Football’s biggest night will feature more than just the battle for the trophy. The 2026 FIFA World Cup final will combine football, music and entertainment with the tournament’s first official halftime show and a celebrity-filled closing ceremony.
The final between Spain and Argentina will take place on Sunday, 19 July, at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford. Before the match and during halftime, some of the world’s biggest names from music, film and entertainment will take the stage.
The 11-minute FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show will mark a first in the tournament’s history. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has described it as the biggest halftime show in the world.
The performance will feature Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, South Korean pop group BTS and Nigerian star Burna Boy. Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel will also take part alongside a New York chorus. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin has curated the entire production.
FIFA said the show will go beyond entertainment by supporting the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, a worldwide initiative aimed at expanding children’s access to education and football opportunities. The performance will be broadcast live through FIFA World Cup broadcast partners.
The entertainment will begin before kick-off with the closing ceremony. Hollywood star Tom Cruise is expected to make a special appearance, alongside British singer Robbie Williams, Pussycat Dolls member Nicole Scherzinger and Oscar-winning singer Jennifer Hudson, who will perform the United States national anthem. Rapper-singer Post Malone and online streamer IShowSpeed are also expected to appear.
The scale of the halftime production has also raised questions about the length of the interval. FIFA’s regulations normally provide a 15-minute halftime break, although the installation and removal of the stage could extend the interval. During last year’s FIFA Club World Cup final at the same venue, halftime lasted more than 24 minutes.
The World Cup final will therefore become the first FIFA title match to officially feature a halftime show, adding another milestone to the tournament’s biggest occasion.
