Tom Cruise kicked off the 2026 FIFA World Cup final with an opening address before the tournament’s first-ever halftime show, turning MetLife Stadium into a global entertainment stage that brought together football, Hollywood and the music industry’s biggest stars.
Details:
- Cruise’s opening: Tom Cruise delivered a speech celebrating football’s ability to unite people before kickoff.
- Historic first: Justin Bieber, Shakira, Madonna and BTS headlined the first halftime show in FIFA World Cup final history, produced with Coldplay’s Chris Martin.
- Surprise appearance: Jason Sudeikis appeared as Ted Lasso to introduce Justin Bieber, drawing one of the night’s biggest reactions.
- Star-studded crowd: Celebrities in attendance included Beyoncé, Matt Damon, Timothée Chalamet, David Beckham, Serena Williams and Tom Brady.
What to watch?
FIFA is expected to decide whether the halftime show will become a permanent feature of future World Cup finals following its debut in the 2026 championship match.
