Celebrity Arrivals and Royal Presence
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final, held at New York New Jersey Stadium (also known as MetLife Stadium), attracted a notable array of celebrities and dignitaries. Among the attendees were King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, Princess Leonor, and Infanta Sofía, who were present to celebrate Spain‘s victory in the tournament. The stadium, which can accommodate up to 82,500 spectators for football matches.
Many prominent figures walked the golden carpet leading into the stadium. These included actor Tom Cruise, who also had a special role in the closing ceremony. David and Victoria Beckham were seen with Martha Stewart from one of the stadium boxes. Other notable attendees included actor Javier Bardem, who openly supported Spain, and actor Richard Gere, wearing a red jersey in support of his wife’s homeland, Spain. Legendary musician Mick Jagger also made an appearance on the golden carpet.
The event also drew couples such as Matt Damon and Luciana Damon, with Luciana showing support for her home country, Argentina, by wearing an Albiceleste jersey. Actress Sofía Vergara attended with her son Manolo and friends. Model Winnie Harlow was also present, maintaining a neutral stance in an all-white outfit. The celebrity presence extended to the stands, where Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet were caught on camera during the broadcast.
Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz, recovering from an injury, had the honour of opening the briefcase containing the World Cup trophy. He was joined by South Korean actress and model Jung Ho-yeon, as well as football legends Andrés Iniesta and Mario Kempes. Former Spain national team player Carles Puyol attended with his wife, Vanesa Lorenzo, to cheer for Spain. Mexican footballer Javier Hernández “Chicharito”, now a commentator, shared a selfie from the field. Football great Zinedine Zidane was also in attendance.
Other celebrities spotted included actress Julia Garner, Russian actress Irina Baeva, and skiing legend Lindsey Vonn, who was rooting for Spain. The event also saw the presence of Donald Trump, MrBeast, Odell Beckham Jr., and Gayle King.
Pre-Match and Halftime Entertainment
The 2026 World Cup final featured two live performances: one before kickoff and another at halftime. The closing ceremony began at 1:30 PM local time in New Jersey. The ceremony was designed to celebrate the teams that competed across the host countries and host cities during the tournament, which included the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The closing ceremony included performances by Italian singer Laura Pausini, American singer Nicole Scherzinger, British pop star Robbie Williams, and YouTube creator IShowSpeed. Jennifer Hudson performed the U.S. national anthem before kickoff, while Argentinian singer-songwriter Maria Becerra performed the Argentine national anthem. Actor Tom Cruise was also set to make a special appearance during the ceremony.
For the first time in World Cup history, the final included a halftime show with musical performances. This show was curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. Headliners for the halftime show included Madonna, Shakira, and Justin Bieber. They were reportedly joined by British rockers Coldplay, Nigerian singer Burna Boy, Los Angeles Philharmonic music director Gustavo Dudamel, and New York City’s PS22 Chorus, along with characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets.
The halftime performance was expected to last approximately 11 minutes. Reports suggested the break could be extended beyond the standard 15 minutes to between 20 and 25 minutes to allow for stage setup and removal. This concept was tested at a previous Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium, where the performance took place on a stage above the stands and the interval lasted over 24 minutes. For the World Cup final, the stage was built directly on the pitch, designed for quick assembly and dismantling.
Additional Entertainment and Guests
Beyond the main performances, the event also saw other musical artists and celebrities in attendance. Superstar singer Beyoncé and rapper Jay Z were photographed enjoying the match. They reportedly skipped the golden carpet. Jay-Z was seen wearing his New York Yankees cap after holding his “Extra Innings” concerts at Yankee Stadium the previous week. The couple Rihanna and A$AP Rocky kept a low profile but were spotted on the Jumbotron. Actor Timothée Chalamet had the role of bringing out the game ball at the final.
Other attendees included rapper Post Malone, who performed during the closing ceremony. The celebrity guest list also featured Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union on the FIFA Gold Carpet. Comedian and television host Trevor Noah received a last-minute invitation to watch and stream the game live. Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran made a quick appearance on Trevor Noah’s social media. Pharrell Williams and Future were seated together at MetLife Stadium. Singer Teyana Taylor was seen in a suite. Newlyweds Callum Turner and Dua Lipa were spotted by fans, as were Anya Taylor-Joy and Malcolm McRae.
The FIFA World Cup final took place on Sunday, July 19, with kickoff scheduled for 3 PM local time in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
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Source: hola.com
