FIFA Reveals Tom Cruise, Robbie Williams for World Cup 2026 Closing Ceremony
The ceremony, 90 minutes before the final at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium, will also feature Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, and IShowSpeed.
FIFA on Tuesday announced the lineup for the closing ceremony of the 2026 World Cup, to be held on 19 July at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, 90 minutes before the final. The event will feature performances by Italian singer Laura Pausini, American Nicole Scherzinger, British Robbie Williams, and the streamer IShowSpeed, with a special appearance by Tom Cruise. Jennifer Hudson, holder of the EGOT quartet of entertainment awards, will sing the US national anthem. The ceremony marks the culmination of a tournament that expanded to 48 teams and three host nations for the first time.
Produced in partnership with Balich Wonder Studio, which orchestrated the 2022 ceremonies in Qatar, the show aims to “bring the FIFA World Cup 2026 full circle through music, culture and football,” according to chief operating officer Heimo Schirgi. European media note the prominence of Pausini and Williams as a nod to the continent’s footballing heritage, while North American outlets highlight the Hollywood glamour of Cruise and Hudson. FIFA has said additional artists and special guests will be announced in the coming days, and ticketholders have been encouraged to arrive four hours before kick-off to participate in pre-match activations.
For the first time in World Cup history, the final will also feature a halftime show, extending the interval beyond the standard 15 minutes. The 11-minute spectacle, curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, will include Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, and the K-pop group BTS, alongside Burna Boy, conductor Gustavo Dudamel, the PS22 Chorus, and characters from Sesame Street and the Muppets. The performance supports the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which has raised more than $50 million of its $100 million target, with one dollar from each ticket sold across the tournament donated to expand access to education and football for children worldwide.
The final will be contested by the winners of the semifinals: Spain, who defeated France 2-0 on Tuesday, and the victor of Wednesday’s Argentina-England clash. Kick-off is set for 3 p.m. local time, with the closing ceremony beginning at 1:30 p.m. and stadium gates opening at 11 a.m. The tournament, spanning 16 host cities across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, has been the largest in World Cup history, with 104 matches played over 39 days.
The closing ceremony and halftime show represent a significant shift in FIFA’s approach to entertainment, blending elite sport with global pop culture. The final is expected to draw a television audience in the billions, following the 1.5 billion who watched the 2022 final. The champion will be crowned at MetLife Stadium, bringing the groundbreaking tournament to a close.
| Atlantic / Anglosphere press | +0.50 | aligned |
|---|---|---|
| Sub-Saharan African press | 0.00 | neutral |
| Latin American press | +0.70 | aligned |
FIFA and the global football community present a spectacular closing ceremony to honor the tournament's success. The voice is that of the organizing body, celebrating the event.
The mechanism is simple enumeration of celebrity names, creating a sense of prestige and excitement through association with well-known figures.
The atlantica bloc omits any mention of the auction of memorabilia or the education fund, focusing solely on the ceremony's star power.
Christie's and FIFA Global Citizen speak through the auction, emphasizing the philanthropic value of the tournament's memorabilia. The voice is that of the auction house and the charity, not the ceremony organizers.
The mechanism is the framing of the event as a commodity and a fundraising opportunity, using specific high-value items to attract bidders and highlight the education fund.
The africana_subsahariana bloc omits any mention of the closing ceremony lineup or the halftime show, focusing exclusively on the auction.
The voice is that of the Latin American media, taking pride in the inclusion of regional stars and presenting the event as a global celebration with a local flavor.
The mechanism is the selective highlighting of Latin artists, creating a sense of regional representation and ownership of the global event.
The latinoamericana bloc omits any mention of the auction or the education fund, focusing solely on the musical and celebrity lineup.
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