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Published 13:52 20 Jul 2026 GMT
Viewers spotted an awkward moment between Madonna and Brazil legend Ronaldo during the World Cup halftime show.
The halftime show kicked off after Spain and Argentina went into the break level at 0-0 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Brazilian soccer legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho made a surprise entrance, arriving on the pitch in a cart before joining the 67-year-old icon as she opened the entertainment spectacular.
The stars, both members of Brazil's 2002 World Cup-winning squad, received a huge ovation from the crowd.
During the performance, Ronaldo was spotted slowly pumping his hands while dancing before the 'Hung Up' musician appeared to lower one of them.
"Why did she lower his hand??" one fan on X asked.
Another viewer offered a different interpretation, replying: "She was holding both of their hands at the same time, it wasn't lowering of the type 'stop.'"
After Madonna finished her set, Justin Bieber took over with an acoustic performance of 'Everything Hallelujah.'
Shakira and Burna Boy then performed the tournament's official World Cup anthem, 'Dai, Dai'.
The spectacle was curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and lasted 27 minutes and 19 seconds, far longer than the traditional 15-minute halftime interval outlined by the International Football Association Board (IFAB).
The extended break has become one of many changes FIFA introduced during the tournament, alongside hydration breaks that split each half into two shorter periods.
The show wasn't the only moment from the World Cup final that dominated social media.
After Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 to claim its second World Cup title, President Donald Trump presented the trophy before appearing to linger on stage as the Spanish players prepared to celebrate.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino was seen approaching Trump and seemingly trying to usher him away, but the president remained standing alongside the team during the trophy lift.
The moment prompted criticism online, with one X user writing: "Donald Trump doesn’t know what he’s doing, and he’s trying to steal the spotlight from the team! Can he just get off the stage and let the Spain players have their moment?"
Another added: "Trump is like a toddler running about the altar during a wedding mass and Infantino his mother legging it about after him trying to get him down but not too forcefully incase he has a tantrum."
Many others described Trump's presence as "inappropriate," "beyond pathetic," and "embarrassing," while some compared it to last year's Club World Cup final, when he also remained front and center as Chelsea celebrated lifting the trophy.
The conversation continued hours later after Spain posted a photo of its celebrations captioned "LOS SUEÑOS SE CUMPLEN," meaning "DREAMS DO COME TRUE."
Some fans became convinced Trump had been digitally removed from the image.
"LOL SPAIN EDITED TRUMP OUT OF THE PHOTO," one person wrote. "They edited trump out," another chimed in.
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Justin Bieber performed as part of the World Cup final half-time show, which lasted longer than expected.
This year's final at the New York-New Jersey stadium was the first of its kind to feature a half-time show, which was fitting given the host nations.
Spain emerged as 1-0 victors over Messi and his Argentina side, in a cagey final where the latter had more bookings than shots on goal.
La Roja won't care too much, as an extra-time half-volley by substitute Ferran Torres sealed the European champions' second-ever World Cup win.
But in the midst of 120 minutes of scrappy soccer, FIFA had planned a half-time show featuring the likes of Bieber, Shakira, Madonna, Coldplay, and BTS among other artists.
They remained adamant that the show would rarely breach the International Football Association Board's (IFAB) rules on the duration of a half-time break, but this was far from the case.
FIFA had claimed that the half-time show would last just 17 minutes, with the music acts taking just 11 minutes to perform.
Even if this was the case, IFAB states that half-time must "not exceed 15 minutes."
Broadcasters prepared for a half-hour stoppage regardless, with the second half restart expected to be delayed.
The Times journalist Martyn Ziegler took to X after the show's conclusion, writing: "Half-time was 27min 18 secs - the maximum permitted under FIFA's laws of the game is 15 mins."
Unfortunately for Beliebers, the Canadian popstar is partly guilty for contributing to this precedent, despite delivering a heartfelt version of 'EVERYTHING HALLELUJAH', with a World Cup twist.
