On Sunday, July 19, at the New York New Jersey stadium, during the tense final between the Argentina and Spain teams, something happened that football fans had never seen before. During the long halftime break, an 11-minute mega show erupted on the field, masterfully directed by Coldplay’s lead singer Chris Martin.
Madonna, Electric Mayhem, BTS, Justin Bieber, Shakira appeared here.
But some left bitterness. After Shakira finished her performance, a group of children took over the baton and sang a song about love. And even before that, many were puzzled in the stands when they saw the Russian inscription “любовь” (love – editor’s note). This immediately sparked discussions about the organizers’ sympathies towards Russia.
Such a stunt angered Lithuanians, including music journalist Ramūnas Zilnys.
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People expressed their frustration:
“I even turned around to look, thought I was hallucinating..”
“The peak!! Although wait, why am I surprised?”
“No words.”
“Disgusting. They kill people every day, but for someone it’s love.”
VIDEO: The FIFA World Cup Final 2026™ Topps Halftime Show
The FIFA World Cup Final 2026™ Topps Halftime Show
We remind you that the World Cup was won by the Spaniards, who defeated the defending champions Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final match and became world champions for the second time in history. The first time they lifted the prestigious trophy was back in 2010.
And recently, news emerged that FIFA, the organization governing world football, decided to partially open the doors to Russia, which continues to wage a brutal war in Ukraine.
According to the news agency DPA, Russians will be allowed to compete in the world U15 boys’ championship to be held in Azerbaijan in October.
The tournament, which will be held for the first time from October 22-31, will allow teams from all FIFA-affiliated associations, including Russia, to participate.
In 2027, a U15 girls’ championship is planned, and in 2028 both girls’ and boys’ tournaments will take place. Russians will also be allowed to compete in these, permitted to use their country’s flag and hear the Russian anthem.
The tournament is expected to be the first FIFA event since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 to include representatives of the aggressor.
All Russian teams have been removed from FIFA and UEFA tournaments and have not been able to play official matches for the past four years.
