FIFA World Cup 2026 Final: Who Is Performing at the Closing Ceremony and Historic Half-Time Show? 

By
Sruti Thakur
Sruti Thakur is a Sports Journalist at SportsDigest with over 1.5 years of experience in sports media and digital journalism. She specialises in football, tennis, and...
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The FIFA World Cup 2026 is all set for its final match, which is scheduled for July 19 (July 20, IST). The final of the World Cup will be played between defending champions Argentina and the European champions Spain at MetLife Stadium (New York New Jersey Stadium). 

For the first time in FIFA World Cup history, 48 teams competed for football’s biggest prize. After weeks of thrilling action, the tournament has come down to its showdown. Spain will be aiming to lift their second FIFA World Cup trophy, while Lionel Messi’s Argentina will be looking to successfully defend the title they won in 2022.

MetLife Stadium is gearing up to host the biggest final on Sunday, July 19, which will feature some of the World’s biggest artists.

“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.

Who will sing the National Anthem at the FIFA World Cup Final?

A special rendition of the United States National Anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner”, will be sung by Jennifer Hudson ahead of the high-voltage clash.

Hudson is a successful actress and producer who gained fame two decades ago on the reality show “American Idol” 

List of stars performing at the closing ceremony of FIFA World Cup 2026

The closing ceremony will kick off around 6:30 p.m. BST, which is 90 minutes ahead of the match. The theme of the closing ceremony is to celebrate the 48 teams’ unforgettable journey across three host countries – Mexico, Canada, and the US.

1.Tom Cruise

As per reports from FIFA, Hollywood star Tom Cruise, who is widely known for his movies like Mission: Impossible, Top Gun: Maverick, Rain Man, etc, is all set to be part of the closing ceremony

2. iShowSpeed

Famous streamer iShowSpeed, who has a massive following and is known as the biggest Cristiano Ronaldo fan, will also be part of the FIFA World Cup 2026 closing ceremony.

3. Post Malone

Post Malone has been included in the FIFA World Cup final’s star-studded entertainment lineup. While announcing his performance, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the singer will help celebrate the tournament’s incredible journey and build excitement before the two finalists take the field.

4. Robbie Williams

Robbie Williams is also set to be part of the celebrations. The British superstar made history last year by becoming FIFA’s first-ever Music Ambassador and released the organisation’s first official anthem, “Desire”.

5. Nicole Scherzinger

Nicole Scherzinger, Grammy-nominated American singer and dancer, rose to global fame as the powerhouse lead vocalist of the Pussycat Dolls. Renowned for her exceptional vocal range and dynamic stage presence, she also performed “Desire” alongside Williams at the Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Washington, DC, last year.

6. Laura Pausini

Grammy-winning Italian singer-songwriter Laura Pausini will also perform at the FIFA World Cup final alongside Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger. She will sing the Spanish portion of “Desire”, FIFA’s official anthem, which she recorded as a duet with Williams.

List of stars who will perform at the half-time show in the final?

The Halftime Show at the FIFA World Cup 2026 will take place for the first time in the tournament’s history. 

1.Chris Martin

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin has curated the high-energy, 11-minute performance, which blends global pop, Latin, K-pop, Afrobeats, orchestral elements, and more. 

2. Justin Bieber

The Canadian pop superstar joins as a co-headliner. This marks his first major stage appearance since his standout Coachella performance earlier in the year.

3. Madonna

The iconic American singer brings her legendary presence and recently released collaboration “Read My Lips” with Feid (featured on the Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album).

4. Shakira

The Colombian global icon, who performed at the tournament’s opening ceremony, returns alongside Burna Boy. Their hit “Dai Dai” serves as the Official FIFA World Cup Song and has dominated charts and stadiums throughout the event.

5. BTS

The South Korean K-pop powerhouse adds massive international appeal and fan energy as co-headliners.

Also Read: Lionel Messi Creates Historic Record as Argentina Storm Into FIFA World Cup 2026 Final

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Sruti Thakur is a Sports Journalist at SportsDigest with over 1.5 years of experience in sports media and digital journalism. She specialises in football, tennis, and badminton, covering major tournaments, transfer news, player profiles, rankings, match analysis, and feature stories. Passionate about delivering accurate and insightful journalism, she brings readers the latest developments from some of the world's biggest sporting events.