Roy Keane's cheeky remark about Shakira's performance during the FIFA World Cup 2026 final halftime show left his ITV co-stars in fits of laughter, while over on BBC, Wayne Rooney bluntly labeled the 11-minute spectacle 'cr*p'.
Keane's Comment Sparks Hilarity
During the half-time break of the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, a star-studded show featuring Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, BTS, and a cameo from The Muppets took place. After the performance, Roy Keane, working as a pundit for ITV, offered his thoughts: '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.'
The comment was met with a momentary silence before his fellow pundits Gary Neville, Ian Wright, and presenter Mark Pougatch erupted into laughter. The moment quickly became a talking point among viewers.
Fellow Pundits Weigh In
Ian Wright criticized Justin Bieber's performance, saying: 'I felt like maybe he should have been a little bit more upbeat and livened us up a bit. It felt a bit down.' In contrast, Gary Neville confessed he was impressed: 'I quite enjoyed it. Let's hope the second half picks up and there's loads of energy.'
Wayne Rooney's Blunt Assessment
Over on BBC One, Wayne Rooney did not hold back. When asked by presenter Gabby Logan for his highlights of the show, the former England striker replied: 'I'll be honest, mine was when it finished. I like a lot of them artists but I thought it was cr*p. 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.'
Rooney was working as a pundit alongside Joe Hart and Micah Richards at the stadium. FIFA had extended the standard 15-minute half-time break to over 27 minutes to accommodate the 11-minute show.
Mixed Reactions from Viewers
The halftime show received mixed reactions from viewers on social media, with some praising the lineup and others agreeing with Rooney's assessment. The match itself saw Spain and Argentina battle for the World Cup title, with the halftime entertainment providing a brief diversion from the action.
