The 2026 FIFA World Cup came to a spectacular conclusion with an elaborate closing ceremony at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, featuring a star-studded lineup led by Jennifer Hudson, Robbie Williams and several international music icons. Held shortly before the championship match between Spain and Argentina, the ceremony celebrated the end of the tournament with a blend of music, cultural performances and tributes to the host nations of the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Jennifer Hudson opened the festivities with a powerful rendition of the United States national anthem, earning a standing ovation from the capacity crowd. Her performance set the tone for an evening designed to showcase the global reach of both football and music as millions of viewers tuned in from around the world. Hudson’s appearance marked one of the ceremony’s most anticipated moments following FIFA’s announcement of its entertainment lineup earlier this year.

British pop star Robbie Williams then took center stage as one of the headline performers, delivering a medley of his biggest international hits. Williams, who has maintained a longstanding relationship with FIFA events, was joined by dancers and musicians in a production featuring large-scale stage elements, pyrotechnics and immersive visual effects that transformed the stadium into a concert venue moments before kickoff.

The closing ceremony also featured performances from Shakira, Burna Boy, Laura Pausini and additional guest artists representing different regions of the world. The collaborative showcase highlighted the tournament’s global character, with multilingual performances and choreography celebrating the cultures of participating nations. FIFA designed the event to reflect unity through sport while honoring the first World Cup jointly hosted by three countries.

The entertainment followed the tournament’s groundbreaking halftime show, which introduced a Super Bowl-style format to the FIFA World Cup Final for the first time. BTS, Madonna, Justin Bieber and other artists headlined the halftime spectacle, making the final one of the most ambitious entertainment productions in World Cup history and extending the celebration beyond the traditional pre-match festivities.

Fans inside MetLife Stadium responded enthusiastically throughout the closing ceremony, with performances accompanied by synchronized light displays, fireworks and giant video screens surrounding the pitch. The production blended live music with visual storytelling highlighting memorable moments from the month-long tournament, including standout goals, emotional celebrations and the journey of the finalist teams.

The ceremony concluded with all performers joining together on the field before making way for the players’ entrance ahead of the World Cup Final. As the tournament reached its climax, the closing celebration underscored FIFA’s expanded vision of combining world-class football with large-scale live entertainment, bringing together some of the biggest names in music for one of the most-watched sporting events on the global calendar.