IN what promises to be the most star-studded sporting event in history, Madonna, Burna Boy, and Tom Cruise are among the galaxy of global superstars set to grace Sunday’s World Cup final at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.
Fresh from dropping a new album at 67, the Queen of Pop will share the halftime stage with Justin Bieber, K-pop sensations BTS, and Shakira, whose infectious collaboration “Dai Dai” with Nigerian Afrobeat king Burna Boy has become the tournament’s official anthem.
The 11-minute spectacle will mark the first-ever halftime show in World Cup history, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino boldly declaring it will be the “biggest in the world.”
But before Spain and Argentina battle for football’s ultimate prize before 80,000 fans and billions watching globally, the pre-game closing ceremony will deliver its own dose of Hollywood magic.
Tom Cruise, fresh from his death-defying Olympic closing ceremony stunt at the Stade de France in 2024, is expected to deliver another “special appearance” that pundits hope will sprinkle more stardust on the proceedings.
He’ll be joined by British pop icon Robbie Williams, Pussycat Dolls frontwoman Nicole Scherzinger, and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, who will perform the US national anthem. American rapper Post Malone and streaming sensation IShowSpeed will also feature in the pre-match entertainment.
Adding political weight to the occasion, US President Donald Trump will be in attendance as the drama unfolds.
The halftime extravaganza, curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, will feature Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel leading a New York chorus alongside the British rock giants. Proceeds will support an education initiative backed by FIFA and Global Citizen.
However, organisers may face a timing headache. During last year’s Club World Cup final at the same venue, the break stretched beyond 24 minutes due to stage setup. With this year’s production significantly more ambitious, the traditional 15-minute interval could well be pushed into overtime.
Fans worldwide will be watching to see if football’s showpiece can accommodate Hollywood’s biggest names without stealing the spotlight from the beautiful game itself.
With AFP
