FIFA World Cup 2026 Closing Ceremony: Date, Time, Performers, and Full Lineup

The FIFA World Cup 2026 Closing Ceremony takes place on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium) in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The ceremony begins at 1:30 PM ET, 90 minutes before the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final between Spain and Argentina kicks off at 3:00 PM ET.

Post Malone headlines a lineup that also features Robbie Williams, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, and IShowSpeed, with a special appearance by Tom Cruise. Jennifer Hudson performs the United States national anthem immediately before kickoff.

The ceremony marks the conclusion of a 39-day tournament that brought 48 teams to 16 host cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It is the largest FIFA World Cup in history, and FIFA has planned a closing show to match its scale.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Closing Ceremony Quick Facts

Event	FIFA World Cup 2026 Closing Ceremony
Date	Sunday, July 19, 2026
Venue	New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium), East Rutherford, New Jersey
Ceremony Start Time	1:30 PM ET (13:30 local time)
Stadium Gates Open	11:00 AM ET
Final Kickoff	3:00 PM ET, Spain vs Argentina
Headliner	Post Malone
Other Performers	Robbie Williams, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, IShowSpeed
Special Appearance	Tom Cruise
National Anthem	Jennifer Hudson
Producer	Balich Wonder Studio
Broadcast (US)	FOX (English), Telemundo (Spanish)

When and Where the Closing Ceremony Takes Place

The closing ceremony is scheduled for 1:30 PM ET on July 19, 2026, inside New York New Jersey Stadium, the FIFA tournament name for MetLife Stadium. The venue holds 82,500 spectators for the tournament and also hosts the Final that follows the ceremony.

Stadium gates open at 11:00 AM ET, four hours before kickoff. FIFA has advised ticket holders to arrive early because of the expected crowd volume and enhanced security screening around the Final. The ceremony runs for approximately 90 minutes of pre-match programming before the teams take the field.

MetLife Stadium sits in East Rutherford, New Jersey, roughly 10 miles west of Manhattan. The stadium hosts eight matches across the tournament in total: five group stage games, one Round of 32 match, one Round of 16 match, and the Final, which serves as its eighth and last.

Who is Performing at the Closing Ceremony

FIFA confirmed the closing ceremony lineup in stages during the week before the Final. Post Malone was announced as the headliner, joining a roster that spans pop, Broadway, and digital entertainment.

The confirmed performers and guests include:

Performer	Role
Post Malone	Headliner
Robbie Williams	Performer
Laura Pausini	Performer
Nicole Scherzinger	Performer
IShowSpeed	Performer
Tom Cruise	Special appearance
Jennifer Hudson	United States national anthem

Laura Pausini is a Grammy-winning Italian singer-songwriter. Nicole Scherzinger, known for the Pussycat Dolls and her Tony-winning turn in Sunset Boulevard, brings a stage-performance element to the show.

Robbie Williams adds British pop star power, while IShowSpeed, the internet personality whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr., connects the ceremony to the tournament’s massive online audience.

Tom Cruise, who attended the United States men’s opening match against Paraguay, makes a special appearance during the show. Jennifer Hudson, a winner of Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards, closes the pre-match program with a rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner.

Her World Cup appearance comes just days after she sang God Bless America at the MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia.

FIFA indicated that additional artists and special guests could still be added before the show begins.

Who is Producing the Ceremony

The closing ceremony is produced in partnership with Balich Wonder Studio. The studio’s founder, Marco Balich, also directed the opening and closing ceremonies at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, along with multiple Olympic ceremonies.

FIFA Chief Operating Officer Heimo Schirgi said the ceremony is designed to bring the tournament full circle through music, culture, and football before the champions are crowned.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the choice of Post Malone as headliner is intended to celebrate the tournament’s journey and build the atmosphere inside the stadium before attention shifts to the two finalists.

What Happens During the Ceremony

FIFA has described the closing ceremony as a celebration of all 48 teams and their journey across the three host countries and 16 host cities. The show blends live music, cultural segments, and tournament highlights on the stadium’s video systems.

The ceremony follows this general sequence:

Time (ET)	Segment
11:00 AM	Stadium gates open
1:30 PM	Closing ceremony begins
Approx. 2:45 PM	Jennifer Hudson performs the US national anthem
3:00 PM	Final kickoff, Spain vs Argentina
Approx. 3:45 PM	Halftime show (approx. 11 minutes)

FIFA has encouraged fans attending the Final to arrive early because supporters have an active role to play in the show itself.

The closing ceremony is separate from the 2026 World Cup Halftime Show. For the first time in World Cup history, the Final also features a Super Bowl-style halftime performance of approximately 11 minutes, co-headlined by Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, and BTS in a show curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin. Coldplay, Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, and the PS22 Chorus also appear during halftime, and the Muppets from Sesame Street join the celebration alongside Kermit and Miss Piggy.

The show is produced by Global Citizen in partnership with Live Nation and Done + Dusted, and begins around 3:45 PM ET depending on first-half stoppage time. The halftime show supports the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which carries a fundraising goal of 100 million dollars for education and football programs for children worldwide. More than 50 million dollars had already been raised before the Final.

After the full-time whistle, the celebrations continue with the trophy presentation and the individual FIFA World Cup 2026 awards, including the Golden Ball, Golden Boot, Golden Glove, and Best Young Player. The award winners are confirmed on the pitch once the Final concludes.

How the Closing Ceremony Compares to the Opening Ceremonies

The 2026 tournament opened with three separate ceremonies across the host nations. Shakira and Burna Boy performed at the opening in Mexico City, where the two artists also recorded the official tournament song, Dai Dai. The Los Angeles opener featured Future, Tyla, and Katy Perry, while Canada’s opening ceremony in Toronto included Michael Bublé, Alessia Cara, and Eliana.

The closing ceremony consolidates that three-nation spirit into a single show at the Final venue. It is significantly larger than the 15-minute closing ceremony staged at Lusail Stadium before the 2022 Final in Qatar, reflecting the expanded scale of the 48-team tournament and the entertainment-forward approach FIFA has taken throughout 2026.

How to Watch the Closing Ceremony

The closing ceremony airs as part of the Final broadcast. In the United States, FOX carries English-language coverage and Telemundo carries Spanish-language coverage, with streaming available through their respective platforms.

In Canada, TSN carries the ceremony and the Final. International viewers can watch through their local FIFA World Cup rights holders.

Pre-match coverage on most networks begins well before the 1:30 PM ET ceremony start. Read our complete guide to watching and streaming the 2026 World Cup Final.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Closing Ceremony FAQ