The 2026 FIFA World Cup final delivered one of the biggest sporting spectacles of the year, but not everyone was impressed by the star-studded halftime entertainment. Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher, who had been actively following the tournament throughout its run, made his feelings known in a characteristically blunt social media post after the performances wrapped up.
The final, contested between Spain and Argentina on Sunday, featured a halftime lineup packed with global music stars, including Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira, BTS, Burna Boy, composer Gustavo Dudamel, and even appearances from the Muppets. While millions tuned in to watch the performances, Gallagher offered a very different review.
According to Rolling Stone, the singer posted on X: “This is like a bad trip. It’s a good job I’ve got my spiritual socks on or that halftime entertainment could have tipped me over the edge.” The remark quickly drew attention as one of the most talked-about celebrity reactions to the event.
If you want the full breakdown of what BTS brought to that stage, including a reworked verse of “Dynamite” tailored for the occasion, our piece on BTS just made FIFA World Cup history, and the internet has not stopped talking about it covers it in detail.
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FIFA World Cup 2026 halftime show featured Madonna, Justin Bieber, BTS, Shakira and more
The halftime show opened with Madonna making a dramatic entrance through New York New Jersey Stadium’s underground tunnels in a golf cart driven by Brazilian football legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. She performed a refreshed version of her 2000 hit “Music” before transitioning into “Danceteria,” a recent single from her newly released album Confessions II.
BTS then appeared briefly to perform a portion of their hit “Dynamite.”
The entertainment continued with actor Jason Sudeikis stepping onto the pitch in character as Coach Ted Lasso alongside Brendan Hunt as Coach Beard. The pair delivered an on-field pep talk before Justin Bieber performed “Everything Hallelujah.”
Shakira and Burna Boy also took the stage for “Dai Dai,” while the PS 22 Chorus—a choir made up of fourth and fifth graders from a public elementary school in Staten Island—performed “We Dance,” a song written by Coldplay, with Chris Martin joining the performance.
| Event | Official Details |
| Match | FIFA World Cup 2026 Final |
| Teams | Spain vs. Argentina |
| Celebrity performers | Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira, BTS, Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, the Muppets |
| Special appearances | Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Jason Sudeikis, Brendan Hunt, Chris Martin, PS 22 Chorus |
This was far from the only musical moment tied to the tournament either. The opening ceremony brought its own share of viral instances, including EJAE performing an anthem in Korean that had the crowd reacting instantly, which you can revisit in our recap of EJAE Sang in Korean at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony, and the Crowd Lost It.
Liam Gallagher had backed England before the World Cup final
Gallagher’s comments came just days after England’s semi-final defeat, a result that paved the way for Spain and Argentina to contest the championship match. Throughout the tournament, the Oasis singer had openly supported England, with the band’s iconic hit “Wonderwall” becoming an unofficial anthem among fans.
Before England’s clash with Spain, Gallagher posted: “Cmon England cmon Wonderwall.”
Away from football, Oasis is preparing for another major release. The band’s upcoming documentary, Don’t Look Back in Anger, is scheduled to arrive in September. Created by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight and directed by Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace, the film will first screen in IMAX and cinemas before later streaming on Hulu and Disney+.
For anyone who wants to look back at how the tournament’s ceremonies played out across all three host nations, our roundup of FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony Highlights: Best Moments from All Three Host Nations has the full recap,
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