{"id":2047519,"date":"2026-07-16T20:40:34","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T17:40:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2047519"},"modified":"2026-07-16T20:40:34","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T17:40:34","slug":"the-cures-robert-smith-is-not-looking-forward-to-chris-martins-world-cup-halftime-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2047519","title":{"rendered":"The Cure\u2019s Robert Smith is not looking forward to Chris Martin\u2019s World Cup halftime show"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/cure_robert_smith.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"template-id-2749694\" class=\"post-2749694 tdb_templates type-tdb_templates status-publish post\">\n<div id=\"tdi_65\" class=\"tdc-zone\">\n<div class=\"tdc_zone tdi_66  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div id=\"tdi_67\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_68  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_70  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_breadcrumbs tdi_71 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-breadcrumbs \" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_71\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span>News<\/span><i class=\"tdb-bread-sep td-icon-right\"><\/i><span>Music News<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_title tdi_72 tdb-single-title td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_72\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">The Cure\u2019s Robert Smith is not looking forward to Chris Martin\u2019s World Cup halftime show<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_subtitle tdi_73 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_73\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Madonna,\u00a0Justin Bieber, Shakira and BTS are all set to feature in the show<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_author tdi_75 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_75\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span> Max Pilley<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_date tdi_76 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_76\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2026-07-16T21:40:34+01:00\">16th July 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .\/block --><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_77\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_78  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_80  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span8\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_featured_image tdi_81 tdb-content-horiz-left td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_81\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<figure>\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"696\" height=\"442\" class=\"entry-thumb\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/cure_robert_smith-696x442.jpg\" alt title=\"Roskilde Festival 2026 - Day 4\"><figcaption class=\"tdb-caption-text\">Robert Smith performs with The Cure during the Roskilde Festival 2026 at Roskilde Dyrskuepladsen on July 1, 2026 in Roskilde, Denmark. (Photo by Rune Hellestad &#8211; Corbis\/Corbis via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row_inner tdi_83 article-content-row vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column_inner tdi_85  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>The Cure\u2019s\u00a0Robert Smith has shared his thoughts on the upcoming FIFA World Cup final halftime show curated by Coldplay\u2019s\u00a0Chris Martin.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1152\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b>READ MORE:\u00a0<\/b><b>The Cure \u2013 \u2018Songs\u00a0Of\u00a0A\u00a0Lost World\u2019 review: a masterful reflection on loss<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The first ever official World Cup final halftime show will take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday\u00a0(July 19), and is set to feature\u00a0Madonna,\u00a0Justin Bieber, Shakira and BTS, with Martin curating the performance.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Earlier today (July 16),\u00a0Smith shared a typically blunt response to the spectacle on\u00a0The Cure\u2019s official Instagram page,\u00a0taking\u00a0aim\u00a0in particular\u00a0at\u00a0FIFA President Gianni Infantino.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe half-time show, which has been curated by Coldplay\u2019s Chris Martin, will feature Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira and the K-pop boyband BTS,\u201d the caption read. \u201cFifa\u2019s president, Gianni Infantosser, has described the half-time show as \u2018groundbreaking spectacle\u2019 that will \u2018celebrate football, music and our shared values, ensuring a legacy that transcends the final whistle\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The caption concluded: \u201cAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH\u2026 #Breadandcircuses #MUGWANK #pleasejustfuckoff.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Check out the post here:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/Da3GKWPzl69\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<div id=\"taboola-mid-article\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The post\u00a0also included a photograph that\u00a0appears to be\u00a0NASA\u2019s famous \u2018Pale Blue Dot\u2019 photograph, taken by Voyager 1 in 1990 from around\u00a03.7billion miles\u00a0away. The image shows Earth as\u00a0a tiny speck in\u00a0space, and\u00a0has long been used as a reminder of humanity\u2019s small place in the universe.