The FIFA World Cup 2026 final was not only a showcase of world-class football, but also one of the most star-studded sporting events in recent memory, with an extraordinary list of celebrities filling the stands at New York-New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford.
As Argentina and Spain battled for football’s biggest prize, Hollywood A-listers, music icons, sporting legends and global personalities turned the final into an event that rivalled the biggest awards shows.
Famous faces
Among those spotted enjoying the action were Tom Cruise, Matt Damon and his wife Luciana, Jay-Z and Beyoncé, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, David and Victoria Beckham, Timothée Chalamet, Kylie Jenner, Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart, Austin Butler, Serena Williams, Pharrell Williams, Javier Bardem, Jon Hamm, Trevor Noah, Richard Gere, Adrien Brody, MrBeast, Future, Jason Sudeikis, Julia Garner, Dwyane Wade, Gabrielle Union, Rob Gronkowski, Gayle King, Anya Taylor-Joy, Anna Wintour and many more.
The crowd was so packed with famous faces that television commentators briefly mistook Matt Damon for Brad Pitt before quickly correcting themselves.
World leaders attend the final
The final also attracted several world leaders and dignitaries.
United States President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump watched the match from a VIP suite alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and Spanish Football Federation president Rafael Louzán.
Their presence highlighted the global significance of the tournament, which was jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Tom Cruise opens the show
One of the biggest moments before kick-off came when Tom Cruise walked onto the pitch to officially open the final.
Fresh from celebrating the release of Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster The Odyssey and promoting his upcoming film Digger, Cruise delivered an emotional speech celebrating football’s power to unite people across cultures and continents.
“More than 30 days ago, 48 nations began a journey,” Cruise told the packed stadium.
“They crossed oceans, they crossed borders, they crossed cultures and together they showed us why this game belongs to the world.”
He concluded by saying: “This is football. This is unity. This is greatness.”
Historic half-time show
The celebrations continued during FIFA’s first-ever World Cup final halftime show, featuring performances from some of the biggest names in global entertainment.
The line-up included Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, Shakira, Burna Boy, the PS22 Chorus joined by Coldplay, conductor Gustavo Dudamel, the New York Philharmonic, as well as appearances by The Muppets.
Earlier in the evening, Jennifer Hudson performed the national anthem, while Post Malone and Swae Lee entertained fans before kick-off.
Robbie Williams, Laura Pausini and Nicole Scherzinger also performed FIFA’s official World Cup anthem, Desire.
With football, music, film, politics and fashion all represented on one stage, the 2026 FIFA World Cup final delivered an unforgettable spectacle both on and off the pitch, cementing its place as one of the most glamorous championship events in sporting history.
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