Closing ceremony directed by Marco Balich: Laura Pausini, Tom Cruise and a global show
At the New York New Jersey Stadium, on Sunday 19 July, ahead of the final, a spectacular closing ceremony has been planned to celebrate the journey of the 48 national teams
The countdown has begun. On Sunday 19 July, the New York New Jersey Stadium will host the 2026 World Cup final, the culmination of what FIFA has described as a revolutionary edition of the World Cup. Before kick-off, however, the crowd will be treated to a spectacular closing ceremony designed to celebrate the journey of the 48 national teams taking part in the tournament.
The creative direction of the show will once again be in the hands of the Italian Marco Balich and his Balich Wonder Studio, a company which in recent years has been behind some of the most significant sporting ceremonies and major international events. FIFA has explained that the show will be a tribute to the passion, excitement and global spirit that have characterised the 23rd edition of the World Cup, the first in history to feature 48 teams and 16 host cities spread across the three organising countries.
The ceremony will symbolically recount the World Cup’s journey across North America, celebrating the national teams, the fans and the cities that provided the backdrop to a tournament which broke records for attendance and media coverage. The aim is to bring full circle the journey that began with the opening ceremonies which welcomed the world to Canada, Mexico and the United States, transforming the build-up to the final into one huge collective celebration.
An international line-up of world-class talent will make the event even more prestigious. Taking to the stage will be Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams and the hugely popular content creator IShowSpeed, whilst a special appearance by Hollywood star Tom Cruise is also planned. A mix of music, spectacle and entertainment designed to offer one last spectacular show before the challenge to decide the world title.
For Italia, the most eagerly awaited moment will, of course, be the one featuring Laura Pausini. The singer from Romagna will perform alongside Nicole Scherzinger and Robbie Williams to the tune of “Desire”, the competition’s official anthem. This is a particularly significant performance for the Italian artist, who has already shared the stage with her two colleagues during the song’s launch in New York last year.
