Tom Cruise heads to MetLife Stadium in New York.
The actor has been booked to make a “special appearance” at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Finals on July 19, as part of another wave of entertainment for the massive global event. Jennifer Hudson will also perform the US National Anthem.
Cruz is set to star in Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s film digger Later this year.
The World Cup final, which will see England or Argentina face off against France or Spain, has already lined up a huge halftime show featuring Justin Bieber, BTS, Shakira and Madonna.
FIFA also said that the closing ceremony, which will be held before the match, will include performances from Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams and YouTube star IShowSpeed.
FIFA adds that “fans in the stadium will have an active role in the show,” and encourages them to arrive at the stadium early.
The event is run on a grand scale on par with the Super Bowl or the Olympics, with multiple performances and celebrity appearances. Naturally, Cruz also made a special appearance at the closing ceremonies of the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he descended from the roof of the stadium to present the Olympic flag to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass as part of the Olympic Games handover ceremony.
“Echoing the spirit of the opening ceremonies, which welcomed the world to the grandest stage in Canada, Mexico and the United States, the Closing Ceremony will bring the 2026 FIFA World Cup full circle through music, culture and football, before we begin the highly anticipated match that will crown the champions of this pioneering tournament,” said Hemu Cherji, Chief Operating Officer of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
