FIFA has confirmed the lineup and schedule for the World Cup 2026 closing ceremony, staged at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, immediately before the Argentina vs Spain final on July 19.

When and Where

The ceremony begins at 1:30pm ET (10:30am PT, 6:30pm BST) -- 90 minutes ahead of the 3pm ET kickoff. Stadium gates open at 11am ET, four hours before kickoff, with FIFA promising "exclusive activations, rewards and additional pre-match entertainment" for fans arriving early. The show itself is expected to run 15-20 minutes, in line with the World Cup 2026 opening ceremony and the closing ceremony at Qatar 2022.

Performers and Guests

  • Laura Pausini -- the Grammy-winning Italian artist
  • Nicole Scherzinger -- Tony Award-winning US singer
  • Robbie Williams -- the British frontman, also part of the 2018 World Cup opening ceremony in Russia
  • IShowSpeed -- the internet personality who released a World Cup 2026 song during the tournament
  • Tom Cruise -- making a "special appearance," in a stunt built up similarly to his 2024 Paris Olympics closing-ceremony cameo
  • Jennifer Hudson -- the EGOT winner will perform the U.S. national anthem immediately before kickoff

FIFA says additional artists and special guests may still be announced in the days before the final.

Production and Theme

The ceremony is produced by Balich Wonder Studio, the company behind the Qatar 2022 opening and closing ceremonies. FIFA has framed the show as a celebration of "the 48 teams' unforgettable journey across the three host countries and 16 host cities" of the tournament, aiming to bring the World Cup 2026 "full circle through music, culture and football" before the trophy is decided.

The Match It Precedes

The closing ceremony sets up the final itself: Argentina vs Spain, kicking off at 3pm ET at MetLife Stadium. Argentina reached the final by beating England 2-1 in Atlanta on July 15; Spain got there first with a 2-0 win over France on July 14. Read our full final preview and follow the match page for updates.

Sources & Further Reading