Lip-syncing, photobombing & thoroughly unimpressed pop stars: The weirdest moments from the awkward World Cup final
It certainly was a strange World Cup Final...
Mark
It was the grand finale of the biggest sports party of the summer–and we were left staring indifferently into the distance like Posh Spice.
Spain bested Argentina 1-0 Sunday in the World Cup Final when Ferran Torres lifted the ball into the net in the 106th minute. A global affair that captivated North America ended with a brutal slog, despite a dizzying halftime show that was heavy on stars and light on meaning or continuity.
Throughout the five weeks, the mass contradictions that the World Cup presented were largely kept to the sidelines. But at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, they were as noticeable as a petulant, 80-year-old president being kept out of the frame. Without further ado, here are the weirdest moments from the World Cup Final…
Tr*mp gets cropped
Your dose of fabulosi-TEA
Subscribe to our newsletter for your front-row seat to all things entertainment with a sprinkle of everything else queer.
Subscribe to our Newsletter today
No one–and we mean no one–wanted Tr*mp’s FIFA photobombing moment. After spending months bashing Spain, Tr*mp wanted a piece of the glory himself. When Spain’s victorious players took turns passing around the trophy, he aimlessly wandered around the stage, looking for a place to stand.
Rather than embracing him, Spain’s players kept pushing him to the side.
Utterly daft, Tr*mp stood to the side during their team photo, prompting FIFA president Gianni Infantino to try and pull him out of the way. But no dice. The bloated commander-in-chief proved to be an immovable object.
Still, Spain’s players celebrated and appeared to enjoy the moment. Better yet, photos shared after the match appear to have Tr*mp cropped out…
Madonna’s moment
@Madonna takes the field during the FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show with Brazilian legends Ronaldinho and Ronaldo pic.twitter.com/XF2863cmtz— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 19, 2026
Madonna has owned stages across the country this summer with her stellar rollout of Confessions II. Just a few miles from MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the Queen of Pop lit up Times Square for a surprise pop-up show that gagged all of the gays.
But on Sunday, Madonna lacked much palpable fire. Kicking off the first ever–and hopefully last ever?–World Cup halftime show, she rode onto the field in a dune buggy and moved her lips to her 2000 hit, “Music.”
With Brazilian soccer greats Ronaldo and Ronaldhino grooving beside her, it was a cool visual. But unfortunately, it was not much of a show.
Related
Forget stealing bases, these two baseball players are stealing kisses on the pitcher’s mound
Video footage of two baseball players unexpectedly making out has gone viral online.
Shakira shakes her hips
Watch Shakira performing “Dai Dai” (feat. Burna Boy) during the FIFA World Cup halftime show in New Jersey! pic.twitter.com/Xb96b2twHk— ShakiraMedia (@ShakiraMedia) July 19, 2026
Twenty years later, we admire the inability of Shakira’s hips to never tell a falsehood. When she came out with Burna Boy to perform this year’s World Cup theme song, “Dai Dai,” her glorious movements (almost) saved the 11-minute medley.
With four performances over the last six World Cups, Shakira is undoubtedly the musical face of the World Cup. But she didn’t show much enthusiasm up in her box when Spain scored the game-winning goal.
As Torres’ kick sailed through, she offered a strained smile.
A likely explanation for Shakira’s stoicism? The Spanish government was recently ordered to return more than $64 million in wrongly imposed fines to the pop icon…
Yeah, cheating us out of $64 million would make us frown, too!
Speaking of which…
Posh Spice is unimpressed
Passano gli anni, passano i mondiali, ma Victoria resta comunque la personalità più importante in Inghilterra pic.twitter.com/zI437WNLue— Fred
(@FredMosby_) July 12, 2026
Posh Spice gifted us with the meme of the World Cup when she failed to react over Jude Bellingham’s decisive goal in England’s quarterfinal win against Norway.
On Sunday, she was back again, skipping Mel C’s wedding to stoically stand in the box next to David.
We love an ice queen.
Erect with excitement
During the World Cup, we were erect with excitement over the really hot soccer players. Appropriately, an inflatable gold object captured the sentiment on Sunday.
The World Cup may be over, but we’ll always have Jude Bellingham, Christian Pulisic, Erling Haaland and all of our favorite hotties!
Related
Matt Pacifici on playing in the MLS, NYC life & why soccer players are so damn hot
After playing in the pros, Matt Pacifici has found a gay sports family.
Sign up for the Queerty newsletter to stay on top of the hottest stories in LGBTQ+ entertainment, politics, and culture.
