Wayne Rooney holds nothing back and blasts South Africa 2010

With less than three months to go before the 2026 World Cup, debates about the best and worst editions of football’s biggest tournament are heating up again. And as often happens when Wayne Rooney speaks, controversy quickly follows.

The legendary England striker did not hold back and delivered a brutal critique of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, a tournament won by Spain but one that, according to his memories, felt far from the spectacle expected from the sport’s biggest event.

During a conversation on the podcast The Overlap, the former England captain was clear and direct:
“There isn’t a worse World Cup than South Africa. You won’t have a worse World Cup than that one,” he said, instantly sparking debate among fans and analysts.

His comments arrive just as the football world begins to look ahead to the 2026 World Cup in Mexico, the United States and Canada, a historic edition that will feature 48 national teams and venues spread across three countries.

A World Cup that, according to Rooney, “never felt like one”

For Wayne Rooney, the biggest issue with that tournament wasn’t only what happened on the pitch, but the overall feeling surrounding the competition.

The former striker specifically recalled the moment before England’s opening match against the United States, an experience that left a lasting negative impression.

“I remember going to the stadium and there was nothing. No fans anywhere. The atmosphere was dead,” he explained.

According to his account, the absence of the typical festive atmosphere that usually surrounds a World Cup played a huge role in shaping his perception of the tournament.

“Normally you see fans everywhere—flags, noise, people celebrating. There was nothing like that. It just didn’t feel like a World Cup at all,” added the former Manchester United star, according to statements made on the podcast.

The match he referred to was played at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg, a venue with a capacity of just over 38,000 spectators—numbers that will look small compared to the massive stadiums set to host matches in the 2026 tournament.

England’s disaster also shaped Rooney’s memory

Although Rooney pointed to the atmosphere as a key problem, there is another factor that clearly influenced his perception: England’s disastrous campaign in that World Cup.

The team managed by Fabio Capello arrived in South Africa with high expectations but ultimately produced a disappointing performance.

The Three Lions managed just one win in the group stage against Slovenia, alongside draws with the United States and Algeria. Those inconsistent results left them second in their group and full of doubts heading into the knockout rounds.

The end came quickly—and painfully.

In the Round of 16, England were crushed 4–1 by Germany, in a match also remembered for Frank Lampard’s controversial disallowed goal, which clearly crossed the line but was not awarded by the referee.

For Rooney, that combination of factors—poor performances, heavy criticism and an atmosphere that never convinced him—cemented his view that it was the worst World Cup in history.

A controversial opinion that clashes with the tournament’s legacy

Wayne Rooney’s comments have reignited debate over the legacy of the 2010 World Cup.

For many fans, that tournament remains historic for several reasons: it was the first World Cup ever hosted in Africa, it crowned Spain as champions, and it carried enormous cultural significance for the continent.

In fact, some football figures have expressed the exact opposite view. The then-FIFA president Sepp Blatter once described the 2010 edition as “the best World Cup in history.”

That contrast shows how personal experiences often shape how players remember major tournaments.

In Rooney’s case, the mix of sporting disappointment and an atmosphere that never convinced him turned South Africa 2010 into his worst World Cup memory.

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