The Americanization of Sport: A World Cup Halftime Show That Fell Flat The 2022 FIFA World Cup was always going to be a spectacle, but few could have predicted just how far it would veer from its traditional soccer roots.
Amidst criticism over ticket prices, corruption allegations, and the introduction of "hydration breaks," the halftime show at the Spain vs Argentina final became an exercise in self indulgence, embodying all that is wrong with the creeping influence of American culture on global sports.
The 27 minute extravaganza was a jarring departure from tradition for fans accustomed to the simple, no frills approach of European soccer.