Updated July 20, 2026 — 10:45am,first published July 20, 2026 — 7:49amThe World Cup final delivered the game’s first half-time show ever – and hopefully the last, judging by reactions from pundits and celebrities.Former England striker Wayne Rooney, broadcasting for BBC Sport, said the best part of the performance – which featured Madonna, Justin Bieber and the Muppets – was when it finished. “I like a lot of them artists but I thought it was crap,” he said.What a way to begin! Madonna on the big screen during the half-time show.AP Photo/Frank Franklin IIOasis frontman Liam Gallagher approved of Bieber’s set – “Justin rules,” he posted on X – but he wasn’t so fond of the rest of it.“This is like a bad trip,” he posted. “It’s a good job I’ve got my spiritual socks on or that half-time entertainment could have tipped me over the edge.”After a nervy first half, viewers were given a fever dream of a half-time performance – one that lasted a record 27 minutes and 22 seconds – to relieve the tension. But this was no Super Bowl level extravaganza.Madonna opened up the show singing her hit Music from an underground rollerskating rink, in a car being driven by Brazilian legends Ronaldinho and Ronaldo. Before you could even crack a joke about their tracksuits, the action whiplashed elsewhere.Then it was a sudden shift to the Muppets, with composer Gustavo Dudamel doing the White Stripes’ iconic Seven Nation Army. It must’ve had Jack White turning in his grave (because he sleeps in a coffin, probably).Miss Piggy, Kermit the Frog and other Muppets performed during the half-time show.Getty ImagesThe Ted Lasso cast join the performance.AP Photo/Reed HoffmannK-pop icons BTS, in all red, slipped into their smash Dynamite, before they got interrupted by Ted Lasso stars Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt, who subbed in edgy Hillsong priest Justin Bieber and his acoustic guitar for a chilled out Everything Hallelujah.Colombian star Shakira brought some appropriate World Cup energy, performing the tournament’s anthem Dai Dai with Burna Boy. What would FIFA do without Shakira? Probably a whole show with the Muppets.Tom Cruise addresses the crowd before the game.Getty ImagesIt’s no Beauty and a Beat, but it’s Justin Bieber we got.GettyPost Malone donned a cheeky shirt for the opening ceremony: “I just hope both teams have fun”.Getty ImagesBefore the game, Tom Cruise, dressed like a backstage roadie, delivered a stirring speech from the middle of the pitch like he was the Gandalf of futbol.“Football is a language spoken without words, a force that unites people, that turns strangers to friends,” he said, before announcing the teams – “Espana y Argentina” – with all the cultural respect of an SBS commentator.Shakira dances on the stage.Getty ImagesPost Malone also popped up in a cowboy hat and the tightest Canadian tuxedo you’ll see, performing his new song Chrome Heartbreaker, a return to his rap roots after going country, before bringing out Swae Lee for the Spiderverse hit Sunflowers.It all made about as much sense as the phrase “New York New Jersey”. Let us never revisit this again.Spotted in the stands for the game were A-listers including Will Ferrell, Pharrell Williams, Adrien Brody, Matt Damon (with his Argentinian wife Luciana Barroso), Trevor Noah in a Spain shirt, and San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama.News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.Robert Moran is Spectrum deputy editor at The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via email.From our partners