Tom Cruise, Robbie Williams energize World Cup final

Stars Tom Cruise and Robbie Williams energized the atmosphere before the 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey.

Before the kickoff and national anthems, Tom Cruise delivered a speech praising football for its power to unite people, stating, "how it unites people" because "it makes strangers become fans." World Cup champions Mario Kempes and Andrés Iniesta presented the trophy.

Singer Jennifer Hudson performed a special rendition of the U.S. national anthem. Meanwhile, Robbie Williams, Laura Pausini, and Nicole Scherzinger warmed up the crowd with the song 'Desire.' American singer Post Malone and content creator IShowSpeed also featured in the pre-game festivities.

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how it unites people, because it makes strangers become fans.

American tenor Christopher Macchio performed 'America the Beautiful' on a large banner displaying New York landmarks. The ceremony also included a parade of national flags, the presentation of the World Cup trophy, and the official entrance of the Argentinian and Spanish teams. Choreography, light shows, and pyrotechnics further amplified the stadium's roar.

Chris Martin, the frontman of Coldplay, briefly appeared before the match to introduce the halftime show, stating, "For the first time, we will have a halftime show, we will all sing together, as a collective." A 30-minute musical performance in the style of the U.S. Super Bowl is scheduled for halftime, with performances by Shakira, Madonna, BTS, and Justin Bieber. The closing ceremony was produced by the Italian company Balich Wonder Studio.

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For the first time, we will have a halftime show, we will all sing together, as a collective.