Tom Cruise took center stage before a ball was even kicked at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. The Top Gun: Maverick actor opened the championship match between Spain and Argentina with a speech celebrating football’s global reach, welcoming fans inside New York New Jersey Stadium and audiences watching across the world. His appearance boosted the starpower presence in the final – which already attracted an impressive array of celebrities from film, music and sports.
Spanish tennis wunderkind Carlos Alcaraz and Squid Game star Jung Ho-yeon carried the FIFA World Cup Trophy onto the field inside its Louis Vuitton Trophy Trunk before kickoff. Dune star Timothée Chalamet then received the honor of bringing out the official match ball, adding another cinematic touch to the pregame festivities.
The VIP stands looked equally glamorous. Beyoncé and Jay-Z watched the final alongside Rihanna and A$AP Rocky. Kylie Jenner attended alongside longtime boyfriend Chalamet, while David Beckham, Victoria Beckham, Javier Bardem, Matt Damon, Gabrielle Union, Dwayne Wade, Travis Scott, Kevin Hart and Tom Brady were also among the high-profile guests spotted throughout the evening.
The festivities continued with FIFA’s inaugural halftime show, which featured Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, Shakira and Burna Boy before attention shifted back to the action on the pitch. Spain ultimately defeated defending champion Argentina 1-0 after extra time thanks to Ferran Torres’ decisive strike. The result gave La Furia Roja its second World Cup title, while the spectacle surrounding the match offered a reminder that football’s biggest night has become as much a global entertainment event as it is a sporting championship.