Madonna, Cruise and Shakira lead A-list stars at World Cup final show

[p]After five weeks of more than 100 matches in three countries, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/spain/bLyo6mco/"]Spain[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/argentina/f9OppQjp/"]Argentina[/a] will [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/argentina-f9OppQjp/spain-bLyo6mco/?mid=UgbUKPmT"]vie for the title[/a], but before the 80,000 fans on hand and one billion viewers at home find out who the victor will be, the venue will glisten with celebrities.[/p][p]And US President Donald Trump, the reality show star-turned-world leader, will be in attendance as it all unfolds.[/p][p]At 1:30 pm (19:30 CET), Cruise is expected for the pre-game closing ceremony, along with British pop star Robbie Williams, Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, who will sing the US national anthem.[/p][embed guid="15755d19-151a-4b36-a09b-e3c26d209ce2" url="https://x.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/2054786131703529490" social-type="twitter" /][p]After Cruise's show-stopping stunt at the Olympic closing ceremony at the Stade de France in 2024, when he abseiled from the roof to the stadium floor, pundits are hoping he spreads a bit more Hollywood stardust with his "special appearance."[/p][p]American rapper-singer Post Malone and streamer IShowSpeed will also be there.[/p][h2]High-wattage halftime[/h2][p]But the 11-minute half-time show - the first in World Cup history - will be the main entertainment event. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said it will be the "biggest in the world".[/p][p]Madonna, who just dropped a new album at 67, will share the stage with Justin Bieber, K-pop megagroup BTS and Shakira, whose song [i][b]Dai Dai[/b][/i] with Burna Boy is the official song of the tournament.[/p][p]Other performers include Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel and a New York chorus accompanied by Coldplay, whose frontman Chris Martin curated the entire show.[/p][embed guid="22e7503e-0b3e-4896-9fa2-c77047959c9b" url="https://x.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/2078284914714423376" social-type="twitter" /][p]The half-time event will raise money for an education initiative led by FIFA and the non-governmental organisation, Global Citizen.[/p][p]Will the show run over the usual 15-minute half-time match break? Setting up and tearing down the stage could indeed send it into overtime.[/p][p]During last year's Club World Cup final, held at the same stadium in the New York suburbs, the break lasted more than 24 minutes.[/p][infobox id="26ec99f9-a02b-4f65-8fba-1965818547a7" /]