Fans were united in their reaction to FIFA’s decision to include a half-time show during the Club World Cup final.
During the interval of Sunday’s clash between Chelsea and PSG at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, reggaeton artist J Balvin, rapper Doja Cat, Tems and Emmanuel Kelly performed to the crowd.
They were joined on stage by Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin, who made a surprise guest appearance for the show.
It marked the first time ever that FIFA had sanctioned a half-time show during one of its tournaments, as football’s governing body sought to pander to its American audience given the location of the Club World Cup.
Reacting to the show on social media, many football were bemused by the spectacle.
One user wrote: ‘Halftime show at the Club World Cup? Utter woke nonsense!’
Chris Martin of Coldplay made a surprise appearance at the Club World Cup final
It received a mixed review from fans overall, who appeared bemused by the spectacle
Some fans complained that the tournament focussed too much on music
However, others praised the performance of Nigerian artist Tems
A second added: ‘Having a halftime show during this Club World Cup final feels so weird’.
Another user wrote: ‘Too many music shows in this Club World Cup’.
Meanwhile, others praised the performance of Nigerian singer Tems for her contribution to the action.
A fourth remarked: ‘Great to see Tems performing at the halftime show of the Club World Cup final’.
The reaction to the show came after a dominant first-half performance from Chelsea against the European champions.
They stormed into a 3-0 lead before the break thanks to a brace from Cole Palmer and another goal in the competition for new signing Joao Pedro.
Despite the lively final, the tournament has come in for heavy criticism for being played in stifling summer conditions in the United States, where temperatures have regularly soared above 35C.
That has led to concern from players and managers over what conditions will be like for next year’s World Cup, which is also being staged from June to July in 2026 across North America.