<\/p>\n<p>The halftime show will be the first of its kind at\u00a0a World\u00a0Cup final, following the model of the Super Bowl. FIFA has said the show will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which\u00a0is aiming\u00a0to raise money to help expand access to education and football for children around the world.<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0withering nature of the\u00a0post recalls\u00a0Smith\u2019s famously dry response at the 2019 Rock And Roll Hall\u00a0Of\u00a0Fame induction ceremony, when an interviewer asked The Cure whether they were \u201cas excited as I am\u201d to be inducted.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBy the sounds of it, no,\u201d Smith replied, in a clip that later went viral.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad2 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-2\" class=\"lazy-ad\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Speaking about the moment\u00a0in 2024\u00a0on Annie MacManus and Nick Grimshaw\u2019s\u00a0Sidetracked podcast, Smith said he had \u201cfelt bad\u201d about the exchange.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf I\u2019m honest, I didn\u2019t\u00a0realise\u00a0that I was being filmed,\u201d he said. \u201cWe had just come from quite a serious conversation in our dressing room about what we were doing there. And this wave of enthusiasm was just like\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Cure\u00a0are\u00a0currently out on tour across the UK and Europe. Earlier this week, they announced that Simon Gallup\u2019s son Eden was filling in for the longtime bassist\u00a0after he was taken ill shortly before the first of their three shows in Berlin.<\/p>\n<p>The band recently headlined Poland\u2019s\u00a0Open\u2019er\u00a0Festival, where they performed a career-spanning set that included the rarely played \u2018Wild Mood Swings\u2019 deep cut \u2018Treasure\u2019.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>Last month,\u00a0Smith revealed that The Cure\u00a0have finished a follow-up to 2024\u2019s \u2018Songs Of A Lost World\u2019, while another more \u201cpoppy\u201d and \u201cupbeat\u201d album is also in the works.<\/p>\n<p>He also recently teamed up with\u00a0Olivia Rodrigo\u00a0on \u2018What\u2019s Wrong\u00a0With\u00a0Me\u2019,\u00a0and features on\u00a0The Rolling Stones\u2019 new album \u2018Foreign Tongues\u2019,\u00a0contributing guitar to \u2018Divine Intervention\u2019 and synth and backing vocals to \u2018Never Wanna Lose You\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>In a five-star review of \u2018Songs\u00a0Of\u00a0A\u00a0Lost World\u2019,\u00a0<i>NME\u00a0<\/i>wrote: \u201cMerciless? Yes, but there\u2019s always enough heart in the darkness and opulence in the sound to hold you and place these songs alongside The Cure\u2019s finest.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe frontman suggested that another two records may be arriving at some point, but \u2018Songs Of A Lost World\u2019 feels sufficient enough for the wait we\u2019ve endured, just for being arguably the most personal album of Smith\u2019s career. Mortality may loom, but there\u2019s colour in the black and flowers on the grave.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_tags tdi_87 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_87\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<ul class=\"tdb-tags\">\n<li><span>Related Topics<\/span><\/li>\n<li>BTS<\/li>\n<li>Chris Martin<\/li>\n<li>Coldplay<\/li>\n<li>Indie<\/li>\n<li>Justin Bieber<\/li>\n<li>Madonna<\/li>\n<li>Robert Smith<\/li>\n<li>Shakira<\/li>\n<li>The Cure<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_89 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>You May Also Like<\/h3>\n<div id=\"taboola-below-article\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_91  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span4 td-is-sticky\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td-a-rec td-a-rec-id-sidebar  tdi_92 td_block_template_2\">\n<p><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-sidebar-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap td_flex_block_1 tdi_93 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdc-no-posts td_flex_block\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_93\">\n<div class=\"td-block-title-wrap\">\n<h4 class=\"td-block-title\"><span class=\"td-pulldown-size\">TRENDING<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_93\" class=\"td_block_inner td-mc1-wrap\">\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/shes-green-radar-swallowtail-credit-liam-armstrong-400x262.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/shes-green-radar-swallowtail-credit-liam-armstrong-800x524.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Minneapolis shoegazers She\u2019s Green are playing the long game<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Anya-Taylor-Joy-Lucky-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Anya-Taylor-Joy-Lucky-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">\u2018Lucky\u2019 review: Anya Taylor-Joy\u2019s plucky con artist will keep you guessing until the final sting<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SOAD_TOTTENHAM_1-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SOAD_TOTTENHAM_1-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">System Of A Down live in London review: A QOTSA-featuring, Oasis-baiting, circle pit party<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/NME-HERO-FEMTANYL-CREDIT-JACQUI-SHARAH@2560x1707-400x267.