World Cup 2026 final: What to expect after Post Malone, IShowSpeed open closing ceremony

WEB DESK: The 2026 FIFA World Cup closing ceremony is already underway at New York New Jersey Stadium, with Post Malone and internet personality IShowSpeed among the first performers to take the stage before the final between Spain and Argentina.

IShowSpeed performed his football-themed track World Cup (Champions), while Post Malone followed with Chrome Heartbreaker as the celebrations began at the 82,500-capacity stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The pre-match ceremony began at 1:30pm local time, and will continue until shortly before kickoff at 3pm local time. The match is scheduled to begin at midnight in Pakistan.

The ceremony marks the conclusion of the first 48-team World Cup, which was staged across 16 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico over 39 days. Produced by Balich Wonder Studio, the programme combines music, cultural performances and a celebration of the teams and supporters who participated in the expanded tournament.

British singer Robbie Williams, Italian artist Laura Pausini and former Pussycat Dolls vocalist Nicole Scherzinger are also part of the closing ceremony lineup. Hollywood actor Tom Cruise is expected to make a special appearance, while Jennifer Hudson will perform the United States national anthem immediately before kickoff.

The entertainment will resume during the interval with the first dedicated half-time show in the history of a men’s World Cup final.

Madonna, Shakira, BTS and Justin Bieber will lead the performance. Nigerian singer Burna Boy, Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel and New York’s PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay will also take part. The programme has been curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.

The show is expected to begin shortly after 12.45am in Pakistan, depending on stoppage time during the first half. Organisers have indicated that the performance itself will last about 11 minutes, although the complete interval may be extended to allow crews to install and remove the stage.

The concept was tested during the 2025 Club World Cup final at the same stadium, but Sunday’s production will require the stage to be assembled directly on the pitch within minutes. FIFA has not fully explained how any extension beyond football’s customary 15-minute break will be accommodated.

The half-time show will also support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative seeking to raise $100 million to expand access to education and football opportunities for children worldwide. Characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets are also expected to appear as part of the education-focused production.

With the pre-match performances already in progress, attention will soon shift to Spain and Argentina before the stadium is transformed once again at half-time. The two productions turn the final into both football’s biggest match and an entertainment spectacle on a scale the World Cup has never previously attempted.