It was meant to be a night of celebration, but Wayne Rooney was having none of it. The former England captain, working as a pundit for the BBC during Sunday’s 2026 World Cup final, delivered a blistering verdict on the tournament’s first ever halftime show – a performance that included Madonna, The Muppets, Justin Bieber and Shakira. “I thought the best part was when it finished,” Rooney said live on air. “I like a lot of them artists, but I thought it was ****.” His fellow presenters reacted with visible shock, but many viewers at home agreed, quickly declaring Rooney’s take the meme of the night.
The show itself had kicked off promisingly with a classic Madonna hit and a cameo from The Muppets. But the later segments – an acoustic ballad from Justin Bieber introduced by Ted Lasso, Shakira’s ‘Dai Dai’, and a finale featuring a children’s choir, a Sesame Street and Muppets reunion, and co-organiser Chris Martin bringing all performers back onto the pitch (except Madonna, who appeared to have already left) – left many unimpressed. Rooney’s blunt review cut through the polite praise of his fellow pundits.
“Wayne Rooney savages World Cup halftime show as '****'; comedian James Trickey turns Fringe assault into new stage show.”
In other news, a different kind of stage drama is being turned into art. Comedian James Trickey was punched in the face during a performance at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe. Now, he is turning the assault into a new show, telling the story on stage. The Scotsman reported that Trickey will recount the incident as part of his latest act, transforming a violent moment into comedy.
