A diverse lineup of entertainers, including actor Tom Cruise and streamer IShowSpeed, will participate in the World Cup closing ceremony, as announced by FIFA on Tuesday.
The governing body of soccer revealed the performers scheduled to take the stage 90 minutes before the final match on Sunday. According to FIFA, the event aims to “celebrate the 48 teams’ unforgettable journey” across 16 host cities in three nations.
IShowSpeed, known for streaming numerous matches, is confirmed as a performer. Cruise, who has been seen in the stands and previously executed a stunt at the Paris Olympics closing ceremony, will make a “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,” The show will also feature Laura Pausini, the Italian singer who opened the Milan Cortina Olympics in February; Nicole Scherzinger, a Tony winner and member of the Pussycat Dolls; and British singer Robbie Williams, a former member of Take That.
Jennifer Hudson, an EGOT winner with an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony, is set to perform the national anthem of the United States.
“This will be a historic moment for the Fifa World Cup and a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world,” said Heimo Schirgi, the World Cup’s chief operating officer.
The closing ceremony is not a new concept for the World Cup, as it has been a longstanding tradition. This year’s event will be produced in collaboration with Balich Wonder Studio, led by Marco Balich, who was responsible for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
In addition to the closing ceremony, Sunday will also introduce the tournament’s first halftime show featuring a lineup of prominent artists, including Shakira, Madonna, and BTS, the K-pop sensation. Chris Martin from Coldplay is curating the halftime show. “will have an active role to play in the show” FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated on Instagram.
FIFA has advised ticket holders to arrive early, assuring that fans will play an active role in the show. The ceremony is set to commence at 1:30 PM ET at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with kickoff scheduled for 3:00 PM ET.
