Meet the full list of 2026 World Cup final performers, from Shakira to national anthem singers

Jul 18, 2026 - 05:25

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Meet the full list of 2026 World Cup final performers, from Shakira to national anthem singers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

FIFA is going all-out for the final day of the 2026 World Cup.

While the action on the pitch between Argentina and Spain will be most important, with a winner being crowned from the original 48-team field, there will be plenty of glamor to go along with Sunday's World Cup final. Before the match and at halftime, a long list of performers is set to take the spotlight.

From Post Malone, Justin Bieber and BTS to Tom Cruise, Robbie Williams and IShowSpeed, there will be star power galore on the day of the World Cup final.

Here's a look at every performer for Sunday's 2026 World Cup final, including the pre-match closing ceremony and the halftime performers.

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2026 World Cup final performers

Jennifer Hudson, Pre-match closing ceremony

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FIFA announced earlier in July that prior to the 2026 World Cup final at MetLife Stadium, there would be a closing ceremony highlighted by multiple performances.

Plenty of well-known singers are expected to take the stage before the final matchup, but only one will be singing the U.S. national anthem: Jennifer Hudson.

The Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award winner, who became the youngest woman and third African-American recipient of all four of those major American entertainment awards, will do the honors of signing "The Star-Spangled Banner" just days after performing "America The Beautiful" at the 2026 MLB All-Star Game.

Hudson, 44, first rose to fame as a contestant on "American Idol." She quickly became a star R&B singer and actress, and since 2022, she's hosted her own talk show.

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Laura Pausini, Pre-match closing ceremony

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While the specific song performances for the rest of the closing ceremony performers remain unclear, there are plenty more notable names who will appear before the World Cup final begins.

Laura Pausini, the 52-year-old Italian singer and songwriter, is one of them. Pausini primarily performs in Italian and Spanish for her pop/pop rock music, first rising to fame in 1993 with the song "La solitudine."

Pausini has released 15 studio albums since, appeared as a coach on the Mexican and Spanish versions of "The Voice," and won a Grammy award in 2006 for Best Latin Pop Album.

Nicole Scherzinger, Pre-match closing ceremony

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Nicole Scherzinger will also take the stage at MetLife Stadium for the pre-match closing ceremony, helping bring the World Cup to a close.

Now a singer, actress and television personality, Scherzinger is most well-known for being a member of the American R&B/pop group, the Pussycat Dolls, which is one of the world's best-selling female groups ever.

The Hawaii native has also released solo music over the years, appeared as a judge on various television talent shows, and made appearances in "Moana," "Dirty Dancing" and "Annie Live!".

Scherzinger is a one-time Grammy Award nominee and one-time Tony Award winner.

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Robbie Williams, Pre-match closing ceremony

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Rounding out the singers for the closing ceremony portion of the 2026 World Cup final is Robbie Williams, the English singer and songwriter who has received a record 18 Brit Awards, including Best British Male Artist four times.

The UK Music Hall of Famer first found fame as a member of the pop group "Take That," but began a solo career in 1996 that led him to worldwide fame. Williams has had seven UK No. 1 singles, 13 UK No. 1 studio albums and an estimated 75 million to 80 million sold records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists ever.

In 2024, a film based on Williams' life, "Better Man," was released. The 52-year-old was also named president of Port Vale Football Club in Stoke-on-Trent in 2024.

IShowSpeed, Pre-match closing ceremony

It remains unclear what role he'll play, but American influencer and streamer IShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Jason Watkins Jr., will take the field for FIFA's closing ceremony.

The 21-year-old has skyrocketed into internet fame with his energetic behavior, streaming online often and building a significant social media following — and with his platform, Watkins has been viewed as a sort of cultural ambassador for Gen Z, visiting other countries often and attending high-profile events.

"Speed," who is from Cincinnati, began shifting toward entertainment in 2022 on YouTube, including plenty of soccer content and releasing a song called "World Cup." In 2026, he followed it up with another single, "Champions," which was featured on FIFA's official 2026 World Cup Album.

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Tom Cruise, Pre-match closing ceremony

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Another mystery role in the closing ceremony will come from longtime action-movie actor Tom Cruise.

The 64-year-old star of "Mission: Impossible," "Top Gun" and more is one of the most well-known and highly-paid Hollywood personalities out there, with his films grossing over $13 billion all-time.

Cruise has won three Golden Globes, primarily featured in sci-fi and action films and is known for doing his own risky stunts.

Shakira and Burna Boy, Halftime show

Soccer fans are certainly familiar with Shakira by now — she has been involved with the World Cup since 2006, becoming the tournament's go-to singer for themed songs, performances and more.

