A wide array of performers, from actor Tom Cruise to streamer IShowSpeed, will help close out the World Cup, FIFA announced Tuesday.
And on Wednesday, soccer's governing body said American rapper-singer Post Malone will headline the closing ceremony.
The ceremony will take place 90 minutes before Sunday's final. The show is meant to “celebrate the 48 teams’ unforgettable journey” through 16 host cities across three countries, FIFA said in a statement.
IShowSpeed — who has streamed multiple matches — is listed as a performer, while Cruise — who's also been spotted in the stands and performed a stunt at the Paris Olympics' closing ceremony — is billed as making a “special appearance.” The ceremony will also include performances from Laura Pausini, the Italian singer who helped open the Milan Cortina Olympics in February; Tony winner and Pussycat Dolls member Nicole Scherzinger; and Robbie Williams, the British singer and former Take That member.
Jennifer Hudson, who boasts the coveted EGOT title with an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony, will perform the U.S. national anthem.
“Echoing the spirit of the opening ceremonies, which welcomed the world to the greatest stage in Canada, Mexico and the United States, the closing ceremony will bring the FIFA World Cup 2026 full circle through music, culture and football, before we kick off the highly anticipated match that will crown the champions of this groundbreaking tournament,” said Heimo Schirgi, the World Cup's chief operating officer.
While Sunday will also feature the tournament's first halftime show, with a bevy of additional A-list performers, closing ceremonies are not exactly new to the World Cup. The closing ceremony is being produced in partnership with Balich Wonder Studio, led by Marco Balich, who orchestrated the 2022 World Cup's opening and closing ceremonies in Qatar.
FIFA has encouraged ticketholders to arrive early, promising that fans “will have an active role to play in the show.” The show begins at 1:30 p.m. at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Spain and Argentina are set for a blockbuster showdown in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final, with the coveted trophy on the line before a crowd of more than 80,000 at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, July 19. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. ET.
Spain, champions of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, are making just their second appearance in a World Cup final, while Argentina are chasing a record-extending fourth title after their triumphs in 1978, 1986, and 2022. The South American giants have also finished as runners-up in 1930, 1990, and 2014.
The two football powerhouses have met only once before in FIFA World Cup history, with Argentina claiming a 2-1 victory during the group stage of the 1966 tournament. Nearly six decades later, they will renew their rivalry on the sport's biggest stage with the 2026 World Cup title at stake.
Picture Courtesy: AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File
