was Lionel Messi. He shook hands with every one of the Spanish players. The game is done. They can have absolutely no complaints about what happened today. Disgusting behaviour.
Joe Hart via BBC
Spain’s victory secured the 2026 FIFA World Cup title after a 1-0 extra-time win over Argentina. Rooney’s comments about the halftime show and the post-match scenes became two separate talking points from a final that featured a new entertainment format alongside the decisive match of the tournament.
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