The World Cup final hosted a halftime show with an eclectic mix of performers, a lineup almost as crowded as a Buenos Aires fútbol bar at kickoff. Among the talent were Madonna, Justin Bieber, all seven members of BTS, Shakira, Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, Jason Sudeikis, Chris Martin, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Muppets, and a children’s chorus from Staten Island’s P.S. 22.

During the show, which lasted over 11 minutes, performers tried to validate the existence of the halftime spectacle amid mixed reactions from traditional soccer fans. These purists saw it as a flair of American-style entertainment, akin to the tournament’s “hydration breaks” disguising advertising pauses. Supporters of both teams expressed concerns about how the additional time, totaling an extra 12-and-a-half minutes, might disrupt players’ routines during the match. Even fans of the featured musicians wondered how such an array of acts could collaborate seamlessly.

The performances felt episodic, appearing to unfold on different existential planes.

Shakira and Burna Boy provided a rendition of the World Cup theme song, “Dai Dai,” which started as a taped segment before transitioning to a live performance on the field. Madonna kicked off the live segment with a reimagined version of her hit “Music,” incorporating nods to her latest album “Confessions II.”

Curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay, the halftime show captured themes of love, unity, and postulated belief in children as the future. Though these sentiments resonated universally, the reception was nonetheless divided.

This carefully crafted spectacle was organized by Global Citizen, aiming for a message that music unites people.