FIFA announced on Tuesday a star‑studded roster of performers who will headline the World Cup closing ceremony, ranging from actor Tom Cruise to internet streamer IShowSpeed.
FIFA, soccer’s governing body, unveiled the closing‑ceremony lineup on Tuesday, confirming that the show will begin 90 minutes before Sunday’s final. The event is designed to “celebrate the 48 teams’ unforgettable journey” across 16 host cities in three nations, the organization said in a statement.
IShowSpeed, whose live streams have covered multiple matches, will perform, while Tom Cruise appears in a “special appearance” after previously impressing audiences with a stunt at the Paris Olympics. Also on the bill are Italian pop star Laura Pausini— who opened the Milan‑Cortina Olympics— Tony‑award‑winning Pussycat Rolls member Nicole Scherzinger, and British singer Robbie Williams, formerly of Take That.
Jennifer Hudson, an EGOT laureate holding an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony, will sing the United States national anthem.
Heimo Schirgi, FIFA’s chief operating officer, said the ceremony “echoes the spirit of the opening celebrations, which welcomed the world to the greatest stage in Canada, Mexico and the United States. It will bring the FIFA World Cup 2026 full circle through music, culture and football before the final kicks off, crowning the champions of this groundbreaking tournament.”
Sunday’s program also includes the tournament’s inaugural halftime show, featuring additional A‑list talent. The closing ceremony, however, is not a first for the FIFA World Cup; it is being produced in collaboration with Balich Wonder Studio under Marco Balich, who directed both the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2022 Qatar tournament.
The halftime entertainment will include performances by Shakira, Madonna and K‑pop giants BTS, curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin. “This will be a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup and a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino posted on Instagram.
FIFA has urged ticketed fans to arrive early, assuring them they “will have an active role in the show.” The ceremony starts at 1:30 p.m. ET at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with the final kickoff set for 3:00 p.m. ET.