The Super Bowl-inspired mini-concert opened with Madonna walking out with soccer legends Ronaldinho and Ronaldo Nazario, before other acts performed to the millions watching around the world.
Ultimately, the break was almost half an hour, but luckily for soccer fans, it didn't have too much of an effect on the run of play.
The extra time taken to set up and dismantle the stage didn't change the run of play, with Spain holding the majority of possession as Argentina fought to defend their box over the course of 90 minutes, failing to register a shot on target.
After a 0-0 finish after 90 minutes, the game went to extra-time, where Spain finally broke the deadlock at the start of the second period, as Ferran Torres lashed home.
Argentina, who had a man sent off, also started a brawl following the final whistle, leaving a mark on Lionel Messi's final ever World Cup game.
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The football federation has broken its own rules in the past, having held a half-time show during last year's Club World Cup final, which was also held in the US.
This lasted a similar amount of time, at 25 minutes, and caused many fans to become frustrated with FIFA as they initially failed to confirm the exact length of the World Cup final's half-time show.
Whether a half-time show will become a regular fixture at World Cup and Club World Cup finals is yet to be announced, but soccer purists will surely want to put a stop to that possibility.
FIFA has unveiled a star-studded lineup for the first-ever World Cup final halftime show.
Justin Bieber has been confirmed as a co-headliner for the musical performance, which will take place during the final on July 19 at New York-New Jersey Stadium.
"The FIFA World Cup brings the world together in a way nothing else can. I'm grateful to be part of this Half-time Show, and even more grateful knowing it's already helping expand access to education for children around the world," the 32-year-old said.
The 'Baby' singer will share the stage with Madonna, K-pop superstars BTS, and Colombian icon Shakira, whose song 'Dai Dai' serves as the tournament's official anthem and has been played before every match.
Also set to appear are Burna Boy, acclaimed Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, PS 22 Chorus featuring Coldplay, The Muppets, and characters from Sesame Street.
The 11-minute performance has been curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the performance will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund while showcasing football's ability to bring people together.
"When it comes to what the world needs, there is nothing more important than education," he said.
"We are proud to have Justin Bieber joining Madonna, Shakira, and BTS to co-headline the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Halftime Show in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund and our mission to expand access to quality education and football opportunities for children around the world," he added.
"Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, and PS 22 Chorus ft. Coldplay will also join and play a key role in conveying a powerful message of unity and hope to billions of people worldwide."
"As the world unites for the most significant football match in history on Sunday, 19 July 2026 at the New York New Jersey Stadium, this groundbreaking spectacle, curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay, will celebrate football, music, and our shared values, ensuring a legacy that transcends the final whistle," he added.
The announcement comes as the expanded 2026 World Cup enters its decisive stages.
The tournament began with 48 teams competing across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, although all three host nations have since been eliminated.
Just eight teams remain, with the quarterfinals continuing this week.
France will face Morocco in Boston on Thursday, while Spain takes on Belgium in Los Angeles on Friday.
Norway will meet England in Miami on Saturday, before defending champions Argentina face Switzerland in Kansas City later the same day.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi currently leads the race for the Golden Boot with eight goals after breaking several tournament records during the competition.
France's Kylian Mbappé and Norway's Erling Haaland are close behind on seven goals each, while England striker Harry Kane has scored six.
The FIFA World Cup final is fast approaching, with Spain waiting to find out who their final opponents will be after dismantling France in their semi-final.
Mbappe and co were outplayed by a disciplined Spanish side on Tuesday night (July 14), falling 2-0 to the European champions in Dallas.
England will face off against Argentina in the other semi-final this evening, to determine who will have a shot at soccer's biggest prize.
But while fans of the beautiful game will be looking forward to the pinnacle of the sport on Sunday, FIFA has announced that the viewing experience will last longer than usual.
For the first time in World Cup history, there will be a half-time show during the final, which will also mean that the second-half restart will be delayed.
It has been suggested that the World Cup final half-time show could last anywhere up to 30 minutes, breaking the International Football Association Board's (IFAB) rules.
