I have took some time to decide my feelings on this as it seems to be getting a lot of hate, and im questioning if its because people haven't been informed ( in the uk it seems )
The halftime show was a charity event partnership from Global Citizen and Fifa to raise 100m for education etc of our youth. This was projected big to me on Spanish tv,it told me exactly what the half time show was. The hosts only complained about the time it took but kept reiterating the charity aspect.
Im even more shocked that nobody in the UK seems to know that, people laughing at Rooneys insult of it on the BBC and so on,which i find even more bizarre as the BBC showed the Global Citizen Concert a few years ago.
France TFL- explicitly called it a charitable production and explained the program with their ' objectiv caritatif' section on live tv
Germanys bild ran a huge piece about helping the NGO etc with education and their broadcast made it clear it was charity show.
Brazils Globo publiced a report on how the charity helps people during the performance.
I can go on and on
So what happened? I don't blame Rooney if he didn't know because I'm sure he wouldn't have used those words if he knew the reason for the half time show.
I just find the whole thing very strange, and is getting hate because... Well i don't know ? ::candle::
1. I don't want every major football match to turn into an Superbowl type thing
2. They could have done it before or after
3. Half time took longer than normal which could affect the footballers
4. They could at least have hired that were relevant from the past five years. Not Madonna and Sharira and Bieber
5. It was just cringe
The fact that it was a 'charitable event' doesn't stop it from being 'crap', if that's what it was. Rooney called it as he saw it.
it was still inappropriate for a football match, any football match whether it's the WC Final or a Monday night in Halifax.
It's potentialy the thin end of the wedge and I am totally and utterly opposed to it. End of.
Personally I didn't care, or have any issues with it, yes it's a football final which in my eyes should be a spectacular event, millions of people throughout the world watched it, which in turn probably raised millions for the charity. I often wonder why we English seem opposed to this, I would have loved to have been there. I wonder if people object to the opening and closing performances at the olympics, or is it ok because it's not football.
It's not the fact it's a show, it's that it extended half-time to half an hour that doesn't sit well.
As to whether it was a good show, it started with Madonna and the poker playing Ronaldo looking like they were competing against Penelope Pitstop, Dick Dastardly &Co and it all deteriorated from there. Justin Bieber moped around for a while and Shakira wiggled tunelessly, because that's what she does. Some kids did their best I suppose. I could summarise it in a word, but it's already been done.
Quote from: Sammyffc on July 20, 2026, 06:06:37 PMI have took some time to decide my feelings on this as it seems to be getting a lot of hate, and im questioning if its because people haven't been informed ( in the uk it seems )
The halftime show was a charity event partnership from Global Citizen and Fifa to raise 100m for education etc of our youth. This was projected big to me on Spanish tv,it told me exactly what the half time show was. The hosts only complained about the time it took but kept reiterating the charity aspect.
Im even more shocked that nobody in the UK seems to know that, people laughing at Rooneys insult of it on the BBC and so on,which i find even more bizarre as the BBC showed the Global Citizen Concert a few years ago.
France TFL- explicitly called it a charitable production and explained the program with their ' objectiv caritatif' section on live tv
Germanys bild ran a huge piece about helping the NGO etc with education and their broadcast made it clear it was charity show.
Brazils Globo publiced a report on how the charity helps people during the performance.
I can go on and on
So what happened? I don't blame Rooney if he didn't know because I'm sure he wouldn't have used those words if he knew the reason for the half time show.
I just find the whole thing very strange, and is getting hate because... Well i don't know ? ::candle::
I am not aware that there was any reference to the charity aspect on ITV or Talksport either. The point in my mind was charity or not it extended the half time of the most important match in the football calendar by fifteen minutes. It completely ruined the flow of the match (whatever that was!).
Decided to do some washing up in the kitchen.
More enjoyable than watching that garbage.
Charitable or not it was awful. I couldn't believe what I saw at times and after 10 or so minutes turned it off
As above, charitable or not, Wayne Rooney was absolutely correct in saying the best bit was when it ended and it was crap.