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/NME-HERO-FEMTANYL-CREDIT-JACQUI-SHARAH@2560x1707-800x533.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">The breakneck rise of digital hardcore duo Femtanyl<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Assassins-Creed-Black-Flag-Resynced-Remake2-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Assassins-Creed-Black-Flag-Resynced-Remake2-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">\u2018Assassin\u2019s Creed Black Flag Resynced\u2019 review: a treasure chest of sea-faring adventures<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td-a-rec td-a-rec-id-custom_ad_1  tdi_94 td_block_template_2\">\n<p><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-sidebar-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_95\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_96  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_98  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"vc_row_inner tdi_100  vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column_inner tdi_102  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_104 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>More Stories<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap td_flex_block_1 tdi_105 td-pb-border-top td_module_flex_1--card td_module_flex_1--card--highlight td_block_template_2 tdc-no-posts td_flex_block\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_105\">\n<div class=\"td-block-title-wrap\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_105\" class=\"td_block_inner td-mc1-wrap\">\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/phoebe_bridgers-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/phoebe_bridgers-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Watch Phoebe Bridgers return to \u2018The Tonight Show\u2019 with tender acoustic version of \u2018Lost Boys\u2019<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/TTSSFU-interview-credit-henry-collier-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/TTSSFU-interview-credit-henry-collier-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><span class=\"td-video-play-ico\"><i class=\"td-icon-video-thumb-play\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music Interviews<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">TTSSFU tells us about shaking self-doubt and new music: \u201cI\u2019m going back to dream-pop\u201d<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/KeosharenewsinglePistol-debut-album-Put-A-Smile-On-For-Me-news-story-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/KeosharenewsinglePistol-debut-album-Put-A-Smile-On-For-Me-news-story-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Listen to Keo\u2019s soaring new single \u2018Pistol\u2019<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026_suede_donaldchristie_2000x1270-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026_suede_donaldchristie_2000x1270-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Suede announce \u2018Coming Up\u2019 30th anniversary reissue along with 12 inch singles collection<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026_phoebe_bridgers_getty_2000x1270-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026_phoebe_bridgers_getty_2000x1270-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Watch Phoebe Bridgers perform \u2018Lost Boys\u2019 live on \u2018The Tonight Show\u2019<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/BeabadoobeenewsingleSwitchbladerelease-news-story-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/BeabadoobeenewsingleSwitchbladerelease-news-story-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Beabadoobee shares fuzzy new song \u2018Switchblade\u2019<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>                    <span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span>                <\/article>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>The Cure\u2019s\u00a0Robert Smith has shared his thoughts on the upcoming FIFA World Cup final halftime show curated by Coldplay\u2019s\u00a0Chris Martin.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1152\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b>READ MORE:\u00a0<\/b><b>The Cure \u2013 \u2018Songs\u00a0Of\u00a0A\u00a0Lost World\u2019 review: a masterful reflection on loss<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The first ever official World Cup final halftime show will take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday\u00a0(July 19), and is set to feature\u00a0Madonna,\u00a0Justin Bieber, Shakira and BTS, with Martin curating the performance.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Earlier today (July 16),\u00a0Smith shared a typically blunt response to the spectacle on\u00a0The Cure\u2019s official Instagram page,\u00a0taking\u00a0aim\u00a0in particular\u00a0at\u00a0FIFA President Gianni Infantino.