World Cup 2026 final: Closing ceremony and half-time show – what to know

Published 19 July 2026 · sports

Spain face Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final as musicians perform before kickoff and during the half-time break. The 2026 World Cup final will

Spain face Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final as musicians perform before kickoff and during the half-time break. The 2026 World Cup final will feature two live performances: one before kickoff and another at half-time. The match will be played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday, July 19, with some of the world’s biggest musicians taking the stage as part of the celebrations. Here is what to know When is the World Cup 2026 final? The World Cup final between Spain and Argentina will take place on Sunday, July 19. Kickoff is scheduled for 3pm local time in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which is 19:00 GMT. The match will be played at MetLife Stadium, home of the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets. During the tournament, the venue has been temporarily renamed New York-New Jersey Stadium. The multipurpose stadium can hold up to 82,500 spectators for football matches. It also hosted the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final and both semifinals. What time does the World Cup closing ceremony start? The World Cup closing ceremony will begin at 1:30pm local time (17:30 GMT) in New Jersey on Sunday, July 19. Jennifer Hudson will also perform the United States national anthem before kickoff. The ceremony will celebrate the 48 teams that competed across the three host countries and 16 host cities during the tournament.

When does the half-time show start? Unlike the closing ceremony, which takes place before kickoff, the half-time show will be staged during the interval between the first and second halves. With kickoff at 3pm local time (19:00 GMT), it is expected to begin just after 3:45pm local time (19:45 GMT), depending on stoppage time. The half-time performance is expected to last about 11 minutes, although FIFA has not officially confirmed the length of the interval. Reports suggest the break could be extended beyond the standard 15 minutes to between 20 and 25 minutes to allow time for the stage to be installed and removed. Under the Laws of the Game set by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), half-time should not exceed 15 minutes. However, competition rules can allow a longer interval with the referee’s approval, and FIFA has not explained how the extended break will be implemented. Although this will be the first half-time show in a World Cup final, FIFA tested the concept at last year’s Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium. That performance took place on a stage above the stands and the interval lasted just over 24 minutes. Unlike the Club World Cup final, Sunday’s stage will be built directly on the pitch before being removed ahead of the second half. Organisers say it has been designed to be assembled and dismantled within minutes.