For 2026, Shakira's official World Cup song was "Dai Dai" featuring Burna Boy, who will also perform at the closing ceremony. The two have already taken the stage once for the song, performing on the World Cup's first night in Mexico City for an opening ceremony.

The Colombian singer and dancer has been dubbed "The Queen of Latin Music," winning four Grammy Awards and 15 Latin Grammy Awards.

Burna Boy, meanwhile, is a 35-year-old Nigerian singer and songwriter who previously became the first African artist to have two albums earned over 1 billion streams on Spotify. First reaching fame in 2012 with his single "Like to Party," Burna Boy won Best International Act at the 2019 BET Awards, has won Best World Music Album at the Grammy Awards and has released eight studio albums.

Post Malone, Halftime show

FIFA announced on Wednesday that another big-time star is joining the halftime set list, with singer, rapper and producer Post Malone set to perform. With a genre background that has ranged from rap to country, he's been one of the top U.S. artists over the past decade.

First finding fame with his 2015 single "White Iverson," Post Malone has been all over the charts since, transitioning into a pop sound, then rock, then country. With over 150 million records sold in the U.S. alone and 11 Billboard Music Awards, five American Music awards, six MTV Video Music Awards and 18 Grammy nominations, he's become one of the most well-known artists in the world.

After performing "America the Beautiful" at the Super Bowl in 2024 and performing at halftime of a Cowboys Thanksgiving game in 2025, Post Malone will now take on the global soccer stage.

Madonna, Halftime show

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One of the most influential musicians of all time, Madonna, will also hit the halftime stage. Now 67 years old, she's spent decades in the public eye as a singer, songwriter, record producer and actress, making a significant impact in pop culture.

As the best-selling female music artist of all time, Madonna has accumulated over $1 billion in concert sales alone. Her career has included 12 Billboard No. 1 singles and 10 No. 1 albums, seven Grammy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Justin Bieber, Halftime show

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Canadian singer Justin Bieber, now 32, will also take the stage at halftime. In the public spotlight since his teenage years, Bieber has become one of the best-selling music artists ever.

Bieber's accolades include two Grammy Awards, a Latin Grammy Award, eight Juno Awards, two Brit Awards, 26 Billboard Music Awards, 19 American Music Awards, six MTV Video Music Awards and 22 MTV Europe Music Awards.

Now, one of the world's biggest pop stars will be on the FIFA stage.

“The FIFA World Cup brings the world together in a way nothing else can. I’m grateful to be part of this Halftime Show, and even more grateful knowing it’s already helping expand access to education for children around the world,” Bieber said in a statement to FIFA.

BTS, Halftime show

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South Korean boy band BTS, also known as the Bangtan Boys, is yet another extremely famous group that will perform at halftime.

The band, consisting of Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook, has gone from South Korean fame in the early 2010s to success in the United States and globally. BTS has previously become the fastest group since the Beatles to chart four US number-one albums in less than two years, as well as the fastest act to earn six US number-one singles since the Beatles in 1966.

After a four-year hiatus due to the members completing 18 months of mandatory South Korean military service, their first album in years, "Arirang," was released in March 2026.

With over 40 million albums sold, BTS is the best-selling musical act in South Korean history. BTS stands for the Korean phrase "Bangtan Sonyeondan," which translates to "Bulletproof Boy Scouts."

Gustavo Dudamel, Halftime show

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Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel will also have a role to play in the 2026 World Cup final halftime show. Dudamel is the music director of the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, but is also scheduled to become the Music and Artistic Director of the New York Philharmonic in 2026.

Conducting since 1999, Dudamel has previously received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, won multiple Grammys for Best Classical Compendium, and made guest appearances on "Sesame Street" and "The Simpsons."

PS 22 Chorus ft. Coldplay, Halftime show

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Finally, the PS22 Chorus, which is an award-winning elementary school chorus directed by Gregg Breinberg, will perform at the halftime show.

Based out of the public elementary school PS22 in Staten Island, New York City, the chorus is composed of 60-to-70 fifth-graders; PS22 is the largest elementary school on Staten Island.

In the past, the chorus — which first gained global attention online through YouTube — has performed with plenty of well-known artists, including Katy Perry, O.A.R., Carrie Underwood, Portugal. The Man and Fifth Harmony, as well as appearances on shows like The View and Sesame Street.

With Coldplay's Chris Martin curating the entire World Cup halftime lineup, his well-known band is also set to perform alongside the PS22 chorus.