2026 World Cup Final: Spain's Extra-Time Win, Full Halftime Show Lineup, and Super Bowl-Style Ceremony

Argentina, which had scored 19 goals in its previous seven matches, managed only two shots — none on target — across the full 120 minutes .

Full Starting Lineups

Spain (4-2-3-1): Unai Simón (GK) — Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella — Rodri, Fabián Ruiz — Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Álex Baena — Mikel Oyarzabal .

Argentina (4-4-2): Emiliano Martínez (GK) — Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Nicolás Tagliafico — Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, Nicolás González — Julián Álvarez, Lionel Messi .

Closing Ceremony: A 90-Minute Pre-Match Spectacle

The closing ceremony began approximately 80 to 90 minutes before kickoff, around 1:30–1:40 p.m. ET . FIFA called it a "dazzling" production .

Confirmed performers and their roles:

• Tom Cruise — Delivered an inspirational opening speech welcoming the world to the final .
• IShowSpeed (streamer) — Opened the ceremony with a performance .
• Post Malone (headliner) — Performed "Chrome Heartbreaker," "Wow," and "Sunflower" with Swae Lee .
• Laura Pausini — Performed .
• Robbie Williams — Performed .
• Nicole Scherzinger — Performed .
• Jennifer Hudson — Sang the U.S. national anthem .
• Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber — Also listed among standout appearances by FIFA's official recap .

First-Ever Halftime Show (Topps Final Halftime Show)

This was the first halftime show in FIFA World Cup final history. The extended halftime break lasted over 27 minutes, going against standard IFAB protocol .

Headliners and Full Lineup

The show was co-headlined by Madonna, Shakira, BTS, and Justin Bieber . Additional confirmed performers included:

• Burna Boy
• Gustavo Dudamel (conductor)
• PS 22 Chorus featuring Coldplay
• Appearances by Ronaldinho and Ronaldo (Brazilian football legends)

Production Credits

• Creative curator: Chris Martin (Coldplay lead vocalist)
• Director: Hamish Hamilton
• Produced by: Global Citizen, in partnership with FIFA

Origin of the Show

Chris Martin first proposed the idea to Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, asking, "Wouldn't it be amazing if we could host the first-ever halftime show?" .

Connection to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund

The halftime show was directly tied to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, a joint initiative aiming to raise $100 million to expand access to quality education for children worldwide through grassroots programs in over 200 countries . As of the final, 58 total grants had been awarded: 27 in the first round (May 2026) across 10 countries, and 31 more in a second round (July 16, 2026) across 18 countries, with awards ranging from $50,000–$250,000 . The show itself served as a global fundraiser and awareness driver for the fund .

Broadcast Details

• Fox (English): Carried the final, the closing ceremony, and the halftime show in the United States .
• Telemundo (Spanish): Carried the final, the closing ceremony, and the halftime show in the United States .
• Global: The halftime show was produced by Global Citizen for worldwide distribution alongside FIFA's international broadcast partners .

FIFA's New Entertainment Model (Super Bowl–Inspired)

The 2026 final marked a deliberate strategic shift by FIFA to adopt an American-style Super Bowl entertainment model for its flagship event . FIFA explicitly modeled the first-ever World Cup final halftime show after the NFL's Super Bowl halftime show, with a multi-act, high-production-value spectacle during the break . The closing ceremony format — a 90-minute pre-game show with headliners and special appearances — also mirrors the Super Bowl's pre-game entertainment structure . Broadcasters Fox and Telemundo treated the event as a full-day entertainment block, with stadium gates opening at 11 a.m. ET, four hours before kickoff .

Performer Verification

Based on official FIFA and Global Citizen sources:

Confirmed (appeared): Post Malone, Jennifer Hudson, Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, IShowSpeed, Tom Cruise, Laura Pausini, Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger, BTS, Burna Boy, PS 22 Chorus, Chris Martin/Coldplay, Gustavo Dudamel, Swae Lee, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo .

Not confirmed by available sources: Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso and The Muppets were not found in any FIFA, Global Citizen, or major news report about the ceremony or halftime show and are not backed by match-day reporting or official announcements.

Key Takeaways

• Spain won its second World Cup title with a 1–0 extra-time victory over Argentina, ending Lionel Messi's hopes of a repeat.
• The match featured history's first World Cup final halftime show, co-headlined by Madonna, Shakira, BTS, and Justin Bieber, produced by Global Citizen and curated by Chris Martin.
• FIFA adopted a Super Bowl-inspired entertainment model, with a 90-minute pre-match closing ceremony and an extended 27-minute halftime show.
• The show supported the $100 million FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which had awarded 58 grassroots grants across 28 countries by the final.
• Fox and Telemundo broadcast the full day's entertainment in the U.S., while global partners carried the show worldwide.