The 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey began with a grand opening ceremony featuring IShowSpeed, Post Malone, and other global music icons. The event, held at the New York New Jersey Stadium, marked the culmination of a month-long tournament celebrating music, culture, and football. Jennifer Hudson started the ceremony with a rendition of the United States national anthem, followed by performances from Post Malone, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams, and IShowSpeed, with a special appearance by Tom Cruise.
FIFA World Cup Chief Operating Officer Heimo Schirgi highlighted that the closing ceremony aimed to capture the excitement of the tournament’s opening festivities across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. According to Schirgi, the event would blend music, culture, and football to set the stage for the highly anticipated final match that would determine the champions of the tournament.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino commended the impressive lineup of stars set to grace the event, expressing excitement over the convergence of talents from the football and entertainment realms. Infantino emphasized that the closing ceremony would pave the way for a historic FIFA World Cup final, uniting the fervor of 48 teams, 16 host cities, and millions of fans on a memorable platform.
Following the pre-match celebrations, the final was poised to feature the inaugural halftime show in the tournament’s 96-year history. Curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, the show was anticipated to showcase performances by Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, and BTS as co-headliners, alongside Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, the PS22 Chorus, and Coldplay.
