{"id":700866,"date":"2026-07-20T02:26:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T02:26:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/700866\/"},"modified":"2026-07-20T02:26:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T02:26:14","slug":"confused-football-fans-left-questioning-if-world-cup-half-time-show-is-ai-generated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/700866\/","title":{"rendered":"Confused football fans left questioning if World Cup half time show is AI generated"},"content":{"rendered":"

The World Cup half time show has got viewers seriously confused at the spectacle being put in front of them.<\/p>\n

Everyone knows half time is when the players get a 15 minute break and pundits wang on about the moments of interest from the previous 45 minutes everyone just watched, but not at this World Cup<\/a> final.<\/p>\n

That’s because the Americanisation of the competition means it has a half time show a la the Super Bowl, with musical acts stomping all over the carefully curated pitch<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It was Madonna<\/a> who opened the show as she started singing while being driven around by Brazilian World Cup winners<\/a> Ronaldinho and the original Ronaldo from what looked like an underground location, before emerging into the stadium and passing the musical baton on.<\/p>\n

BTS, Justin Bieber and Shakira were among the acts who performed, while there was a contribution from Ted Lesso as well.<\/p>\n

But what people saw in front of their eyes had many football fans wondering if they were being blinded by an AI spectacle<\/a>, because for a while there it really looked so.<\/p>\n

\"Let'sLet’s hope they’ve not spoiled the pitch (Elsa\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Never mind FIFA promising this half time show would only take a couple of minutes longer<\/a> than the typical fare, there was a 27 minute break between the half time whistle and the referee starting play for the second half.<\/p>\n

Bamboozled fans could scarcely believe the spectacle unfolding before their eyes, and plenty wondered ‘why does it look AI’.<\/p>\n

“I can\u2019t tell what\u2019s real, whats pre-recorded and what\u2019s AI anymore?! Surely R9 didn\u2019t just drive a car with Ronaldinho next to him as Madonna groped his chin from the back seats?!” one fan asked.<\/p>\n

Another questioned whether they were ‘cynical or does this look AI generated’.<\/p>\n

“What did you think of the World Cup final half-time show?”<\/p>\n

Wayne Rooney: pic.twitter.com\/1j6OQap9Yi<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 19, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

It looks like Madonna genuinely emerged with the World Cup winners, but if that whole rigmarole with the car was real or not seems to be anybody’s guess.<\/p>\n

Ronaldo appeared to be driving it around, but he seemed more focused on showing off the skill of his dentist with a big grin on display.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, some star power in the form of the Muppets restored some realism to proceedings.<\/p>\n

Whether or not it was real, many of the reactions have been down on the half time show, with Wayne Rooney denouncing it as ‘crap’.<\/p>\n

Liam Gallagher of Oasis fame described it being ‘like a bad trip’.<\/p>\n

\"ThisThis is all so surreal (Carl Recine\/Getty Images)World Cup final halftime show artists ranked by their net worth<\/p>\n

FIFA has put on an absolutely packed halftime show, with Shakira, Madonna, Justin Bieber and BTS co-headlining.<\/p>\n

But onto the most important question: whose bank account is the healthiest\u2026?<\/p>\n

Here they are, ranked from very rich to very, very, very rich.<\/p>\n

Gustavo Dudamel – $10 million\"TheThe energy Gustavo Dudamel brings (Jason Armond \/ Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

One of the lesser-known faces in the halftime show, Dudamel is a conductor and violinist who is leaving the Los Angeles Philharmonic for the New York Philharmonic in September.<\/p>\n

Long story short, he\u2019s not the kind of guy you\u2019d expect to perform alongside Shakira and Justin Bieber.<\/p>\n

According to Sportskeeda,<\/a> he\u2019s worth $10 million.<\/p>\n

Burna Boy – $22 million\"BurnaBurna Boy collabed with Shakira on this year’s World Cup song (Ryan Pierse – FIFA\/FIFA via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The Afrobeats artist has collaborated with Ed Sheeran, Dave and Shakira on hit songs, the latter being the 2026 World Cup anthem \u2018Dai Dai\u2019.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s worth a cool $22 million, according to Love Money<\/a>.<\/p>\n

BTS – $150 million to $350 million collectively\"BTSBTS recently returned from a hiatus (Kim Min-Hee – Pool\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Recently back from a hiatus after completing compulsory military service, the K-pop group\u2019s inclusion in the halftime show is sure to delight many.<\/p>\n

Of the seven members, V is said to be the wealthiest, worth between $38 million and 40 million according to the Economic Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Collectively, they\u2019re worth between $150 million and $350 million.<\/p>\n

Justin Bieber – $200 million\"BieberBieber performed a showstopping Coachella set this year (Kevin Mazur\/Getty Images for Coachella)<\/p>\n

Bieber made a generational comeback earlier this year at Coachella, marking his biggest live show in four years – and it certainly got everyone talking.<\/p>\n

Is the World Cup ready for his laptop and YouTube Premium account?<\/p>\n

He\u2019s worth $200 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth<\/a>, which happens to be the sum he sold his music back catalogue for back in 2023.<\/p>\n

Shakira – $350 million\"ShakiraShakira is behind this year’s World Cup song (Matthew J. Lee\/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Her hips don\u2019t lie, and neither do her paycheques. Shakira is the most successful Colombian artist in history, shifting over 100 million records worldwide.<\/p>\n

Alongside Burna Boy, she\u2019s responsible for the 2026 World Cup song \u2018Dai Dai\u2019, and who could forget 2010\u2019s \u2018Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)\u2019 for the South Africa World Cup.<\/p>\n

She\u2019s said to be worth $350 million, according to Marca<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Madonna – $850 million\"MadonnaMadonna is rolling in it (PABLO PORCIUNCULA\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Madonna is one of the wealthiest female musicians in history, with her latest album Confessions II dropping this month and naturally debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart.<\/p>\n

With hits including \u2018Like a Prayer\u2019, \u2018Papa Don\u2019t Preach\u2019 and \u2018Like a Virgin\u2019, it\u2019s no surprise she\u2019s absolutely rolling in it – she\u2019s worth $850 million, according to Forbes<\/a>.<\/p>\n