TL;DR by CuriousCats.ai
Historic halftime show features BTS, Madonna, and Muppets
- Madonna performed a version of her 2000 hit Music on a vaguely Mad Max-ish vehicle piloted by Ronaldo and Ronaldinho.
- The Muppets performed Seven Nation Army during the halftime show.
- BTS performed Dynamite with live vocals, surprising some who expected a different song.
- Wayne Rooney criticized the halftime show, stating, “I thought it was crap.”
- BTS's live vocals received mixed reactions online, with some praising their performance despite criticisms.
Context on BTS's performance and reactions
- BTS performed during the halftime show of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, taking the field third after performances by Madonna and the Muppets.
- BTS had just performed for large crowds in Paris the night before, which contributed to the mixed reactions to their live performance.
CuriousCats Full Story
Key Insight
“The 11-minute show broke the 15-minute halftime mandate and featured truncated sets from Madonna, BTS, Coldplay and the Muppets, with Madonna riding a vehicle piloted by Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. Wayne Rooney called it 'crap,' while BTS's Jimin drew praise for a moment of silence that fans argued proved his live vocals matched the backing track.”
CuriousCats studied:
1
The Guardian
The Guardian“It zipped along, cramming a lot into its 11 minutes by the simple expedient of paring songs down to their bare essentials and swiftly cutting between artists.”
The Guardian →2
The New York Times
“The WTA has enacted a policy “requiring that all WTA players must undergo genetic sex testing in order to maintain their eligibility to compete on the WTA Tour.””
The New York Times →3
Koreaboo
Koreaboo“On July 19, the final match of the *2026 FIFA World Cup* took place, with BTS performing during the halftime show alongside other famous musicians.”
Koreaboo →Ask CuriousCats
What artists performed at the halftime show?
Why did the halftime show break the time limit?
How did fans react to BTS's live performance?
Are other halftime shows receiving similar critiques?
How does this show compare to previous World Cup performances?