They state that half-time must "not exceed 15 minutes," and while World Cup officials believe the break will only last 20 minutes, British broadcasters BBC and ITV are expecting a half-hour stoppage.
Last year's FIFA Club World Cup final, which also took place in the US, also featured a half-time show headlined by Coldplay, J Balvin and Doja Cat, and that lasted 24 minutes.
But for soccer's biggest game, the production is meant to last just 11 minutes in a Super-Bowl type performance, to be headlined by the likes of Madonna, Shakira and BTS.
Justin Bieber was also announced as a co-headliner of the show, while Burna Boy is also set to perform alongside Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, the PS 22 Chorus, and Coldplay.
In a statement from FIFA, they claimed that "football, music and social impact" will be coming together in a celebration at MetLife Stadium.
The governing body said that this performance will help support its Global Citizen Education Fund, with the aim of raising $100 million.
They also aim to "expand access to quality education and football opportunities for children worldwide."
FIFA even claimed that $1 from every World Cup match ticket sold is going towards "social projects around the world."
This isn't the first time that FIFA has set a precedent at this tournament, having overturned Team USA striker Florin Balogun's red card suspension, allowing him to play against Belgium in the round-of-16.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino spoke about the half-time show, saying: "When it comes to what the world needs, there is nothing more important than education.
"We are proud to have Justin Bieber joining Madonna, Shakira and BTS to co-headline the Fifa World Cup 2026 final half-time show in support of the Fifa Global Citizen Education Fund and our mission to expand access to quality education and football opportunities for children around the world.
"As the world unites for the most significant football match in history on Sunday, July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium, this groundbreaking spectacle, curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay, will celebrate football, music and our shared values, ensuring a legacy that transcends the final whistle."
It's fair to say that soccer fans are not the biggest fans of the decision, with many taking to social media to air out their grievances.
One said on X: "They should never get the World Cup again," as another asked: "Pre-match show, first half hydration break, half-time show, second half hydration break and closing show. Any football going to be played?"
A third wrote: "Half time is 15 minutes. Any longer should be booed for every second."
"FIFA ruining the great game once again. Gianni Infantino needs to be fired asap," a different user claimed.
Many also worried that the extended break could negatively affect the players' rest and recovery, but time will tell if this will be the case.
Published 10:50 13 Jun 2026 GMT
Katy Perry has found herself at the centre of an unexpected online debate after viewers noticed a surprising accessory during the USA's World Cup opening ceremony.
The 41-year-old musician took to the pitch in Los Angeles ahead of the USA's 4-1 victory over Paraguay, performing in front of a crowd of around 70,000 fans.
But while many tuned in expecting a medley of some of Perry's biggest hits, it was a small pin on her outfit that quickly became the focus of attention online.
The 'Roar' songstress raised eyebrows after appearing with a pin featuring both the United States and Canadian flags.
Viewers quickly took to social media to question the decision. "Whys katy perry wearing a us x canada pin," one viewer wrote.
Another asked: "Katy Perry with a Canada and USA pin but none for Mexico?"
"Why did Katy only wear a pin for USA and Canada?" a third chimed in.
Many supporters had expected Perry to deliver a high-energy set packed with fan favourites such as 'California Gurls' and 'Firework'.
Instead, the singer performed just one song, a lesser-known album track called 'Wonder'.
She was joined by ten-year-old Norwegian musician Tius Luka for the performance.
The ceremony took place just hours after Michael Bublé and Alanis Morissette had performed as Canada hosted its first match of the tournament.
The attention surrounding Perry's Canada pin comes as her relationship with former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau continues to make headlines.
The pair made their red carpet debut earlier this month at the Tribeca Festival during the premiere of her concert film, Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour - Live from Paris.
Perry opened up about how her latest tour had influenced her life and relationship.
"I feel like a more grounded person in so many aspects of my life," she said, per PEOPLE. "I am very in love. And actually, that show was after I met the love of my life and so I felt very anchored by that because I'm a little bit like a rainbow kite."
