Wayne Rooney, the retired England forward, has publicly criticized FIFA regarding the extended intermission during the 2026 World Cup final. The event, which took place in New Jersey between Argentina and Spain, featured a halftime show lasting nearly 30 minutes, far exceeding the 15-minute limit stipulated by IFAB regulations.
Following a scoreless first half, spectators watched performances from various artists, including Madonna, Shakira, BTS, Justin Bieber, and Burna Boy. The segment also featured appearances by Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Jason Sudeikis, and Muppets characters Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy. Despite the star-studded lineup, Rooney expressed his dissatisfaction to Utd Report, remarking that his favorite part of the show was its conclusion and describing the entertainment as poor.
The match had already faced delays before kickoff, starting six minutes behind schedule due to speeches and performances by Robbie Williams, Jennifer Hudson, Tom Cruise, and announcers Michael and Bruce Buffer.
