Tom Cruise, IShowSpeed and Global Superstars Set for Huge 2026 World Cup Final Show

Photo: IMDB

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to end with one of the biggest entertainment spectacles ever staged at a football match.

FIFA has officially announced a star-studded closing ceremony featuring Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise, global streaming sensation IShowSpeed, Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger and Laura Pausini ahead of the World Cup final on Sunday, July 19.

The final will also feature the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show, headlined by Madonna, Shakira and BTS.

With some of the biggest names in film, music and online entertainment all involved, FIFA is clearly attempting to turn the biggest match in football into an event on a scale rarely seen before, clearly inspired by the Superbowl.

One of the most eye-catching names involved is IShowSpeed.

The American streamer has become one of the most recognisable online personalities in world football, building an enormous following through his love of the sport and, in particular, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Speed has been a major presence throughout the 2026 World Cup, attending and streaming from multiple matches during the tournament, as well as making songs themed around the last 2 World Cups.

Now he will officially become part of the show. FIFA has confirmed IShowSpeed among the performers for the closing ceremony, although the exact details of his role have not yet been revealed, but likely will include a rendition of one or both his World Cup songs.

His inclusion represents another sign of the changing relationship between football and online culture.Traditionally, World Cup ceremonies have focused on musicians and established entertainment stars. Including one of the world's biggest content creators shows FIFA's determination to connect the tournament with a younger digital audience.

Tom Cruise Set for a “Special Appearance”

Tom Cruise will also be involved in the closing ceremony. FIFA has described the Hollywood superstar's role as a “special appearance”, but has not yet revealed exactly what he will do, so his inclusion remains vague, but some stunts seem obvious considering his inclusion.

Then Comes the First-Ever World Cup Final Halftime Show

The entertainment will not end when the match begins. For the first time in World Cup history, the final will feature a dedicated halftime show. This Americanisation of football this World Cup has angered many fans.

But the lineup is enormous. Madonna, Shakira and BTS will co-headline the historic performance, with the show being curated by Coldplay co-founder Chris Martin.

Shakira's involvement is particularly fitting given her history with the World Cup. Her 2010 anthem “Waka Waka” became one of the most iconic songs associated with the tournament.

The performance will also support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million to expand access to education and football opportunities for children around the world.

Is FIFA Trying to Create Football’s Version of the Super Bowl?

The scale of the event has inevitably drawn comparisons with the Super Bowl. The NFL's championship game has become almost as famous for its halftime entertainment as the sport itself, with the world's biggest artists regularly performing.

FIFA now appears to be moving in a similar direction. The World Cup final is already one of the most watched events on the planet. Adding a major halftime show gives FIFA another enormous entertainment product inside an already historic occasion.

Supporters of the idea will see it as a natural evolution of the tournament, with critics arguing that the World Cup final does not need to become more like an American sporting event.

For generations, football's halftime break has been simple: 15 minutes for the players to recover, managers to make tactical adjustments and supporters to prepare for the second half.

A major concert changes that dynamic. Reports have suggested the overall halftime interval could be considerably longer than the traditional 15 minutes to allow for the performance and the construction and removal of the stage.

That has already created debate over player welfare, sporting tradition and whether entertainment is beginning to interfere with the football itself.

A World Cup Final Unlike Any Before It

The 2026 World Cup has already been historic.

It is the first edition featuring 48 teams and the first hosted across three countries.

Now its conclusion will also be unlike anything the competition has previously seen.

The question is whether this becomes a one-off spectacle for an unprecedented World Cup in North America, or the beginning of a completely new tradition for the biggest game in football.