A star-studded halftime show featuring some of the world’s biggest music acts received mixed reactions from critics after it brought together performers including Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, Shakira and The Muppets during the World Cup final.
The show, held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, was produced by FIFA and Global Citizen as part of a campaign to raise $100 million for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which supports efforts to reduce extreme poverty and expand access to sports for children.
While the performance attracted global attention because of its famous lineup, several critics questioned whether it delivered the kind of impact expected from a major World Cup event.
The Times gave the show two out of five stars, comparing it with the halftime spectacle of the Super Bowl, the championship game of American football.
“The Americanisation of the World Cup is now complete,” the newspaper wrote, criticising the decision to extend the traditional halftime break from 15 to 25 minutes to accommodate the entertainment programme.
The New York Times praised the production as “impeccably choreographed” but said the show appeared disconnected from some football fans, describing it as a performance with “lots of stars and little purpose.”
The Telegraph gave a more positive review, awarding the show three stars and calling it “charming, friendly and intimate” compared with the larger Super Bowl halftime productions. It praised the participation of the P2SS Chorus of Staten Island, a children’s choir that performed at the end of the show, although it described Madonna’s pre-recorded opening as underwhelming.
The Guardian said the performance moved quickly between artists and packed many songs into a short period. However, it criticised Justin Bieber’s performance of Everything Hallelujah, saying the slower rendition did not match the energy of the event.
Time magazine said the show attempted to represent too many styles of music in a limited time, resulting in a performance that was widely accessible but lacked standout moments.
The halftime show took place before Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup final to win their first men’s title since 2010.
The victory also made Spain the first country to hold both the men’s and women’s World Cup trophies at the same time, after its women’s team won the tournament in 2023.
