Roy Keane sparked uproar in the ITV studio with his cheeky reaction to the World Cup final halftime show, while Wayne Rooney delivered a blunt assessment on the BBC, calling the performance “crap.”
Keane's Shakira Comment Stuns Co-Stars
The halftime show of the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina featured an extended 11-minute spectacle with performances by Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, and BTS. The break lasted over 27 minutes, far exceeding the usual 15 minutes.
When asked for his opinion, former Manchester United captain Roy Keane said: “It was a bit of an anti-climax, but I think the people in the stadium probably enjoyed it more than us. But it’s always nice to see Shakira.” His comment sent his fellow pundits—Gary Neville, Ian Wright, and Mark Pougatch—into uncontrollable laughter.
Wright and Neville Weigh In
Ian Wright criticized Justin Bieber’s somber performance, stating: “I felt like maybe he should have been a little bit more upbeat and livened us up a bit. It felt a bit down.” Gary Neville, however, admitted he enjoyed the music: “I quite enjoyed it. Let’s hope the second half picks up and there’s loads of energy.”
Rooney's Brutal Verdict on BBC
Over on BBC One, Wayne Rooney did not hold back. Working as a pundit alongside Joe Hart and Micah Richards at MetLife Stadium, the 40-year-old former England striker was asked by presenter Gabby Logan for his highlights. He replied: “I’ll be honest, mine was when it finished. I like a lot of them artists but I thought it was crap. It just didn’t get me going and I wanted the football to come back on. I like Burna Boy, I like Bieber, I like Shakira, but that was too flat.”
Richards, who picked Shakira and Burna Boy as his highlights, called Rooney “miserable” for his frank assessment. Logan added: “I’ll tell you what else you get on the BBC: honest reviews.”
FIFA's Grand Show
The halftime show was curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, with plans announced by FIFA president Gianni Infantino in March 2025. The spectacle included Madonna being driven onto the pitch by Brazilian legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, alongside performances by South Korean boyband BTS, Shakira, Justin Bieber, and Burna Boy.
