FIFA has announced that Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise and award-winning performer Jennifer Hudson are the latest additions to the star-studded lineup for the 2026 FIFA World Cup closing ceremony. The spectacular celebration will take place ahead of the historic 48-team final match at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, July 19, 2026. Cruise will make a special appearance during the pre-match show, while Hudson, an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT) winner, will deliver a powerful live rendition of the United States national anthem right before the players take the pitch. They lead a diverse list of global entertainment figures chosen to bring the tournament full circle through music, culture, and football.
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Opening the Final with a star-studded list of performers 🤩#FIFAWorldCup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 14, 2026
FIFA World Cup 2026 Closing Ceremony PerformersÂ
The pre-match closing ceremony features main performances from a mix of international music stars and internet personalities:
Robbie Williams: The British pop star returns to the World Cup stage after previously headlining the 2018 tournament ceremony.
Laura Pausini: The celebrated Italian singer-songwriter brings global pop appeal to the lineup.
Nicole Scherzinger: The American singer and television personality will perform live before kick-off.
iShowSpeed: The internet creator and popular football streamer has been officially included by FIFA to perform in front of the live stadium audience.
The entire pre-match ceremony is produced in creative partnership with Balich Wonder Studio.
 FIFA World Cup Halftime Show Lineup
Additionally, FIFA has confirmed that this final will feature the first-ever official Halftime Show later in the evening. Curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay and produced alongside Global Citizen, the 11-minute halftime broadcast will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.
The halftime show will feature an incredible co-headlining lineup:
- Madonna
- Shakira
- BTS
- Justin Bieber
The broadcast will also feature appearances by Burna Boy, renowned conductor Gustavo Dudamel, and the PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay.
The pre-match closing ceremony events are officially scheduled to begin at 13:30 local time (11:00 PM IST) on July 19, exactly 90 minutes before kick-off.
