FIFA broke its promise to keep the half-time interval short during the Women's World Cup final, extending the break to over 27 minutes for an 11-minute musical performance featuring Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, and BTS. The extended interval forced Spain and Argentina players to wait in the dressing rooms longer than the standard 15 minutes.
Wayne Rooney, speaking on BBC Sport, gave a blunt five-word review: "I thought it was crap." He later agreed that Justin Bieber's performance was "too flat." ITV pundit Ally McCoist said the spectacle had "mentally scarred" him, and other analysts criticized broadcasters for airing the full music segment during a football show.
Post-Match Brawl Erupts
Immediately after Spain's 1-0 extra-time victory, Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes sparked a physical brawl by violently shoving Spanish substitute Gavi to the ground. Social media footage showed Paredes tracking down defender Eric Garcia, placing his hand on Garcia's neck, and aggressively shoving him. Fans called for a lifetime ban.
Reports emerged that Argentina defender Nahuel Molina allegedly punched a Spanish substitute in the stomach during the chaotic scrum. Paredes, who had already received a yellow card for pushing Dani Olmo, was shown a straight red card after the final whistle. Managers and assistants, including Argentina's Lionel Scaloni, had to intervene to control players.
Argentina Accused of Disrespect
Argentina faced further criticism for turning their backs on Spain during the trophy ceremony. Instead of watching and applauding, Argentina players faced the crowd, showing what many considered disrespect. FIFA later launched an investigation into Argentina's conduct.
The ugly scenes overshadowed Spain's hard-fought victory and raised questions about FIFA's management of the event and player discipline.
