# Liam Gallagher Says World Cup Halftime Show Was ‘Like a Bad Trip’

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-07-20 13:07 UTC · Category: Sports

## Executive Summary
The inaugural FIFA World Cup halftime show faces heavy criticism and viral backlash following a star-studded performance featuring BTS, Justin Bieber, and others.

## Intelligence Brief
FIFA broke tradition during the 2026 World Cup final, implementing a 30-minute halftime break featuring a performance by Madonna, Shakira, BTS, and Justin Bieber. The show also included appearances by the Muppets and was attended by high-profile guests including Tom Cruise, David and Victoria Beckham, and Matt Damon. Reports indicate that the performers involved received no performance fee.


Coverage from outlets including Vulture, The Hollywood Reporter, and The New Yorker highlights a polarized reception. Liam Gallagher and Robert Smith have offered negative assessments of the show, while Wayne Rooney’s reaction has circulated on social media. Some reports characterize the performance as "glib" and "absurd," noting a perception that the production felt overly Americanized.


Conversely, streaming data from Yahoo indicates a 240% increase for Justin Bieber's song "Everything Hallelujah" following the event. Attention now shifts to the long-term impact on the FIFA World Cup brand and potential future shifts in entertainment policy for the tournament. Commentary surrounding the logistics of the backstage environment and the rumored feud between Madonna and Justin Bieber remains a point of interest for ongoing coverage.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Vulture | Liam Gallagher Says World Cup Halftime Show Was Like a ‘Bad Trip’ | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilgFBVV95cUxOd0FOODN2Q0puYURJY1BRSy1nYUdwVzJMRVNpajl4QmQ5RzdUWGtzWDF6UTZOYzRMTkQ0VFBrZVhPeV9FZUZmU0ZSSXhGcThBQ3A0RU1ocjQ1SUhzUXVvYTZkWkFHU3VhNUdLUlZVREl5VHpPdE1ySWV3N19kZ3RaS2lrbXlNTENtU2xLUGZKYjFsVjJ4OWc?oc=5) |
| HOLA | Tom Cruise, Beyoncé, David and Victoria Beckham, Matt Damon and More Stars Attend the 2026 World Cup Final | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi6wFBVV95cUxOQkduNkN5SXFqbDZ1MURuSVFUSXY5akdkRnd5czNKM004aXN4NllJRWY5OVhaWVF5bUNVbG5OY2J5MHREZVZ4SFhqUXRZLUg4MVIwdnA1T0R5QTEzQkMwcTNlRktudndkVFRxR1c1NjZJX0I4QjVENFJjc1pqQ21oVC1OcENRUTF4bUdXM3lLV29xNVhzc3JVQklFTkg3QmY4b0ltOTdnaEk1cGgzWXZ3c0IwdE1oY1lzRy1wRjg4d1NaUEV6SWZNa2R3dlRIVDBqbURZS0t5eGVoSnlXR2xyRVh4OFVQM1oweGhz?oc=5) |
