Fans at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey were left waiting 27 minutes and 18 seconds for the second half of the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, as FIFA’s extended half-time show featuring Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira and K-pop band BTS overran by more than 10 minutes.
The spectacle, curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, also included a special appearance from Brazilian legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, Nigerian singer Burna Boy, Philharmonic director Gustavo Dudamel, and the PS22 Chorus. But the extended interval – FIFA had initially planned a 17-minute break – prompted a wave of complaints from supporters.
“World Cup final half-time show lasted 27 minutes, sparking fan fury and Rooney's damning verdict”
“This is actually disgraceful I cant lie,” one fan wrote on social media. Another said: “Horrendously long half time show that nobody cares to watch btw @FIFA do better”. A third added: “I hope with this really long half time, there won’t be another hydration break…”
The BBC and ITV, which had initially opted not to broadcast the show and instead focus on analysis, eventually showed part of the on-pitch entertainment as the break dragged on. ITV pundit Gary Neville offered a measured response: “I quite enjoyed it, let’s hope the second half picks up and there’s loads of energy in that.”
But former England striker Wayne Rooney, speaking on BBC, was less forgiving. “I’ll be honest, mine (highlight) was when it finished,” he said. “I like lot of those artists but I thought it was crap. I did, honestly.”
The delay forced players including Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal to endure an extended wait before the second half could begin. FIFA had declined on multiple occasions to clarify the length of the interval before the match.