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe half-time show, which has been curated by Coldplay\u2019s Chris Martin, will feature Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira and the K-pop boyband BTS,\u201d the caption read. \u201cFifa\u2019s president, Gianni Infantosser, has described the half-time show as \u2018groundbreaking spectacle\u2019 that will \u2018celebrate football, music and our shared values, ensuring a legacy that transcends the final whistle\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The caption concluded: \u201cAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH\u2026 #Breadandcircuses #MUGWANK #pleasejustfuckoff.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Check out the post here:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/Da3GKWPzl69\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<div id=\"taboola-mid-article\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The post\u00a0also included a photograph that\u00a0appears to be\u00a0NASA\u2019s famous \u2018Pale Blue Dot\u2019 photograph, taken by Voyager 1 in 1990 from around\u00a03.7billion miles\u00a0away. The image shows Earth as\u00a0a tiny speck in\u00a0space, and\u00a0has long been used as a reminder of humanity\u2019s small place in the universe.<\/p>\n<p>The halftime show will be the first of its kind at\u00a0a World\u00a0Cup final, following the model of the Super Bowl. FIFA has said the show will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which\u00a0is aiming\u00a0to raise money to help expand access to education and football for children around the world.<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0withering nature of the\u00a0post recalls\u00a0Smith\u2019s famously dry response at the 2019 Rock And Roll Hall\u00a0Of\u00a0Fame induction ceremony, when an interviewer asked The Cure whether they were \u201cas excited as I am\u201d to be inducted.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBy the sounds of it, no,\u201d Smith replied, in a clip that later went viral.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad2 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-2\" class=\"lazy-ad\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Speaking about the moment\u00a0in 2024\u00a0on Annie MacManus and Nick Grimshaw\u2019s\u00a0Sidetracked podcast, Smith said he had \u201cfelt bad\u201d about the exchange.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf I\u2019m honest, I didn\u2019t\u00a0realise\u00a0that I was being filmed,\u201d he said. \u201cWe had just come from quite a serious conversation in our dressing room about what we were doing there. And this wave of enthusiasm was just like\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Cure\u00a0are\u00a0currently out on tour across the UK and Europe. Earlier this week, they announced that Simon Gallup\u2019s son Eden was filling in for the longtime bassist\u00a0after he was taken ill shortly before the first of their three shows in Berlin.<\/p>\n<p>The band recently headlined Poland\u2019s\u00a0Open\u2019er\u00a0Festival, where they performed a career-spanning set that included the rarely played \u2018Wild Mood Swings\u2019 deep cut \u2018Treasure\u2019.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>Last month,\u00a0Smith revealed that The Cure\u00a0have finished a follow-up to 2024\u2019s \u2018Songs Of A Lost World\u2019, while another more \u201cpoppy\u201d and \u201cupbeat\u201d album is also in the works.<\/p>\n<p>He also recently teamed up with\u00a0Olivia Rodrigo\u00a0on \u2018What\u2019s Wrong\u00a0With\u00a0Me\u2019,\u00a0and features on\u00a0The Rolling Stones\u2019 new album \u2018Foreign Tongues\u2019,\u00a0contributing guitar to \u2018Divine Intervention\u2019 and synth and backing vocals to \u2018Never Wanna Lose You\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>In a five-star review of \u2018Songs\u00a0Of\u00a0A\u00a0Lost World\u2019,\u00a0<i>NME\u00a0<\/i>wrote: \u201cMerciless? Yes, but there\u2019s always enough heart in the darkness and opulence in the sound to hold you and place these songs alongside The Cure\u2019s finest.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe frontman suggested that another two records may be arriving at some point, but \u2018Songs Of A Lost World\u2019 feels sufficient enough for the wait we\u2019ve endured, just for being arguably the most personal album of Smith\u2019s career. Mortality may loom, but there\u2019s colour in the black and flowers on the grave.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/the-cures-robert-smith-is-not-looking-forward-to-chris-martins-world-cup-halftime-show-3957397&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/cure_robert_smith.jpg&#8221;] NewsMusic News The Cure\u2019s Robert Smith is not looking forward to Chris Martin\u2019s World Cup halftime show Madonna,\u00a0Justin Bieber, Shakira and BTS are all set to feature in the show By Max Pilley 16th July 2026 Robert Smith performs with The Cure during the Roskilde Festival 2026 at Roskilde Dyrskuepladsen on July [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,78],"class_list":["post-2047519","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-nme-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2047519","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2047519"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2047519\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2047519"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2047519"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2047519"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}