Former England captain Wayne Rooney did not hold back in his assessment of FIFA's first-ever World Cup final halftime show, saying he was relieved when
the performance ended and wanted the football to resume.
The Manchester United legend criticised the Super Bowl-style spectacle staged during the interval of Spain's 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina at MetLife Stadium, where global stars including Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber and Burna Boy headlined the inaugural show.
Rooney unimpressed by FIFA World Cup halftime experiment
Appearing as a pundit on the BBC alongside Micah Richards and Joe Hart, Rooney was asked by presenter Gabby Logan to name his favourite moment from the 11-minute performance.
The 40-year-old delivered a characteristically blunt response.
"I'll be honest, mine was when it finished. "
Despite admitting he enjoys many of the artists who performed, Rooney felt the show failed to capture his attention.
"I like a lot of them artists but I thought it was crap. It just didn't 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. "
Micah Richards and Roy Keane offer different views
Rooney's comments prompted a light-hearted response from fellow pundit Micah Richards, who jokingly labelled the former England captain "miserable" for not embracing the entertainment.
On ITV, former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane also gave his verdict, although his criticism was more measured.
"It was a bit of an anti-climax, but I think the people in the stadium probably enjoyed it more than us. "
FIFA World Cup introduced a Super Bowl-style show for the first time
The performance marked a significant change to football's biggest match, with FIFA introducing a halftime show inspired by the NFL's Super Bowl.
Curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, the production featured performances and appearances from Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, BTS, Burna Boy, as well as the Muppets and Sesame Street characters.
The event was also tied to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million for education initiatives around the world.
Fans divided over the new World Cup tradition
The halftime show quickly became one of the most talked-about aspects of the World Cup final, with supporters split over FIFA's decision to bring American-style entertainment to football's biggest stage.
While many praised the star-studded lineup and the ambition behind the production, others questioned whether the extended interval disrupted the rhythm of the match and detracted from the sporting spectacle.
Rooney's comments echoed the views of traditionalists who believe the focus should remain firmly on the football, even as FIFA looks to modernise and broaden the appeal of its flagship event.
