Celebrity Presence at the Final
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final, held on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, saw a significant turnout of celebrities. The match, which featured Argentina against Spain, attracted numerous notable figures from both the entertainment and sports worlds. The presence of these stars was a continuation of the tournament’s opening ceremonies, which included performances by artists such as Shakira, Michael Bublé, and Katy Perry.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino noted that the closing ceremony was designed to complement the energy of the final, bringing together the passion of 48 teams, 16 host cities, and millions of fans. Prior to the final match, a press conference at Fanatics Fest in New York on Friday, July 17, saw personalities like Kevin Durant, Tom Brady, Kevin Hart, Travis Scott, Rio Ferdinand, and Novak Djokovic, alongside finalists Rodri, Emiliano Martínez, and Lionel Messi, gather for a large group photo.
On the day of the final, various celebrities were observed at the New Jersey venue. Among them were Donald Trump, David Beckham, Kylie Jenner, MrBeast, Winnie Harlow, Odell Beckham Jr., Julia Garner, and Gayle King. The Beckham family, including David, Victoria, and their sons Romeo and Cruz, were present, with Romeo accompanied by model-DJ Kim Turbull and Cruz with songwriter Jackie Apostel. Music power couple Jay-Z and Beyoncé also attended, as did Timothee Chalamet and Kylie Jenner.
Other attendees included Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union, and Hoyeon and Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz, who presented the Louis Vuitton trophy trunk containing the FIFA World Cup Winner’s Trophy. Indian actor and filmmaker Mohanlal shared his presence at the final on social media. Argentine film producer Luciana, with her husband Matt Damon, showed support for Argentina by wearing the team’s colours, while actress Anya Taylor-Joy, who has Argentine roots, watched the match with her husband Malcolm McRae. Actress Julia Garner and New York-based journalist Marc Chalamet, father of Timothee Chalamet, were also among the spectators.
Halftime and Closing Ceremonies
For the first time in World Cup history, the final featured a Halftime Show with musical performances. Curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, the show included headliners Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, and BTS, representing the United States, Colombia, Canada, and South Korea, respectively. These artists 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.
The Halftime Show included a performance by Madonna. BTS performed their song “Dynamite,” while Shakira and Burna Boy delivered a shortened version of “Dai Dai,” the official anthem for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Coldplay performed “Believe in Love” with a children’s choir, and Justin Bieber presented an acoustic ballad.
The closing ceremony, which took place before the final match, featured Jennifer Hudson performing the U.S. national anthem. The ceremony also included performances by Post Malone, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams, and online personality IShowSpeed. Post Malone debuted a new song and collaborated with Swae Lee on “Sunflowers.” Robbie Williams performed the FIFA anthem “Desire” with Laura Pausini and Nicole Scherzinger. The event highlighted a blend of global music and entertainment to mark the conclusion of the tournament.
Justin Bieber expressed gratitude for being part of the Halftime Show, noting its contribution to expanding access to education for children globally. The FIFA Chief Operating Officer Heimo Schirgi stated that the closing festivities were designed to match the energy of the opening ceremonies. The inclusion of a Halftime Show was a new addition for the World Cup final, drawing comparisons to the NFL Super Bowl‘s entertainment format.
Despite some debate regarding the extended halftime, the event was seen by some as a comparative triumph, packing numerous acts into its 11-minute duration by featuring pared-down songs and quick transitions between artists. The FIFA World Cup final on July 19, 2026, brought together a diverse array of talent and public figures.
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Source: forbes.com
Arjun Sharma
Sports Reporter