Spain-Argentina Final: Global Celebrities Take Center Stage at New Jersey World Cup Showdown

Herz — Sport Desk · 20 July 2026 at 10:25 · 30s summary · 2 min read

What We Know

The 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at New Jersey was marked by an unprecedented parade of global celebrities, according to SRF.

Actor Timothée Chalamet opened the festivities by bringing the ball to the sideline before the opening kick.

Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams, and Laura Pausini performed together the official World Cup song in front of the host nations' flags before the match began.

Tom Cruise took the stage to energize the packed stadium. Post Malone delivered a pre-match performance, staged to emphasize the competition's distinctly American setting.

Jennifer Hudson sang the American national anthem moments before kickoff.

The Halftime Spectacle

Madonna made her entrance into the stadium accompanied by Brazilian soccer legends Ronaldinho and Ronaldo.

K-pop group BTS had their moment on stage. Justin Bieber followed with an acoustic guitar performance, providing a striking contrast to the rest of the show.

Shakira, accompanied by dancers, electrified the crowd. Her performance is described as the evening's musical highlight.

Chris Martin (Coldplay) and Burna Boy closed the spectacle by performing a number accompanied by a large children's choir.

Celebrities in the Stands

Victoria and David Beckham watched the final from a VIP box. Jay-Z and Beyoncé, as well as Rihanna and her partner ASAP Rocky, watched the match from boxes.

Actor Matt Damon was also present in the stadium.

Mick Jagger watched the match from the stands. England had been eliminated in the semifinals.

After the Final Whistle

Immediately after the final whistle, actor Javier Bardem joined the newly crowned world champions on the pitch. Tennis champion Carlos Alcaraz also congratulated the winners.