Which artists will perform at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final?
The showdown between Argentina and Spain will be surrounded by a high-impact musical spectacle. Before kickoff, during halftime and at the close of the celebration, some of the world’s most recognized stars will take center stage.
The 2026 World Cup final will be much more than a match
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is preparing a celebration that will combine football, music and entertainment in one of the most ambitious events in the tournament’s history.
Before Argentina and Spain take the field to determine the new world champion, New York New Jersey Stadium will welcome numerous international stars.
The program will be divided into three shows:
- A closing ceremony before the match
- A halftime show, the first ever at a World Cup final
- A post-match celebration, a tradition following the final whistle
The artists performing before the World Cup final
The closing ceremony will begin approximately 90 minutes before kickoff and will feature Post Malone as one of its main stars.
The American singer will headline a celebration that will also include Robbie Williams, Laura Pausini and Nicole Scherzinger, who will perform “Desire,” one of FIFA’s official anthems, in a show designed to represent the unity of different cultures through football.
The pre-match ceremony will also feature Jennifer Hudson, who will perform a special rendition of the United States national anthem.
In addition to the musical performances, appearances by actor Tom Cruise and content creator IShowSpeed are also expected as part of the show prepared before the match.
The pre-match show is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time in the United States, which is 11:30 a.m. Central Mexico time.
The match between Argentina and Spain will kick off at 3:00 p.m. in New York, 1:00 p.m. in central Mexico, 4:00 p.m. in Argentina and 9:00 p.m. in Spain.
🎆🎤 HALFTIME SHOW 🎉🏟️
The show will be headlined by four stars representing different generations and musical styles: Madonna, Shakira, BTS and Justin Bieber.
The lineup will also include Burna Boy, who will share the stage with Shakira after joining the Colombian singer on “Dai Dai,” the official song of the 2026 World Cup.
The performance will also feature renowned Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, the PS22 Chorus and a special appearance by Coldplay.
The production was developed by Global Citizen and will have Coldplay frontman Chris Martin as its artistic director.
Special guests
The main artists will be joined by the Ghetto Kids, singer Emmanuel Kelly and several characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets, including Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy.
The production aims to completely transform the pitch in just a few minutes before allowing the teams to return for the second half.
When will the halftime show begin?
That will depend on the length of the first half, added time and any possible hydration breaks.
If the match begins at 1:00 p.m. Central Mexico time, the show is expected to start at approximately between 1:50 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Will there be artists after the match?
So far, the announced program has focused mainly on the pre-match performances and the halftime show. No separate post-match concert has been announced.
The closing moments will be marked by the trophy presentation, the champions’ celebrations and the images that will bring an end to the first World Cup to feature 48 teams.
Music will accompany virtually every moment of the day, but Argentina and Spain will have the final say on football’s biggest stage.
