World media divided: Spectacle or unnecessary Americanization of football?

The first musical spectacle at halftime of the World Cup final has caused heated reactions around the world. While some believe that FIFA has opened a new chapter in the history of football, others believe that the attempt to copy the Super Bowl has violated the tradition of the biggest sporting event on the planet.

The 11-minute program featured performances by Madonna, BTS, Shakira, Burna Boy and Justin Bieber, with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin serving as artistic director. Despite the impressive production and big-name musical names, critics felt that the sheer number of performers left too little room for any one of them to shine.

The British newspaper The Guardian said that it was a spectacle that, despite numerous criticisms, justified its existence. The newspaper stated that Shakira and Burna Boy's energetic performance was among the highlights of the evening, while Justin Bieber's performance, due to its slower and more emotional tone, stood out from the atmosphere of the finale.

At the same time, the Guardian points out that this event opened a major debate about whether the World Cup should follow the model of the American Super Bowl.

The Times was much harsher, awarding the program only two out of five stars. Critics of this newspaper considered the performance to be over-the-top, lacking in emotion and authenticity, and more like a television show than part of the world's biggest football match. The orchestral version of the song Seven Nation Army was singled out as one of the few positive moments, while the overall impression was described as disappointing.

Entertainment Weekly took a similar stance, stating that the biggest problem was the overcrowding of the program. Madonna, BTS, Shakira, and Bieber were each given only a few minutes on stage, which is why none of their performances left a strong impression. The magazine particularly singled out Shakira and Burna Boy's energetic performances, while describing Bieber's acoustic performance as too calm for the atmosphere of the finale.

The most controversial decision was FIFA's decision to extend the break between halves, following the NFL's example, to allow for a musical spectacle. This move was seen by many commentators as a symbol of the increasingly Americanisation of the World Cup, which was one of the main topics of comment in the British media.

However, regardless of the divided opinions, almost all world media agree on one thing - the first halftime show in the history of the World Cup final became one of the most commented moments of the tournament and will likely mark the beginning of a new era in the organization of the greatest football competition.

What attracted the public's attention was the large number of world stars in the audience, but it is questionable whether their interest in the World Cup final was the result of it being held in North America or the spectacle during halftime of the game.

Actor Tom Cruise, who opened the evening, enjoyed the company of David and Victoria Beckham during the game, and the famous British couple's sons, Cruz and Romeo, could also be seen in the stands.

The audience also included Beyonce and Jay-Z, Timothée Chalamet, Kylie Jenner, Matt Damon with his wife Luciana, Tom Brady, Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union, Kevin Hart, Julia Garner, Winnie Harlow, James Harden, Draymond Green, Dua Lipa...