BBC panel shocked by Wayne Rooney’s surprising reaction to World Cup half-time show
Wayne Rooney left Micah Richards, Joe Hart, and Gabby Logan speechless after sharing his thoughts on the World Cup half-time show.
On Sunday night, the 2026 World Cup will come to an end as Argentina and Spain meet in the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The first half was cautious, with both the current champions and Euro 2024 winners heading into the break with the score tied at 0-0.
To keep the energy up, FIFA put on a special half-time show, inspired by the Super Bowl — the first of its kind at the World Cup. Big names like Justin Bieber, Shakira, Burna Boy, Madonna, BTS, and even Brazil legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho took part. But the show also caused some fuss because FIFA broke a strict football rule.
Fans and experts quickly shared their opinions. Some enjoyed the new style, while others thought it didn’t fit such an important game.
Wayne Rooney, a Manchester United and England great, was definitely in the “didn’t like it” camp. Speaking live on the BBC, he didn’t hold back.
When asked about their favorite moments, Richards and Hart named some artists, but Rooney said, “Honestly, mine was when it finished. I like many of those artists, but I thought it was poor. It didn’t hype me up. I want the football back on. I like Burna Boy, Bieber, Shakira — but that was flat.”
Hart, Richards, and presenter Logan were taken aback by Rooney’s blunt comments, and Logan quickly moved the conversation on, joking, “You get honest reviews here at the BBC!”
Most fans seemed unhappy with the show, mainly because it delayed the start of the second half by almost 30 minutes. But Gary Neville shared a different view with ITV, saying, “I quite enjoyed it. Let’s hope the second half is full of energy.”
Before kick-off, the tournament’s official closing ceremony featured stars like Post Malone, Tom Cruise, and IShowSpeed, adding even more excitement to this big day.