Tom Cruise will perform at the World Cup 2026 closing ceremony on Sunday at New York New Jersey Stadium, joining a star-studded line-up that includes Robbie Williams, Jennifer Hudson, Nicole Scherzinger, Laura Pausini, and streamer IShowSpeed. The 11-minute show, curated by Coldplay's Chris Martin, will take place 90 minutes before the final match.
Full Performer Line-Up and Event Details
The ceremony will also feature Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira, Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, and K-pop stars BTS. Hudson is set to deliver a rendition of the US national anthem. Cruise's specific role remains unclear, but Fifa 2026 chief operating officer Heimo Schirgi said: "Echoing the spirit of the opening ceremonies, which welcomed the world to the greatest stage in Canada, Mexico and the United States, the closing ceremony will bring the Fifa World Cup 2026 full circle through music, culture and football, before we kick off the highly anticipated match that will crown the champions of this groundbreaking tournament."
Support for Global Citizen Education Fund
The show will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. Shakira and Burna Boy are likely to perform their song "Dai Dai," the official anthem for the 2026 World Cup. A source told The Sun that "Robbie loves football and is excited to play at this momentous gig. Of course, he hopes England will be one of the teams in the final."
Previous Performances and Reactions
Robbie Williams and Laura Pausini previously performed during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 final match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain in July 2025. However, Oasis rocker Noel Gallagher expressed disapproval of the half-time show, telling TalkSport: "I don't like changes in football... I don't like the razzmatazz of football; it's been functioning perfectly for hundreds of years." He questioned whether performers had any links to football.
During the announcement, Chris Martin appeared with Sesame Street characters, including Elmo, saying: "Well, this year for the first time, there's a halftime show at the World Cup Final! It's where people get together and there's singing, and there's dancing, and there's music. It's a chance to show how amazing all different kinds of humans are. And monsters, aliens - it's one big family, really."