She continued: "I fly super high and touch the veil ... cosmos ... and sometimes I need to be anchored. So, to have that anchor finally makes me feel really whole now."
Romance rumours first began swirling in July 2025 when the couple was spotted walking together in Montreal with a small dog.
The pair were later seen dining at neighbourhood restaurant Le Violon, while Trudeau also attended Perry's concert in Montreal on July 30, 2025.
Their dinner outing came just one month after it was confirmed that the 'Teenage Dream' singer and Orlando Bloom had ended their engagement after nine years together.
In a joint statement provided to People, representatives said: "Due to the abundance of recent interest and conversation surrounding Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry’s relationship, representatives have confirmed that Orlando and Katy have been shifting their relationship over the past many months to focus on co-parenting."
"They will continue to be seen together as a family, as their shared priority is - and always will be - raising their daughter [Daisy Dove, 4½] with love, stability, and mutual respect," they concluded.
Published 10:35 12 Jun 2026 GMT
The debate surrounding Shakira's alleged "body double" has been settled after fans noticed one detail during the 2026 World Cup.
The highly anticipated soccer tournament got underway on Thursday (June 11), with host nation Mexico kicking off the tournament in style with a 2-0 victory over South Africa.
However, one of the biggest talking points from yesterday had nothing to do with football. Instead, social media has been flooded with claims that Shakira was replaced by a body double during the opening ceremony in Mexico.
The 49-year-old hitmaker took to the stage at Estadio Azteca alongside Burna Boy to debut 'Dai Dai', the official song of the 2026 tournament.
She appeared in a yellow top, white shorts, and platform sneakers, completing the look with oversized dark sunglasses. Her trademark blonde hair also appeared to have been dyed a light strawberry-red shade.
Hours after the ceremony, viewers began claiming the woman performing the anthem wasn't actually the singer herself.
One user wrote: "Is that Shakira? She doesn’t look like Shakira? Am I tripping ?" Several others referred to the singer as a "doble," the Spanish word for "double."
Another fan posted: "Esa no es Shakira … who dat?!?!" A third added: "That's not Shakira, the face isn't hers, and she doesn't even have half of Shakira's leg. That's why the glasses to disguise it."
While Shakira's team has yet to comment on the rumors, there is one detail that strongly suggests she really was on the pitch.
The mom-of-two has a small scar on her forehead that has been visible in photographs for years.
The mark can be seen in older images of the 'Hips Don't Lie' singer and, according to photos from the opening ceremony, it was visible there too.
Fans were quick to point it out as the rumors gained traction online.
"Shakira has a small round scar above her brow, and the one who today is doubted to be Shakira, of course, has it too. Look at photos from other times and she has always had that scar," one fan said.
"Shakira has a small vertical cleft between her eyebrows that can be seen in some photos, yes, it's something that many fans have known about for years. Depending on the lighting, the makeup, and the facial expressions, it can appear more or less pronounced," a second added.
A third chimed in: "Whoever saying it wasn’t Shakira, i get it we’re so used to the current AI world but it was her. I mean, the scar was on her forehead duh."
For many fans, that distinctive mark was all the proof they needed that the woman on the pitch was indeed Shakira.
Mexico is co-hosting alongside the United States and Canada, with all three nations staging their own opening ceremonies.
Fans inside the stadium were also treated to performances from Danny Ocean, Colombia's J Balvin, and Mexican singer-songwriter Fher Olvera of Maná, who sang the classic 'Oye Mi Amor'.
"Bienvenida a México. Welcome to Mexico," a performer announced to begin the celebrations. "We are a nation of diversity, heritage, and pride. Football carries the same heartbeat, uniting generations," per BBC News.
Opera icon Andrea Bocelli and K-Pop Demon Hunters singer Ejae also performed the tournament's official anthem 'DNA', which was released earlier this week.
Mexican singer Alejandro Fernández led the crowd in singing the national anthem, while Grammy-winning South African star Tyla performed her country's anthem.
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