It was supposed to be the highlight alongside the sport itself, but the first halftime show in the history of a soccer World Cup left many viewers shaking their heads. At Sunday's final between Argentina and Spain at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, Shakira and Coldplay took the stage. The program was curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. Afterwards, criticism came pouring in.

How divisive the show was became clear from a reaction within soccer itself. Wayne Rooney was asked by BBC Sport for his opinion and answered without hesitation: "I like many of these artists, but I thought it was rubbish."

Madonna opened

Madonna kicked things off with her hit "Music" from 2000. It wasn't performed live, with the singer merely lip-syncing while dancers on roller skates circled around her. She then emerged from a tunnel onto the field, hand in hand with Brazilian legends Ronaldinho and Ronaldo.

Then things got bizarre: The Muppet characters took over the drums and played "Seven Nation Army" by the White Stripes, without any apparent connection to what had come before. BTS followed with "Dynamite," energetic but formulaic. Then Jason Sudeikis appeared in his role as Ted Lasso to introduce Justin Bieber.

"Patchwork"

Bieber abruptly slowed down the show with an acoustic version of "Everything Hallelujah," accompanying himself on guitar. Shakira then turned up the tempo again together with Burna Boy and "Dai Dai." For the finale, Coldplay took the stage, supported by conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus, a choir of fourth and fifth graders from New York who became famous online. The children danced in colorful jerseys, while the word "Love" formed around a globe on the field. This closing moment was well received, but couldn't save the show, which was mocked online as a "patchwork" and for which halftime was extended from 15 to 27 minutes, contrary to FIFA regulations.

A show with a message

Chris Martin had announced the performance in May with a video featuring "Sesame Street" characters Elmo and Cookie Monster as well as the Muppets Kermit, Miss Piggy and Animal. In it, Martin and Elmo video-called BTS members Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and Jung Kook to ask if they wanted to participate. "It's an opportunity to show how great all the different kinds of people are," Martin said at the time. The show would be more about we than me, about togetherness.

Behind the performance was a concrete goal: It supported the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise 100 million dollars to provide children worldwide with access to education and soccer. More than 50 million dollars have according to "Page Six" already been raised, with one dollar from every ticket sold for the 2026 World Cup going into the fund.