Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber and BTS performed at the World Cup final half-time show, drawing thousands of spectators in a spectacle that organisers positioned as a rival to the Super Bowl. The performance stretched to 27 minutes and 22 seconds, making it the longest half-time show in World Cup history.
Madonna opened her segment with her hit song “Music,” emerging from tunnels beneath the arena alongside Brazilian football legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. The show’s length had sparked controversy beforehand, since the International Football Association Board rules cap stoppages at 15 minutes.
Colombian singer Shakira and Nigerian musician Burna Boy reunited on stage, having already performed together at the tournament’s opening ceremony in Mexico City last month. BTS took the stage as part of their return from a three-year hiatus, during which members completed mandatory military service in South Korea.
Celebrities Pack the Stands as Performances Draw Global Attention
Kylie Jenner and her boyfriend Timothée Chalamet watched from the stands, along with Beyoncé and Jay-Z. British-Argentine actress Anya Taylor-Joy attended with her husband, musician Malcolm McRae. She had told reporters ahead of the England v Argentina semi-final that she supported Argentina “in her heart of hearts.”
The closing ceremony began earlier with a series of performances, including Jennifer Hudson singing the national anthem and a speech from actor Tom Cruise. Streamer IShowSpeed took the field first at New York New Jersey Stadium, accompanied by drummers and dancers. Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams and Italian singer Laura Pausini performed together, and Post Malone sang his hit “Wow” alongside rapper Swae Lee. Pausini told the BBC she felt goosebumps when Williams invited her to join him on stage.
Tom Cruise addressed the crowd before introducing the match, telling spectators that football is a language spoken without words, a force that unites people. David Beckham and his wife Victoria Beckham were seen sharing a laugh with Cruise during the event. Former US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump also attended, joined by FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Rooney Criticises Show as Debate Over Length Continues
Not every reaction to the performance was positive. Former England player Wayne Rooney, working as part of the BBC commentary team, gave an unfiltered assessment after the show ended. He said he liked many of the performing artists personally but described the overall show as poor.
The half-time show’s extended runtime has renewed discussion about whether future World Cup finals will follow a similar format, given the commercial and broadcast interest such performances generate. The event drew comparisons to the Super Bowl halftime show, long considered the benchmark for large-scale sporting entertainment in the United States.
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Match Follows Ceremony as Spain Claims Second World Cup Title
The performances preceded a final in which Spain defeated Argentina to win the World Cup for the second time in the tournament’s history. The match capped a tournament that included stops across North America, with the closing ceremony held at New York New Jersey Stadium.
Organisers had built the event around both the football final and an extensive entertainment lineup, drawing attention from fans, celebrities and political figures alike throughout the evening.
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