Streamer IShowSpeed Performs at World Cup Final Show, Wears Dual-Nation Jersey

Beyond the soccer itself, one of the memorable figures of the 2026 World Cup was American streamer IShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Jason Watkins Jr. FIFA enlisted him as a favored content creator to connect with younger audiences, and he attended numerous matches.

To cap off his tournament involvement, the 21-year-old performed at the pre-final show in New York between Argentina and Spain. He shared the stage with other notable figures like Post Malone and Nicole Scherzinger. Speed performed his World Cup song, which became popular among soccer fans and was included on the tournament's official album.

During the tournament, Speed gained popularity with Argentinian fans by positioning himself as Lionel Messi's "public enemy." Fueled by his devotion to Cristiano Ronaldo, a core element of his online content, the streamer attended Argentina's matches wearing jerseys from rival teams. He sported shirts from Cape Verde, Egypt, Switzerland, and England, among others, leading to various interactions with Argentinian supporters.

For the final show, Speed appeared relaxed and engaged the crowd with his performance, accompanied by dancers. After his set, he moved to his suite to watch the match and begin a live broadcast on YouTube. A notable detail was his custom-made jersey for the final, split down the middle between Argentina and Spain, and featuring the crests of the United States, England, and France on the front. This choice aimed to appease all sides and avoid being labeled as "unlucky," as had been speculated on social media.