Entertainment News

World Cup's first halftime show: Madonna, BTS and Shakira split critics from Abu Dhabi to Seoul

The first halftime show in the World Cup's history was staged at the final between Spain and Argentina on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Curated by Chris Martin, it opened with a prerecorded Madonna segment featuring Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, then BTS performing “Dynamite” live, Justin Bieber on acoustic guitar, Shakira and Burna Boy with the official song “Dai Dai”, and a closing “We Believe” with the Muppets and a children's chorus.

The National (UAE) gave it a warm review, saying it finally delivered the professionalism and slickness the tournament deserved, and called BTS the show's biggest dance spectacle.

The New York Times review, republished by The Star (Malaysia), was headlined “Lots of stars, little purpose”. It timed the show at 11 minutes and change, praised Bieber's sparse set, and called BTS's “Dynamite” a “perfectly rote rendition”.

Korea JoongAng Daily rounded up the harshest verdicts. It said the break ran more than 27 minutes, against a 15-minute cap in the Laws of the Game, and cited The Athletic calling the show “slick, surreal and entirely unnecessary” and Wayne Rooney's blunt dismissal on the BBC.

How each outlet framed it

• The National — a polished finale that the tournament had lacked.
• The Star / NYT — overstuffed; BTS played it safe with an older hit.
• Korea JoongAng Daily — the backlash: length, sponsors and a Super Bowl copy.

Where the numbers differ: the show itself ran about 11 minutes, but the whole half-time break lasted more than 27, which is why critics were split over its length.