FIFA Splits Its Biggest Final Into Two Star-Packed Shows
That’s right—the 2026 World Cup final somehow just got even more ginormous. FIFA has announced a separate star-packed closing ceremony before the championship match, adding Jennifer Hudson, Tom Cruise, Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger, Laura Pausini and IShowSpeed to an already overloaded day of football and entertainment.
The closing ceremony begins at 1:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 19, at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, 90 minutes before the final kicks off at 3 p.m. ET. Hudson will deliver a special rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” while Cruise is set for a special appearance. Pausini, Scherzinger, Williams and IShowSpeed will perform during the pre-match celebration.
sports
Get Ready for World Cup Final Day
The final now comes with a closing ceremony, national anthem performance and the first-ever World Cup Final Halftime Show. Check FIFA’s official update, then gear up for one enormous Sunday.
Some links may be affiliate links. INYIM may earn from qualifying purchases.
And no, this is not the same thing as the much-hyped halftime production. FIFA has divided final day into two separate entertainment spectacles: the closing ceremony before kickoff, followed by the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show during the match.
The halftime show will be co-headlined by Madonna, Shakira, BTS and Justin Bieber. Burna Boy, conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay are also scheduled for the 11-minute broadcast, which is being curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin.
Because apparently that lineup was still not enough, characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets are also part of the halftime celebration. The show supports the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which is working toward a $100 million goal to expand access to education and football opportunities for children worldwide.
FIFA says the pre-match ceremony will celebrate the journey of all 48 teams across Canada, Mexico and the United States, bringing the tournament full circle before the new world champion is crowned. Fans inside the stadium are being told to arrive early, with gates opening at 11 a.m. ET and additional activations beginning well before the ceremony.
The World Cup final already carries enough tension to power several cities. Now it also comes wrapped in Jennifer Hudson singing the anthem, Tom Cruise appearing somewhere in the spectacle, Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger working the pre-game crowd, and Madonna, Shakira, BTS and Justin Bieber waiting at halftime. Subtle, this is not.
Watch INYIM’s Haaland and World Cup Merch Extras
Before final day takes over, revisit INYIM Media’s Erling Haaland clip and a closer look at some World Cup merchandise that found a home with us.
Source: FIFA’s official closing ceremony announcement and the official Global Citizen halftime show page.
