The excitement of the 2026 World Cup final was not limited to the pitch, but extended to the stands and the stage, as the closing ceremony turned into a massive global show bringing together the most famous music stars and content creators, in a scene that dazzled tens of thousands of fans inside the New York-New Jersey stadium, and millions of viewers worldwide, ahead of the anticipated match between Spain and Argentina.

The 2026 World Cup closing ceremony began with a performance by the famous global content creator IShowSpeed, who entered the field accompanied by a group of drummers and dancers wearing colorful sports outfits, creating a festive atmosphere at the start of the ceremony.

This was followed by the appearance of American rapper Post Malone, who delivered an energetic performance of his famous song 'Wow' to a great reaction from the audience.

The New York-New Jersey stadium is expected to host more than 80,000 fans, along with a large number of celebrities and dignitaries from around the world, to attend the final match between Spain and Argentina.

The entertainment segments before the match will also feature a selection of top artists, led by American actor Tom Cruise, along with singers Robbie Williams, Laura Pausini, and Nicole Scherzinger.

Italian singer Laura Pausini, in statements to the BBC, expressed her great happiness to participate in the ceremony, confirming that she feels 'extremely excited' and 'very proud' to sing alongside Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger.

Pausini said: 'When Robbie Williams invited me to sing with him, I felt a shiver run through my entire body, as he is one of my favorite singers, songwriters, and performers.'

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The celebrations will not stop at the opening ceremony, as the artistic momentum continues during the halftime show, featuring a group of the biggest music stars in the world, led by Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira, and BTS.

Madonna, who is considered the best-selling musical artist in history, is expected to give a special performance following the major success of her new album 'Confessions II,' which topped the Billboard 200 chart immediately upon its release in July.

Justin Bieber, meanwhile, continues his strong return to the music scene, after earlier this year delivering his biggest live performances in four years at the Coachella festival, following the cancellation of his 'Justice' world tour due to health reasons.

Colombian star Shakira also returns to the stage alongside Nigerian star Burna Boy, after the remarkable success they achieved at the tournament's opening ceremony in Mexico City last month.

The duo achieved global success with their joint song 'Dai Dai,' which topped music charts in several countries and became one of the most played tracks in the tournament's stadiums throughout the World Cup.

South Korean group BTS will present an anticipated performance, following their return to artistic activity after a three-year hiatus due to their members completing mandatory military service in South Korea, as they currently continue their world tour comprising 85 concerts.

The halftime break is expected to last between 20 and 25 minutes, while FIFA has confirmed that the artistic show, inspired by the Super Bowl halftime show, will last 11 minutes.

The musical show was prepared by Chris Martin, lead singer and member of Coldplay, with the event aiming to support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative that seeks to raise $100 million to support children's education around the world.