"Absolute Shit": Wayne Rooney Doesn't Hold Back in Brutal Assessment of 2026 World Cup Final Halftime Show

Following the historic musical interval during Sunday’s final between Spain and Argentina on July 19, BBC pundits gathered in the studio to discuss the spectacle live on air. The 40-year-old former striker, who represented England at three World Cups, gave presenter Gabby Logan his unfiltered verdict on the pop-heavy performance.

"I like a lot of those artists, but I thought it was absolute shit, to be honest," Rooney stated bluntly. "Seriously, I really did."

Host Gabby Logan quickly tried to defuse the awkward moment, joking: "That's why you love the BBC—for the honest reviews!"

Not Even the "Macarena" Could Save It

When his fellow pundits asked Rooney for his thoughts on the stadium-wide rendition of the "Macarena"—which saw NFL star Rob Gronkowski and his girlfriend Camille Kostek dancing in the stands—the former forward simply shrugged:

"It didn’t get me going at all."

Logan laughingly suggested that Justin Bieber’s slow acoustic set—which brought the stadium’s high energy to a grinding halt—might have put the former Manchester United star to sleep.

The first-ever World Cup Halftime Show had a charitable mission, with proceeds benefiting the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund to support educational and sports programs for children worldwide.