Tom Cruise brought the World Cup to a rousing close in the United States, telling a packed New York New Jersey Stadium that the tournament had demonstrated the sport’s capacity to bring people together. The Hollywood actor delivered a finale address after performances from Jennifer Hudson, Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger and Laura Pausini, moments before Spain and Argentina began the final.
Star-led finale before the kick-off
Grammy-winner Hudson opened proceedings on the pitch with a rendition of the US national anthem, wearing a white gown and a matching blazer detailed with a red, white and blue ribbon at the back. The ceremony continued with a staging of FIFA’s official anthem Desire, performed by Williams alongside Scherzinger and Italian singer-songwriter Pausini, with the trio in stage-ready blue outfits. Cruise then stepped forward to close the programme with a message to supporters and teams alike.
“Thirty days ago, nations began a journey... As we gather for one final chapter, let us celebrate a tournament that brought the world together. Let us celebrate each other. This is football. This is unity and this, this is greatness.”
Percussion, streamer performance and pageantry
The show’s build-up started almost an hour earlier with a group of drummers in gold tracksuits striking out rhythms in the centre of the pitch. Online streamer IShowSpeed followed with his track Champions, dressed in a white suit and accompanied by a troupe of dancers, adding to a set list designed to warm the stadium ahead of the final’s kick-off.
Who did what on the night
| Performer | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jennifer Hudson | US national anthem | White gown; blazer with red/white/blue ribbon detail |
| Robbie Williams | FIFA anthem "Desire" | Performed with Nicole Scherzinger and Laura Pausini; royal blue tracksuit |
| Nicole Scherzinger | FIFA anthem collaborator | Blue gown |
| Laura Pausini | FIFA anthem collaborator | Blue gown |
| Tom Cruise | Closing speech | Unity message ahead of kick-off |
| IShowSpeed | Song: "Champions" | White suit; dancers on pitch |
Global stage, local resonance
While the final took place across the Atlantic, the scale of the closing ceremony underscored the World Cup’s reach well beyond the host nation. For communities across London, including Enfield’s diverse football-following public, the mix of sport and spectacle served as a reminder of how major tournaments weave together music, culture and the game itself. With international flags displayed across the stadium and a broadcast carried worldwide, the curtain-raiser aimed squarely at a shared experience before the first whistle.
What stood out
- Unity message: Cruise framed the tournament as a story shared by players, volunteers and supporters across nations.
- Anthem moments: Hudson’s performance anchored the American setting, while Williams, Scherzinger and Pausini delivered FIFA’s signature track.
- High-energy staging: Drummers and a dance-led turn by IShowSpeed set the tempo as the ceremony unfolded.
The closing ceremony’s blend of Hollywood presence, chart talent and tightly choreographed set pieces provided a polished bridge into the final between two of international football’s most storied sides. With its central themes of shared experience and togetherness, the message from the pitch was clear: the tournament belonged to supporters everywhere, no matter where they were watching from.
