New York New Jersey Stadium hosts star-studded World Cup final

By Rohan Gupta — 20 July 2026 — 4 min read

Celebrities gather for World Cup 2026 final

The 2026 FIFA World Cup culminated on Sunday, July 19, 2026, with the final match between Argentina and Spain at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The event drew a significant number of celebrities from various fields, with many spotted in attendance and participating in the pre-match and halftime festivities.

Among those seen at the New Jersey finale were Donald Trump, David Beckham, Kylie Jenner, MrBeast, Winnie Harlow, Odell Beckham Jr., Julia Garner, and Gayle King. Days before the final, a large gathering at Fanatics Fest in New York on Friday, July 17, included Kevin Durant, Tom Brady, Kevin Hart, Travis Scott, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Rubin, and Novak Djokovic, alongside finalists Rodri, Emiliano Martínez, and Lionel Messi.

Many celebrities attended with family or partners. David Beckham was present with his wife, Victoria Beckham, and sons Romeo and Cruz. Romeo was accompanied by his girlfriend, Kim Turbull, and Cruz by his girlfriend, Jackie Apostel. Music power couple Jay-Z and Beyoncé were also at the final, as were Timothee Chalamet and Kylie Jenner, who were seen cheering during the match.

Other notable attendees included Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, who maintained a low profile, and Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union, who were seen at the FIFA Gold Carpet event. Hoyeon and Carlos Alcaraz presented the Louis Vuitton trophy trunk containing the FIFA World Cup Winner’s Trophy before the final match.

Performances and halftime show

The closing ceremony featured several performances leading up to the final match. Jennifer Hudson performed the U.S. national anthem, while Argentinian singer-songwriter Maria Becerra sang the Argentine national anthem. The closing ceremony lineup also included Post Malone, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams, and IShowSpeed.

Post Malone performed with a message of sportsmanship on his T-shirt, and Swae Lee also performed at the closing ceremony, teaming up with Post Malone. Robbie Williams, Laura Pausini, and Nicole Scherzinger performed together, singing the FIFA anthem, “Desire.” During their performance, men carrying FIFA flags marched towards the stage, surrounded by the flags of the 48 participating nations.

For the first time in World Cup history, the final included a halftime show, curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. Headliners included Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, and BTS. These artists represented the United States, Colombia, Canada, and South Korea, respectively, showcasing a global range of music.

The four superstars were joined by Coldplay, Nigerian singer Burna Boy, Los Angeles Philharmonic music director Gustavo Dudamel, and New York City’s PS22 Chorus, along with characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets. Madonna appeared with Brazilian football legends Ronaldinho and Ronaldo. Shakira performed barefoot and brought out Burna Boy, with whom she collaborated on “Dai Dai,” the official anthem for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

BTS performed their song “Dynamite” during the halftime show, with members Jimin and Jung Kook also featured. Justin Bieber showcased his vocals and guitar skills. Actor Jason Sudeikis also participated, appearing as his character Ted Lasso to deliver a pep talk to Justin Bieber.

Moments from the ceremony

The pre-match concert, which initiated the closing ceremony, featured a drumline and break dancers surrounding a circular stage designed like a football. Models of New York landmarks, such as Washington Square Arch and The Vessel, rose around the stage. IShowSpeed provided a burst of energy, performing “World Cup (Champions)” and interacting with a golden football.

The ceremony concluded with Tom Cruise appearing alone on the pitch, addressing supporters and stating that football “belongs to the world.” He emphasized that football is a language spoken without words, a force that unites people, turning strangers into friends and reminding everyone of their commonalities. Cruise closed by asking the crowd to celebrate “a tournament that brought the world together,” describing it as “football,” “unity,” and “greatness.”

The event also saw other celebrities like Indian actor and filmmaker Mohanlal, who shared his experience on social media, and actress Anya Taylor-Joy, whose parents are Argentine, watching the game with her husband Malcolm McRae. Film producer Luciana Damon, born in Argentina, was seen in her team’s colours, while her husband Matt Damon wore a more neutral outfit. Jessica Alba and Danny Ramirez were also in attendance, flying flags at the game. Mexican musician Peso Pluma was seated next to Timothee Chalamet’s father, journalist Marc Chalamet, who was with his son and Kylie Jenner. The 2026 FIFA World Cup final took place on Sunday, July 19, 2026.

Source: forbes.com