Sports
Tom Cruise joins FIFA World Cup 2026 final closing ceremony lineup
Hollywood star joins global music acts as FIFA turns final into mega spectacle
MUMBAI: Fasten your seatbelts, football’s biggest night is preparing for a Hollywood landing. With goals set to share the spotlight with global entertainment, the FIFA World Cup 2026 final is shaping up to be as much a blockbuster as a sporting spectacle.
Hollywood star Tom Cruise will make a special appearance at the FIFA World Cup 2026 closing ceremony, adding another marquee name to the entertainment lineup ahead of the final at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19.
The pre-match ceremony, scheduled to begin 90 minutes before kick-off, will celebrate the journey of all 48 participating teams across the tournament’s three host nations, the United States, Canada and Mexico and 16 host cities, blending football, music and culture before the championship clash.
Cruise will join an eclectic lineup featuring Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams and internet sensation IShowSpeed. Jennifer Hudson, the Academy, Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award-winning performer, is set to sing the United States national anthem before the final.
The announcement follows FIFA’s unveiling of the tournament’s first-ever Super Bowl-style halftime show, signalling the governing body’s ambition to transform the World Cup finale into a global entertainment event on a scale rarely seen in football.
That halftime performance will feature Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, BTS, Burna Boy and renowned Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, alongside New York’s celebrated PS 22 Chorus. The show is being curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.
Beyond the star power, FIFA has linked the entertainment programme to a social cause. According to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the halftime show will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million to expand access to education and football opportunities for children worldwide. FIFA has also pledged that $1 from every World Cup 2026 ticket sold will be directed towards the initiative.
By combining one of Hollywood’s biggest stars with a roster of international music icons, FIFA is positioning the 2026 World Cup final as more than a football match. It is crafting a global cultural event that mirrors the entertainment-first model of major American sporting occasions, where the spectacle off the pitch is almost as eagerly anticipated as the action on it.
