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Casablanca – The closing ceremony of the FIFA World Cup 2026 took place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, ahead of the final match between Argentina and Spain.
The ceremony celebrated the journey of the 48 teams that took part in this year’s expanded tournament, which unfolded across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with matches played in 16 stadiums.
It opened with drummers spread across the pitch, immediately setting the tone for a celebration that brings football and music together.
The pitch, covered in yellow and surrounded by US landmarks, was transformed into a stage where the worlds of sport and music came together in one final spectacle.
IShowSpeed kicks off the ceremony
Wearing a white suit, IShowSpeed kicked off the musical performances with “Champions,” one of the official FIFA songs of this year’s tournament.
The performance was accompanied by dancers dressed in a vibrant mix of red, orange, green, yellow, electric blue, mauve, and shades of deep pink, while another group took the stage in shimmering gold suits.
When Post Malone, Swae Lee took the pitch
Post Malone then made his grand entrance with “Chrome Heartbreaker,” bringing his signature energy to the stadium as flames rose around the stage.
He was later joined by Swae Lee, who appeared in a brown outfit topped with a yellow jacket featuring large brown polka dots, as the pair performed “Sunflower” together.
After a brief pause in the celebrations, the players took to the pitch for their pre-match warm-up as anticipation built around the stadium. The ceremony then resumed with Jennifer Hudson.
Jennifer Hudson performs the US national anthem
Jennifer Hudson then took the stage to perform the US national anthem, adding a more ceremonial moment to the evening before the focus shifted back to the global celebration of football and music.
Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger, and Laura Pausini then came together to perform the FIFA anthem “Desire,” all dressed in blue and surrounded by performers holding the flags of the participating countries.
The ceremony then turned to one of football’s most iconic symbols, as Louis Vuitton ambassadors entered the stadium carrying the World Cup trophy inside its signature Louis Vuitton travel case before unveiling it to the entire crowd.
Tom Cruise as a special guest
Special guest Tom Cruise then took the stage, reflecting on the unique emotions surrounding the World Cup and the way the tournament brings people and friends together from across the world. “These stories belong to all of us,” he said.
The show continues at halftime
With the ceremony setting the mood for the evening, attention will turns to the highly anticipated final between Argentina and Spain, as anticipation is rising on who will lift the World Cup trophy.
But the music will not stop once the match begins. For the first time in the tournament’s history, the halftime break will feature a dedicated musical show, turning the pause between the two halves into another moment of celebration before the final resumes.
The halftime show, set to exceed the traditional 15 minutes, will feature BTS, Justin Bieber, Madonna, and Shakira, with the performances curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.
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