Leo Varadkar criticised for promoting World Cup final half-time show

Former taoiseach Leo Varadkar has been widely criticised over his promotion of the World Cup final half-time show.

Varadkar has worked in a number of different areas since leaving politics, including at US universities.

He was appointed to the Europe board of directors for the international advocacy organization Global Citizen in September 2025.

Through this role, he actively supports initiatives like the Fifa Global Citizen Education Fund.

Some of the proceeds from the half-time show will go to this fund, and Varadkar was speaking about this in a post about the show.

He wrote: "The first ever FIFA World Cup half-time show airs tonight. It's only 11 minutes long but it's going to be super special. There'll still be time for half-time commentary and ads (and a toilet break) depending on the network or platform you watch. $60 million raised already for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund."

The first ever FIFA World Cup half-time show airs tonight. It's only 11 minutes long but it's going to be super special. There'll still be time for half-time commentary and ads (and a toilet break) depending on the network or platform you watch. $60 million raised already for… https://t.co/9mAZNZq0ws

— Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) July 19, 2026

Fans were already unhappy with the half-time show, with some arguing it is an attempt from Fifa to move football more towards the commercialism of American Football.

The show will feature performances from the likes of Shakira, BTS, and Justin Bieber. It will be up to 25 minutes, and possibly more.

The International Football Association Board (Ifab) states players are entitled to a maximum 15-minute stoppage. Some fans also fear the break, at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium, could ruin the flow of