The 2026 World Cup just became a must-watch cultural moment. Post Malone has been announced as the headliner for the closing ceremony on July 19 at MetLife Stadium, and the lineup around him is absolutely jaw-dropping. With six Billboard Hot 100 number-one hits and three Billboard 200 number-one albums under his belt, Post Malone brings serious star power to what FIFA is calling a“landmark performance.”The closing ceremony will also feature Nicole Scherzinger, Laura Pausini, Robbie Williams, Jennifer Hudson singing the national anthem, Tom Cruise, and streamer IShowSpeed. The ceremony kicks off at 1:30 p.m. ET, giving the world a massive entertainment spectacle before the championship match even starts.
But the closing ceremony is just the appetizer. The real showstopper is the halftime performance, where BTS, Justin Bieber, Madonna, and Shakira will co-headline an eleven-minute set curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin. This is the kind of lineup that seemed impossible a few years ago. Four global superstars sharing one stage at the biggest sporting event on the planet. The fact that FIFA managed to pull this together speaks to how much the World Cup has evolved as an entertainment property. This isn’t just about soccer anymore, it’s a full cultural experience.
The World Cup Final is shaping up to be appointment television for both sports fans and music enthusiasts. Spain has already secured one spot in the final, while England and Argentina will compete in Wednesday’s semifinal to determine the second finalist. With this entertainment caliber, people are going to be tuning in regardless of which teams make it to the final. Which performance are you most excited to see?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.