Big Stars to Help Close the 2026 World Cup: A Super Simple Guide

What Is the Big News?

FIFA (the big group that runs soccer around the world) announced on Tuesday that many famous people will help close the World Cup. The World Cup is a huge soccer tournament where countries compete to be champions.

A closing ceremony is like a big party show before the final match to celebrate everyone who played.

Who Will Be There?

The show will happen 90 minutes before the final match on Sunday. FIFA wants to celebrate the 48 teams that played in 16 cities across three countries: Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Here are the stars you will see:

• Tom Cruise – a movie actor. He has been seen watching matches and did a fun stunt at the Paris Olympics closing show. He will make a "special appearance" (a surprise visit).
• IShowSpeed – a streamer (a person who shares live videos of himself online). He has streamed many World Cup games. He is listed as a performer.
• Laura Pausini – an Italian singer. She helped open the Winter Olympics in Milan in February.
• Nicole Scherzinger – a singer who won a Tony Award (a big prize for theater) and was in a group called the Pussycat Dolls.
• Robbie Williams – a British singer who used to be in a band called Take That.
• Jennifer Hudson – she will sing the US national anthem (the country’s song). She has won four big awards: an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. That special set is called an EGOT (like a super champion of awards).

When and Where Is the Show?

The closing ceremony will be at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (in the USA).

Here is the simple plan for Sunday:

1. Arrive early – FIFA says people with tickets should come early because fans "will have an active role to play" (you might help in the show!).
2. Show starts at 1:30pm ET – ET means Eastern Time in the US.
3. Ceremony lasts 90 minutes – it celebrates the teams’ journey.
4. Kick-off at 3pm ET – the final soccer match begins.

Callout – Important Points:

• The closing ceremony is made with Balich Wonder Studio, led by Marco Balich, who created the 2022 World Cup shows in Qatar.
• Closing ceremonies are not new to the World Cup, but this one is extra big.
• Ticket holders should arrive early to be part of the fun!

What About the Half-Time Show?

Sunday’s final will also have the first half-time show in World Cup history. A half-time show is a performance during the break in the middle of the match.

• It will feature Shakira, Madonna, and BTS (a famous Korean pop group).
• Chris Martin (from the band Coldplay) is choosing and arranging the show.
• FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, said on Instagram: "This will be a historic moment for the Fifa World Cup and a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world." (That means it’s a huge deal!)

Why Is This Special?

Heimo Schirgi, the World Cup’s chief operating officer (the person who helps run the event), said:

"Echoing the spirit of the opening ceremonies, which welcomed the world to the greatest stage in Canada, Mexico and the United States, the closing ceremony will bring the Fifa World Cup 2026 full circle through music, culture and football, before we kick off the highly anticipated match that will crown the champions of this groundbreaking tournament."

In kid words: The opening show said "welcome", and now the closing show will say "thank you" with music and soccer, right before the big match that decides the winner.

Summary

Let’s recap the key facts:

• The World Cup 2026 closing ceremony will have Tom Cruise, IShowSpeed, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams, and Jennifer Hudson (singing anthem).
• It starts at 1:30pm ET on Sunday at MetLife Stadium, 90 minutes before the 3pm final.
• The first ever World Cup half-time show will have Shakira, Madonna, BTS, with Chris Martin in charge.
• Fans with tickets should arrive early to join the show.
• It’s a big celebration of soccer, music, and the three host countries.

FAQ

Q1: What is FIFA?
FIFA is the big boss organization that makes rules and runs soccer tournaments globally, including the World Cup.

Q2: Who is IShowSpeed?
He is a streamer—someone who broadcasts live videos of himself on the internet, often playing games or watching sports. He has been watching and streaming World Cup matches.

Q3: What does EGOT mean?
EGOT means a person has won four major US awards: an Emmy (TV), Grammy (music), Oscar (movie), and Tony (theater). Jennifer Hudson has all four!

Q4: Why is the half-time show a big deal?
Because it’s the first time the World Cup final will have a show during the match break, with super famous singers like Shakira and Madonna.

Q5: Do I need a ticket to see the ceremony?
The article mentions ticketholders (people who bought seats in the stadium) should arrive early. The show will also likely be on TV, but the article focuses on those at the stadium.