World Cup Final in the USA: First Halftime Show in Football History Featuring Tom Cruise, Justin Bieber, and Jennifer Hudson

Global Citizen and FIFA as Organizers

The focus of the one-and-a-half-hour show is a回顾 on the World Cup that has been running since June 11 in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The final show will be opened by none other than „Mission Impossible“ star Tom Cruise, as FIFA announced in a newly released list of further appearances. Cruise had already concluded the Olympic Games in Paris two years ago.

FIFA released additional names for fans to look forward to. These include „Emmy-, Grammy und Oscar-Gewinnerin Jennifer Hudson“, who according to world governing body FIFA will sing the US anthem. The halftime show had previously been announced, which according to FIFA will take place for the first time at a World Cup final, „ähnlich dem Super Bowl, dem Endspiel der amerikanischen Football-Liga NFL“.

Already Announced Stars of the Halftime Show

The halftime show itself is eleven minutes long and designed along the model of the Super Bowl, which traditionally features big stars. The bombastic halftime show with Madonna, Shakira, Coldplay, Justin Bieber, and many more was already known. According to FIFA, the program was supplemented by Nigerian musician Burna Boy, Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, as well as a choir from a New York elementary school.

In addition to the already mentioned artists, further stars will perform at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford: singers Laura Pausini and Nicole Scherzinger, pop star Robbie Williams, as well as YouTuber IShowSpeed. „Weitere Auftritte im Metlife Stadium von New Jersey sind Star-Streamer iShowSpeed, Musikerin Laura Pausini, Ex-Pussycat-Doll Nicole Scherzinger und Pop-Ikone Robbie Williams“, the announcement stated.

Further Appearances at MetLife Stadium

Thus, the closing ceremony brings together an exceptionally broad spectrum of international music greats – from pop icons such as Shakira and Madonna to the British band Coldplay to classically trained artists such as Jennifer Hudson and Laura Pausini. With Robbie Williams, one of the few British solo artists of recent pop history is also part of the lineup.

The significance of the show goes beyond entertainment: Global Citizen wants to use the event to draw attention to the issue of education for children worldwide and to collect donations. This gives the major sporting event an additional charitable component, as is also known from other major sporting events.

Broadcast and Schedule

The broadcast of final day is arranged internationally: ORF1 begins its live pre-match coverage from 6:10 p.m., the final will be shown from 9:00 p.m. In Germany, MagentaTV and ZDF will broadcast the closing ceremony from 7:30 p.m. as well as the subsequent final. „Eine Reihe von Weltstars werden bei der Schlussfeier vor dem Finale der bisher größten Fußball-Weltmeisterschaft am Sonntag (Vorberichte ab 18.10 Uhr live in ORF1, Anpfiff: 21.00 Uhr) auftreten“, FIFA had previously announced.

The 2026 World Cup is considered the biggest football World Cup to date and is being held in three North American host countries. The venue for the final, MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford in the US state of New Jersey, is regularly the stage for major sporting and music events.

With the decision to include a halftime show modeled on the Super Bowl in the program, FIFA is sending a clear signal of commercialization. Comparable shows in the past – such as at halftime of the NFL final – have regularly reached a worldwide audience of millions and have shaped expectations for the staging of major sporting events.

Show in the Style of the Super Bowl

Tom Cruise opens the show, which also serves as a bridge between the tournament conclusion and the final. The combination of film fame, international pop music, and a charitable mission gives the event an event character that goes beyond the purely sporting aspect.

The final lineup of the show is the result of several announcements: While the halftime performers Madonna, Shakira, Coldplay, and Justin Bieber had already been announced weeks before the final, FIFA only added Hudson, Burna Boy, Dudamel, the New York school choir, as well as the additional stars in the pre-show program at short notice.

Burna Boy is considered one of the internationally most successful musicians from Africa, Dudamel one of the most renowned conductors of the present day. Their participation gives the show artistic weight beyond the pop realm. The combination of main acts at halftime, anthem, opening by Cruise, and further show contributions makes the closing ceremony a multi-part program.

FIFA had recently emphasized that „eine Reihe von Weltstars“ would be involved in the closing ceremony. With the now fully released program, this announcement is confirmed. The governing body sees the show both as a tribute to the tournament and as a platform for Global Citizen's education initiative.

The final on Sunday forms the sporting climax of the 2026 World Cup, the preceding show the cultural one. Together, both elements are intended to mark the conclusion of a tournament that took place in three countries and is considered the biggest of its kind to date.