| Stereogum | The World Cup Finals Halftime Show Was Absurd | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirwFBVV95cUxPV2F0WVFneDBrVUJOUnhFcVpsRTBfZWZaMkxidXpFNUVXWTNfOXFzZWJRNVdjRVVOY0cyM2VYVjgxM0czT3lhN3lxTEdsdHMtMnBMTzZ5QjA0Y0xvc2JRZG1TNy1CRk9nUmMxLU5FTmVzY3lmRHBEZ3ZlM0dmSGM2SjZXY1VSR0JiajdkejZNdERSWUhLcWY2TmxJVS1mNnZaN2VPeC1wZHhnaHM5Ry1n?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | Justin Bieber’s Weird ‘Everything Hallelujah’ Song Gets 240% Streaming Bump After World Cup | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqwFBVV95cUxORm5HUEU1MlVNRFZJZHF0azNpSVo4M0ZFelZYZHRuRThaWFNpU1ppeGFEeDlhajROQW1rNEpmU1czNnhaMkJKVVdWamV2NmhsU3EyYWNoNl9GQTdsUGpueGdvRVVrU1dtLVVuT3dFSkZrTHJwbklQZW93a0t5UFVZc0Z1enYzREtYLWVQOFE5blJNWTBQWUFLN0J4VFVSaGIyRU1ueHVjNkNQRjA?oc=5) |
| The Hollywood Reporter | Was the World Cup Final Halftime Show “Too American”? Rest of the World Seems to Think So: “Glib and Unsubtle” | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipgFBVV95cUxOZGhVeWtrWTlrSVFMenc0ckM2dlBiZGZMaTJxd1pvZlFYdW5RRDZuVVFVcmV0dU92cjktR19aX2hTcGYyVDhBSzRmLVIwMDNEMmFVM04zMHFwTjhFU09BdV81SlQxa21YN0dTcnJXNElnVjkzQ0EtYjJKS2lPVFZqdl85R0hXY284MDd0eS1CbFRSQURyQXV0Z3pvaE1lTk9jdWktVW53?oc=5) |
| Time Magazine | The World Cup's First Halftime Show Did Too Much and Meant Too Little | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMidkFVX3lxTFBlTERFU0l3TGl4UF9kWS01b0Y1bTdJLXM4X0YxMjZWdWY3bVAwaEdZVTNFME9oYkY2QTFHVDc2MV9DSGxtYkVpVld1cEhwSWdlUFZRUmp3ZmJLRVlqTm9sX3VwaGI0bDV3bTNxVTZsZXEtX09NdVE?oc=5) |
| Page Six | Exclusive - Inside the backstage frenzy during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Halftime Show | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiugFBVV95cUxNeTdwY3RZNTE0WkhNTTFsR0lMcFF0bzFDQWNqZzNDX1dNQXpqcFZYZ09Dc1JsQTlEcWZaMl9YWHM4OEFuVE14QjYwSDFuSGFNT0toZWVlOFJoS3REOHJMM05EakJmVHVsdnlaMkwtX0labENRbHU2cEVHdDFoWTJDeFgwZDVkd3RWZmphSmxoOU9CMkJLaVNMNGlUYkk2SVp2Z2s5SXZwUW5SSmxGdU9SLTFiSkY4NWl3cXc?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | Madonna, Shakira, BTS and Justin Bieber Reportedly Got No Performance Fee for World Cup Halftime Show | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMioAFBVV95cUxOYkhGd2dJb3dSSGlNSGh5UExsaW96LWNLWFlwU1YzY1RZRFJORGNvRVFFbjBuQW01QjFaOEd5X0FyWHc0WGhKZkgxdWpUaWFJbGF1TE54V3FVMklha01yYWN6M3Rsc1cydVVJcnV0emwtdGd6RFhVN1NrczZrcmxWdXlmbWdfNlMxbkkyVE9KNnpIRlNFZmFKdFdrQjd0aTFR?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | World Cup final: FIFA breaks tradition for 30-minute halftime break with show featuring chaotic combo of BTS, Justin Bieber, Shakira and Madonna | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiogJBVV95cUxQb1ZLUC1NUnE2UmlocHU5M1JHV00xYWE4eEpSRVNEU200cTBWNlFDQ0ZXaDVWV29CUnoyMm5EbHR4S0w5RmJHLV9NM2liclVKejlNVng2ZUx3bEFfdzNlOWVpRkExS2Rvd2Jwei1tcncwVlZQVFItQ1BMamd2aG5ORURERnY5eFJYUVg1YjhzWmJjR3ozOTFtam9VZmtPeEc2alFaOTlrbzVLa2UzWDZFZlhqXzhPQUZzTDQ3T3A3d2d3OVd2TmZzRV8xZmFvMzBZbGNueFctQmMtTjhnTno5d3dUMjQ1QU1zR1dnTGFNZTJHWVNEWllETHQzSUlWbjV0TmhMeU9QVVkzUEVNakl5Q0dzWjVMVkF5QXlyNG9HcnV6QQ?oc=5) |