Didn't enjoy it at all (except for my daughter explaining to me what a Belieber is). I must say that I don't think it had any impact on the flow of the game because the first half had no flow. Second half was much better. Maybe they put that extra time to good use.
It was crap. I muted the sound till the match re-started.
Like what was offered or not is a matter of taste and no one has to listen
With regard to extending the halftime break - why not?
Unlike Theatres and other sporting events - you are not allowed to take drinks back to your seat - so any drinks have to be consumed before the end of the break.
So if you want to pee and have a drink, you are almost guaranteed to miss part of the game - either by leaving before the halftime whistle or returning after the second half has started.
In either case you disturb people in the row you are sitting and the seats behind.
So why not give more time and have entertainment for those who remain seated
The game was no classic half-time show, made it worse, that bloke with the solo guitar what was he mumbling about. Ten minutes of Shirley Bassey would have been OK.
Quote from: alfie on July 20, 2026, 07:03:35 PMPersonally I didn't care, or have any issues with it, yes it's a football final which in my eyes should be a spectacular event, millions of people throughout the world watched it, which in turn probably raised millions for the charity. I often wonder why we English seem opposed to this, I would have loved to have been there. I wonder if people object to the opening and closing performances at the olympics, or is it ok because it's not football.
There's a reason why they put in the (extended) half time break, too many people would have ignored it if it was before or after the game. Or at least I guess that was the idea?
The Olympic opening and closing ceremonies are a big part of the event, football and the culture around it has no history of such things.
There's also the fact that when these kinds of events are put on they are often naff to say the least!
I think Wayne Rooney summed up the occasion perfectly. ::thumb::
Mediocre but inoffensive Half time show.
Can't get much lower than Wayne Rooney.
So now a half hour break is creating a new precedent. Why not then 45 minutes or an hour? When will this tampering ever stop? Viewers across the world all tuned in to watch a football match - the most significant match in the world, not a half hour charity spectacle. Most genuine football fans love & respect its traditions. There's a reason why half time has always remained at 15 minutes - we don't want a longer break. Let's strive to keep it that way.
Sorry but you're changing a sport by adding that extra time to half time. It's wrong and no one should have agreed it.
Fifa have made a reported $15 BILLION from the world cup, they could have charitably donated that same amount.
It was a smokescreen to get people to approve of it- unfortunately the OP looks like he fell for it.
So American (coming from a yank). It was difficult to watch, but not as difficult as it was watching the American commentators. The terminology (from ex-professional footballers) was amazing and one could only watch in disbelief. Let me translate a few I saw:
"Making A Fly By": Two players going for a header.
"Sending a Hail Mary": Playing a long ball.
"Playing it through the backdoor": A one-two.
There were a bunch of others I can't remember, and it was painful.
Quote from: Jim© on July 21, 2026, 09:54:51 AMSorry but you're changing a sport by adding that extra time to half time. It's wrong and no one should have agreed it.
Fifa have made a reported $15 BILLION from the world cup, they could have charitably donated that same amount.
It was a smokescreen to get people to approve of it- unfortunately the OP looks like he fell for it.
'fell for it' , fell for what exactly ?
A charity signed a partnership with Fifa in 2024 to raise educational money. What's the issue?
The same charity that works with UN foundation, UN development Programme, World Bank group and so on. I guess all of those orgs ' fell for it ' ?
You can criticise fifa because you don't like thier musical show, but to say it's a 'smokescreen'..for what ?, for a real four year partnership and education fund for one of the biggest charities on earth?
And fifa made 15b revenue, their spending budget was 12.9bn for the world cup..
I think many here are getting their knickers twisted up in a bunch. The WC final is only once every four years. I see nothing wrong with having a HT show as such, once every four years. No big deal. **yawn**
As far as this particular show, I thought it was bad, with just one exception. I thought Shakira was terrific, very entertaining. Very pretty, great singer and dancer. At 49 looks really good and I just don't know how she shakes those hips as she does. Entertaining, and by far the best of the lot of performers.
I think a few people didn't like the performers, not necessarily the idea. I remember watching Fulham I hated standing/ sitting at half time, I preferred having some activity going on, I bet not too may people objected to the Cravenettes at half time.
