- The first-ever halftime show at a Fifa World Cup final featured an eclectic mix of performers including Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, Shakira, Burna Boy, and Coldplay, alongside appearances from The Muppets and football legends Ronaldinho and Ronaldo.
- The half-time break lasted 27 minutes and 19 seconds, exceeding the International Football Association Board's (IFAB) 15-minute limit for halftime breaks.
- The extended duration and nature of the show sparked criticism online, with one X user writing: “Halftime show at World Cup final. Look how they massacred my beautiful game.”
- Despite the backlash, some viewers praised the spectacle, deeming it impressive and superior to Super Bowl halftime shows.
- The controversial halftime show, along with other structural changes like hydration breaks, has created controversy for Fifa for altering traditional football formats.
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