Celebrities gather for the final match
The 2026 FIFA World Cup culminated on Sunday, July 19, 2026, with Argentina and Spain competing at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The event drew a large number of celebrities, with many spotted in attendance for the final match.
Among those seen at the New Jersey finale were Donald Trump, David Beckham, Kylie Jenner, MrBeast, Winnie Harlow, Odell Beckham Jr., Julia Garner, and Gayle King. The Beckham family, including David, Victoria, Cruz, and Romeo Beckham, watched the final together. Music power couple Jay-Z and Beyoncé were also present, as were Timothee Chalamet and Kylie Jenner, who were seen cheering during the match.
Earlier in the week, a press conference at Fanatics Fest in New York saw several notable figures gather. This included Kevin Durant, Tom Brady, Kevin Hart, Travis Scott, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Rubin, and Novak Djokovic. They were joined by finalists Rodri, Emiliano Martínez, and Lionel Messi for a group photo.
Halftime and closing ceremony performances
For the first time in World Cup history, the final featured a Halftime Show, curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. Headliners included Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, and BTS, representing the United States, Colombia, Canada, and South Korea, respectively. They were reportedly joined by Coldplay, Nigerian singer Burna Boy, Los Angeles Philharmonic music director Gustavo Dudamel, New York City’s PS22 Chorus, and characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets.
Justin Bieber expressed gratitude for being part of the Halftime Show, noting its role in expanding access to education for children globally. During the Halftime Show, Shakira performed barefoot and brought out Burna Boy, with whom she collaborated on “Dai Dai,” the official anthem for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Jason Sudeikis also appeared as his character Ted Lasso to give a pep talk to Justin Bieber.
The closing ceremony featured Jennifer Hudson performing the U.S. national anthem. The lineup for the closing festivities also included Post Malone, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams, and IShowSpeed. Maria Becerra performed the Argentine national anthem before the final match.
The pre-match concert, which kicked off the closing ceremony, featured a drumline and break dancers around a circular stage. Models of New York landmarks, such as Washington Square Arch and The Vessel, were part of the stage design. IShowSpeed performed “World Cup (Champions),” engaging with a golden football and dancers. He was noted for his enthusiasm during the performance.
Post Malone and Swae Lee also performed during the pre-match segment. Post Malone performed “Chrome Heartbreaker,” followed by Swae Lee performing “Sunflower.” The sound during these performances suggested pre-recorded vocal tracks, a common practice in large stadium shows where choreography and timing are prioritised.
Following Jennifer Hudson’s performance of the U.S. national anthem, Robbie Williams, Laura Pausini, and Nicole Scherzinger performed “Desire,” the FIFA anthem. They were surrounded by flags of the 48 participating nations. Tom Cruise then appeared alone on the pitch, speaking about football as a unifying force. He concluded by asking the crowd to celebrate “a tournament that brought the world together.”
Other celebrities spotted at the event included Madonna, who appeared with Brazilian football legends Ronaldinho and Ronaldo during the Halftime Show. BTS members Jimin and Jung Kook were also seen on stage. Rihanna and A$AP Rocky kept a low profile but were visible on the Jumbotron. Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union attended the FIFA Gold Carpet event.
Hoyeon and Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz presented the Louis Vuitton trophy trunk containing the FIFA World Cup Winner’s Trophy. Tom Brady, who had participated in a World Cup event days earlier, was also present for the final game. Indian actor and filmmaker Mohanlal shared his attendance on social media, noting the stadium’s vibrant atmosphere. Luciana and Matt Damon showed their support, with Luciana, who was born in Argentina, wearing the team’s colours. Actress Anya Taylor-Joy, whose parents are Argentine, watched the match with her husband Malcolm McRae. Thea Booysen and MrBeast posed for photos on the FIFA Gold Carpet. Actors Jessica Alba and Danny Ramirez were also in attendance. Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick focused intensely on the game, with Broderick wearing a World Cup Final cap. Mexican musician Peso Pluma was seated near Timothee Chalamet’s father, journalist Marc Chalamet, who was with his son and Kylie Jenner. Laura Pausini wore black and gold on the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Red Carpet before her performance.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated that the ceremony aimed to “set the tone for a historic FIFA World Cup final, uniting the passion of 48 teams, 16 host cities and millions of fans on one unforgettable stage.”
Source: forbes.com