If we are to be subjected to a half time show of amusement and entertainment.
I certainly would only want the
Mandatory 15 minutes not a ridiculous half an hour circus, but I am not interested in watching what basically could pass for e Karaoke at a holiday camp.
Furthermore if I have to be press ganged into
watching it.
A Punch & Judy show would be far more entertaining with Mr Punch giving an effigy of Infantino a wack on his Uncle Ned with his club.
Now that is worth watching for 15 minutes.
Generally in football things are becoming very much more like an amusement park or cruise.
The music at the world cup blared out much too loudly every time there was no action, the announcers were lowest common denominator style childish. I loved going to football when the fans made the atmosphere,
1996 the English fans took back control until the PR men decided to try and insight an atmosphere.
The half time show was reminiscent of 1950s US TV entertainment and I mean that with all the contempt I can muster. It was unnecessary and awful.
If I go to see 'family entertainment' on stage in London, I don't expect a football match to break out on stage during the intermission.
Maybe they raised money for charity and maybe they didn't, personally I do not trust anything FIFA say, but the show had no place in a football final. The game should be treated as the crown jewel once every four units and left undiluted.
Everyone is entitled to an opinion but mine is that the whole thing was unnecessary, pointless and I hope is scrapped for ever more.
Crap
Quote from: Sammyffc on July 21, 2026, 02:45:38 PMQuote from: Jim© on July 21, 2026, 09:54:51 AMSorry but you're changing a sport by adding that extra time to half time. It's wrong and no one should have agreed it.
Fifa have made a reported $15 BILLION from the world cup, they could have charitably donated that same amount.
It was a smokescreen to get people to approve of it- unfortunately the OP looks like he fell for it.
'fell for it' , fell for what exactly ?
A charity signed a partnership with Fifa in 2024 to raise educational money. What's the issue?
The same charity that works with UN foundation, UN development Programme, World Bank group and so on. I guess all of those orgs ' fell for it ' ?
You can criticise fifa because you don't like thier musical show, but to say it's a 'smokescreen'..for what ?, for a real four year partnership and education fund for one of the biggest charities on earth?
And fifa made 15b revenue, their spending budget was 12.9bn for the world cup..
Fell for the simple fact that USA weren't exactly embracing the World Cup as imposing itself upon it.
The change of the game format is wrong. They could still have raised that money in closing ceremony or within a 15 minute half time break. But not the USA, they wanted to change things, all with infantinos express permission. It stinks and hides behind charity which I don't agree with.
Sorry if my language seemed overly aggressive, it wasn't meant to be at all.
Quote from: Jim© on July 21, 2026, 10:52:49 PMQuote from: Sammyffc on July 21, 2026, 02:45:38 PMQuote from: Jim© on July 21, 2026, 09:54:51 AMSorry but you're changing a sport by adding that extra time to half time. It's wrong and no one should have agreed it.
Fifa have made a reported $15 BILLION from the world cup, they could have charitably donated that same amount.
It was a smokescreen to get people to approve of it- unfortunately the OP looks like he fell for it.
'fell for it' , fell for what exactly ?
A charity signed a partnership with Fifa in 2024 to raise educational money. What's the issue?
The same charity that works with UN foundation, UN development Programme, World Bank group and so on. I guess all of those orgs ' fell for it ' ?
You can criticise fifa because you don't like thier musical show, but to say it's a 'smokescreen'..for what ?, for a real four year partnership and education fund for one of the biggest charities on earth?
And fifa made 15b revenue, their spending budget was 12.9bn for the world cup..
Fell for the simple fact that USA weren't exactly embracing the World Cup as imposing itself upon it.
The change of the game format is wrong. They could still have raised that money in closing ceremony or within a 15 minute half time break. But not the USA, they wanted to change things, all with infantinos express permission. It stinks and hides behind charity which I don't agree with.
Sorry if my language seemed overly aggressive, it wasn't meant to be at all.
I agree with your rational comments, about the way the USA have handled the WC.