World Cup closing ceremony draws global stars amid security delays at New Jersey final
Logistical challenges mark the start of the Spain-Argentina final, while half-time show promises record-breaking scale and charitable fundraising.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina commenced at the New York New Jersey Stadium on 19 July 2026, following a closing ceremony that featured a high-profile lineup of international entertainers. The event, held ahead of the tournament’s decisive match, included performances by Jennifer Hudson, who sang the US national anthem, and a speech by actor Tom Cruise, who described football as a "language spoken without words."
Attendees faced significant logistical hurdles prior to the ceremony. Supporters, staff, and media personnel reported entry delays of up to three hours, attributed to heightened security protocols and malfunctioning ticket scanners. The intensified security measures were necessitated by the attendance of US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, with Marine One observed flying over the venue ahead of the match.
The pre-match entertainment segment began with streamer IShowSpeed appearing on the field alongside drummers and dancers. This was followed by joint performances from Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams, and Italian singer Laura Pausini. Pausini told the BBC she felt "goosebumps" performing with Williams, whom she cited as one of her favourite performers, while rapper Post Malone performed his hit song "Wow."
The tournament’s half-time break, scheduled to last between 20 and 25 minutes, will feature the first-ever FIFA World Cup half-time show. Curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, the 11-minute performance will include Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira, BTS, and Emmanuel Kelly. The initiative aims to raise $100m (£73m) for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund to support children worldwide.
Madonna’s appearance follows the July debut of her new album, Confessions II, which reached number one on the Billboard 200. Justin Bieber returns to live performance after a four-year hiatus, while BTS performs after completing mandatory military service in South Korea. Shakira will reunite with Nigerian musician Burna Boy, whose collaboration Dai Dai has been a fixture in stadiums throughout the tournament.
