News summary produced by Claude AI
FIFA announced the lineup for the World Cup closing ceremony, scheduled to take place 90 minutes before Sunday’s final match. The event will feature a diverse cast of entertainers aimed at honoring the participating teams’ progression through the tournament’s 16 host cities across three nations.
Performers announced include actor Tom Cruise, who will make a special appearance, and streamer IShowSpeed, who has broadcast multiple matches from the tournament. The ceremony will also showcase musical performances from Laura Pausini, an Italian singer known for her role in the Milan Cortina Olympics opening ceremony in February; Nicole Scherzinger, a Tony Award winner and member of the Pussycat Dolls; and Robbie Williams, a British artist and former Take That member. Jennifer Hudson, holder of the EGOT award, will perform the U.S. national anthem.
Heimo Schirgi, the World Cup’s chief operating officer, stated that the closing ceremony will mirror the spirit of the opening ceremonies and unite the host nations through music, culture, and soccer. The event will be produced by Balich Wonder Studio, the same organization responsible for the 2022 World Cup’s opening and closing ceremonies in Qatar. The ceremony will begin at 1:30 p.m. at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with the final match kicking off at 3 p.m.
FIFA has encouraged attendees to arrive early, noting that ticketholders will have an active role in the production. The closing ceremony will be followed by the tournament’s first halftime show, which will feature additional prominent performers.