The report says Rooney was asked to identify his favourite moment from the production but refused to single out an individual act. Instead, he delivered a sweeping criticism of the show’s execution.
That distinction matters. Rooney reportedly acknowledged that he likes many of the artists involved, making his objection less about celebrity and more about the overall presentation. For a former England captain accustomed to the intensity of major football occasions, the spectacle apparently failed to match the significance of the final.
A World Cup final interval is an unusually difficult stage to manage. Organisers want a global entertainment event capable of reaching audiences beyond football, while supporters often expect the focus to remain on the match and its historic stakes.
The reported line-up included Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira, Ted Lasso and The Muppets. That mix offered enormous recognition, but a collection of famous names does not automatically create a coherent show. The challenge is turning star power into a performance with rhythm, identity and a sense of occasion.
Rooney’s criticism lands on that gap between ambition and execution. A grand production can still feel disjointed if the acts do not connect or the spectacle overwhelms the football atmosphere.
The response to any World Cup final show will always be divided. Some viewers want a global concert; others see the interval as a brief pause before the decisive football resumes.
For organisers, the next major test will be finding a format that feels entertaining without appearing detached from the match itself. Rooney’s blunt verdict has added another voice to that debate, and the next World Cup final will reveal whether the approach changes.