The 2026 World Cup final is slated to feature stars of stage and screen for performances before and during the match.
Scheduled for the afternoon of July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium, the actual match is just one piece of the action. In addition to the traditional singing of the National Anthem, there will also be a closing ceremony and a halftime show.
“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,” Heimo Schirgi, Fifa Chief Operating Officer, said in a press release.
Kicking off about 90 minutes before the 3 p.m. match, the closing ceremony aims to “celebrate the 48 teams’ unforgettable journey across the three host countries and 16 host cities throughout the tournament,” according to Fifa.
A handful of celebrities are slated to appear, including actor Tom Cruise, streamer IShowSpeed, British singer-songwriter Robbie Williams, Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger and Italian singer-songwriter Laura Pausini. It’s unclear exactly what each will be doing or performing.
Post Malone will be the headline performer.
Fifa has encouraged fans attending the final to arrive early, as they have “an active role to play in the show,” a press release states.
The festivities will continue with EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson singing the National Anthem. Her appearance will come just days after she sang “God Bless America” at the MLB All-Star game in Philadelphia.
Then, Fifa’s first-ever World Cup final halftime show will feature a slew of celebrities. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin has been tapped to curate the show. Performers include Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira and Burna Boy (who also performed their official Fifa World Cup song “Dai Dai” at the opening ceremony), Gustavo Dudamel and BTS.
In addition, the PS 22 choir from Staten Island, New York, will join Coldplay for a performance. Appearances from several Sesame Street characters are also expected.
Fifa’s Global Citizen Education Find is the intended beneficiary of the halftime show as it looks to raise $100 million to expand access to quality education and sports for children around the world.
The halftime show is rumored to be about 11 minutes long, which means the players’ break could exceed 20 minutes, accounting for set up and take down time.
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