World Cup 2026 final: Closing ceremony and half-time show – what to know

What the report says

Al Jazeera reported that the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, temporarily branded during the tournament as New York-New Jersey Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. local time, or 19:00 GMT, with the closing ceremony beginning at 1:30 p.m. local time. Jennifer Hudson is also due to sing the United States national anthem before the match.

According to the report, FIFA’s pre-match closing ceremony will be led by Post Malone and will also include Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams and IShowSpeed, with Tom Cruise listed for a special appearance. The production, by Balich Wonder Studio, is intended to mark the end of a tournament staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico, featuring 48 teams and 16 host cities.

The final is also set to include what Al Jazeera described as the first half-time show at a World Cup final. Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira and BTS are listed as headliners, joined by Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel and New York’s PS22 Chorus. The show is curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin and is linked to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100m for children’s education.

Al Jazeera noted that the planned half-time production raises logistical and regulatory questions, because football’s usual interval is 15 minutes under IFAB laws unless competition rules and the referee allow otherwise. The stage is expected to be built on the pitch and removed before the second half. The final and related shows will be broadcast by major rights holders including FOX, Telemundo, CTV, TSN, TelevisaUnivision, TV Azteca, ViX and beIN Sports.