A landmark celebration of football, culture and entertainment unfolded at New York New Jersey Stadium as the FIFA World Cup 2026™ final delivered a spectacular fusion of music, performance and visual spectacle on the sport’s biggest stage.
A dazzling closing ceremony and the tournament’s inaugural Topps Final Halftime Show brought together some of the biggest names in global entertainment, with standout appearances from the likes of Post Malone, Jennifer Hudson, Madonna, Justin Bieber and Shakira. Enhanced by stylish production elements and an electric stadium atmosphere, the celebration reflected the passion, energy and unity that continue to make the FIFA World Cup™ the globe’s most iconic sporting event.
We relive the colour, energy and emotion of the World Cup 2026 final celebrations.
Curtain up on the final
The closing ceremony began with streamer IShowSpeed performing his World Cup song ‘Champions’.
Opera tenor Christopher Macchio added grandeur to the occasion with a special rendition of ‘America the Beautiful’.
Post Malone and Swae Lee teamed up to sing their global hit ‘Sunflower’, bringing even more energy and star power to the pre-match celebrations.
Oozing pride and emotion, Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson belted out a stirring rendition of the United States national anthem.
The entertainment continued as FIFA Music Ambassador Robbie Williams took to the stage alongside Nicole Scherzinger and Laura Pausini to perform the official FIFA anthem ‘Desire’.
Eyes on the prize
Previous World Cup winners Andres Iniesta (Spain, 2010) and Mario Kempes (Argentina, 1978) made their way on to the pitch to unveil the iconic trophy.
A message to the world
Actor Tom Cruise brought the closing ceremony to a memorable conclusion with a moving message celebrating the tournament’s power to unite people around the world, reflecting on 39 unforgettable days of football across 104 matches, 16 Host Cities and three co-host nations.
Anthems set the stage
As the players took to the field, the emotion of the occasion continued with the national anthems of the two finalists. Spain’s La Marcha Real was brought to life by Spanish trombonist Indalecio ‘Inda’ Bonet, accompanied by the acclaimed quintet Spanish Brass, while Argentine star Maria Becerra gave a powerful performance of Himno Nacional Argentino.
Let’s get ready to rumble!
The anticipation reached new heights as iconic ring announcers Bruce and Michael Buffer united for an unforgettable introduction, bringing their legendary voices and trademark showmanship to football’s biggest stage.
Half-time history
Following a compelling but goalless opening 45 minutes at New York New Jersey Stadium, history was made as the World Cup 2026 final unveiled the tournament’s first Halftime Show.
The Queen of Pop
Madonna opened the landmark celebration with her global hit ‘Music’, emerging from the tunnel flanked by World Cup winners Ronaldo and Ronaldinho.
Animal, Animal!
The Muppets lit up the stage with their unmistakable charm, bringing ‘Seven Nation Army’ to life.
Explosive performance
Global superstars BTS showcased their world-famous dynamism with an exhilarating rendition of ‘Dynamite’.
Lasso’s a Belieber
Jason Sudeikis’s Ted Lasso made a surprise appearance, offering Justin Bieber a light-hearted pep talk before a special version of ‘Everything Hallelujah’ featuring World Cup-inspired lyrics.
One last ‘Dai Dai’
After helping set the tournament in motion at the opening ceremony in Mexico City on 11 June, Shakira and Burna Boy completed the journey with a memorable return to the stage, bringing the infectious Official FIFA World Cup 2026™ Song ‘Dai Dai’ to the Halftime Show.
Together we dance
The Halftime Show reached an emotional crescendo with a joyful finale featuring the children of PS22 Chorus, a live band, the Muppets – including Kermit and Miss Piggy – and beloved Sesame Street characters. Coldplay’s Chris Martin, who helped bring the historic spectacle to life as curator, joined the finale to perform the original song ‘We Dance’, uniting generations through a celebration of music and football.
Peace, love and unity
The Halftime Show concluded with a dazzling fireworks display, marking a landmark moment in World Cup entertainment.