- Jul 21
Liam Gallagher calls World Cup halftime show 'a bad trip' as Shakira's 'Dai Dai' tops global charts
Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher likened the first-ever World Cup final halftime show to 'a bad trip,' while Shakira and Burna Boy's official anthem 'Dai Dai' held No. 1 on Billboard's global charts.
- Jul 20
Spain wins 2026 World Cup 1-0 over Argentina as Trump-Sánchez handshake and halftime concert dominate the narrative
Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time at MetLife Stadium, with Donald Trump and Pedro Sánchez sharing an awkward handshake and a first-ever halftime concert dividing opinion.
- Jul 20
UEFA president Ceferin boycotts World Cup final after FIFA reverses Balogun ban following Trump call
The UEFA president stayed away after FIFA suspended the automatic suspension for US striker Folarin Balogun, a decision that followed a phone call from President Trump. Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in extra time.
- Jul 20
Madonna, Shakira, Bieber and a Trump photo op: the World Cup final halftime show that broke football tradition
A 30-minute halftime spectacle featuring Madonna, Shakira, and Justin Bieber, combined with Donald Trump's on-field photo op and a pre-match intervention in a player suspension, turned the 2026 World Cup final into a flashpoint over American influence on football.
- Jul 20
FIFA's first World Cup final halftime show runs 27 minutes, draws mixed reactions for Madonna, Bieber and BTS
The FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina featured the tournament's first halftime show, a Super Bowl-style production at MetLife Stadium that ran more than 27 minutes and generated over $100 million for education programmes.
- Jul 20
Madonna, Shakira, BTS and Justin Bieber star in World Cup's first halftime show as Spain beats Argentina
The FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium featured the tournament's first-ever halftime show, with performances by Madonna, Shakira, BTS and Justin Bieber.
- Jul 20
Madonna, BTS and Shakira star in first World Cup final halftime show as extended break draws fire
The first halftime show in World Cup final history featured Madonna, BTS, Shakira and Justin Bieber at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium, stretching the break to over 27 minutes and drawing sharp criticism from players and purists.
- Jul 19
World Cup final halftime show stretches to 27 minutes as Madonna, Bieber, Shakira perform
FIFA's first-ever World Cup final halftime show featured Madonna, Justin Bieber, BTS and Shakira, but the break lasted 27 minutes and 20 seconds, violating football's 15-minute rule and drawing criticism from former players.
- Jul 19
Spain clinches second World Cup with 1-0 extra-time win over Argentina, FIFA probes final's mass brawl
Ferran Torres scored an extra-time winner as Spain defeated 10-man Argentina 1-0 in New Jersey, a match that ended in a brawl sparking a FIFA disciplinary investigation.