| The New Yorker | Madonna and the Muppets Made the Case for Love | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilAFBVV95cUxQY0cxempEUURqNER4MEhMamhfbEdHMWdZNEVjekxNUkU5YTJ0MVNveUpkVENNYk5hT0xTYTNGLU1pYWVfNFBLbjk1aWdnbXdXOENzTnBLRExLS20wTy1QTU90bnFhaW4zWlFGS2ZYWnY2OVB3X1ZvNndQdUhnNTdUUnJTM1k2U25wczNxdE1oZVNNUHM0?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | The Cure’s Robert Smith Unleashes Brutal Verdict on World Cup Halftime Show | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiogFBVV95cUxPYmNTbE9oNDNHZUx2YlhZV1dzV2NVNHVEa29NdXN0RVBPNjJYZVh3S19QNEhCdWpMbjUwSDZmQ2pyUVJKVVl3aXdBT3dlVHBhVnBIbjFuMWZRQURERVdfZnpoT3RYbXNHZE42RkFhcnlOT1QxbG9fZ2pYTGtDNDJPWS1mamFXMXVjY29mUS02TFZYa3NicGE1aDlDdDQ2amstWGc?oc=5) |
| AP News | Shakira, Madonna and many Muppets take the World Cup stage, along with BTS and Bieber | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipAFBVV95cUxOMnNTUDVNZ0NFQkZOZW45RlRsemR5WGpETnJEWW50RFNwYjZGUDlzZUFJR1FETW9YMzJLbDBBNVlsVkFWNkJQWTIwekpGWFZoQnNveUh0NndSQUxZRDVLNFFjZmtLM1NDdFhVMkRRUkh1RmUyRzlVMFNKNk5pQXdtWi1UNHFhaTItTmdPRHZFbW1YTzRMeldhSTEteXAzWXUyeVJUMg?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | Justin Bieber Gives ‘Haunting’ Performance at FIFA World Cup Final Amid Rumored Madonna Feud | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMinwFBVV95cUxPSVdvZjBteHlWWjVxRVB1bGxCa0hseHhpMFJIVHhZSUlWeWJRVnNpRmM4MVpvX2VyWHQzRnhPUENRZm1oYVQ0b1B6bHZlX2hqdlBiMHJBVGRKWTJ0STcwTHloa3A5b1pRN1FBajVSWUd1MXZzSUFDY2xiOWx0akdicW0wM1NZSlc4X2s1SG1PMnM5amVRNWZJQklzYWtpMjg?oc=5) |
| Creative Bloq | FIFA seems determined to destroy the World Cup brand (with the help of Shakira and Justin Bieber) | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi1wFBVV95cUxOalBMWmJEUVlhSFpVSTFGaFo5dlVMaHdlcHJ6R2ZKWmZra0psdlVqSmtvM21hQi1xUjY4d2VCT19XZU9Qem91OG00TV9xNkUtUUhReV9wVS0tNWFQNTY5Y00tbUhLRm04YUMyNk05VWh1S0NwbUJVNFpTYm9KSW00UDNDWVdkVkhMbzd5ZlJDVWJpVzV4TDgwX1RwdVFYN2JDSlpROEFfX2NwUmM4OGZGMndOQmNIQ19ONnhZNVptTHA1dHBuaWM1QThkOHBOYnhCaFF3RGF3NA?oc=5) |
| Mashable | English footballer Wayne Rooney's blunt reaction to World Cup halftime show goes viral | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMid0FVX3lxTE15VWRZZGNOdnM5OUZmbFFYVmJuMkJqZklYOEZXM3U1QWdNU3NzWkd4UkxRWnVucnowMkdDNHpBUXlETjJ3T3dncElzUUhrb1M5anMwcXczTTJYZVBwSU9TSnRibXgyVWtZMzYwbm1aYW1VWkxfOHFR?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-07-20/liam-gallagher-says-world-cup-halftime-show-was-like-a-bad-trip*