As the curtain falls on a five-week tournament that featured more than 100 matches across three host nations, attention will shift to New Jersey, where more than 80,000 fans inside the stadium and billions watching worldwide will witness not only the championship decider but also an unprecedented entertainment showcase.
Among the high-profile guests expected at the final is United States President Donald Trump, whose attendance adds further prominence to an event already packed with international stars.
The pre-match closing ceremony, scheduled for 1:30 p.m. (1730 GMT), will feature Hollywood icon Tom Cruise alongside British pop star Robbie Williams, former Pussycat Dolls lead singer Nicole Scherzinger and Academy Award-winning actress and singer Jennifer Hudson, who will perform the United States national anthem.
Cruise's appearance has generated significant anticipation following his memorable performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games closing ceremony, where he descended dramatically from the roof of the Stade de France to the stadium floor. Organisers have kept details of his role under wraps, fueling speculation that the actor could once again deliver a spectacular performance. FIFA has only described it as a "special appearance."
Also expected to attend are American rapper and singer Post Malone and popular online streamer IShowSpeed, adding to the star power surrounding the final.
However, the biggest attraction away from the pitch is expected to be the tournament's historic halftime show—the first ever to be staged during a FIFA World Cup final. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has already raised expectations, describing it as the "biggest in the world."
Music legend Madonna, who recently released a new album at the age of 67, is set to headline the performance alongside global pop sensation Justin Bieber, K-pop supergroup BTS and Colombian superstar Shakira. Shakira will perform as one of the tournament's headline acts, with her song "Dai Dai," featuring Nigerian Grammy-winning artist Burna Boy, serving as the official anthem of the competition.
The entertainment lineup will also include internationally acclaimed Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel and a New York choir, accompanied by British rock band Coldplay. Coldplay's frontman, Chris Martin, curated the entire halftime production, bringing together artists from different genres and regions for what organisers hope will be a landmark World Cup performance.
Beyond the entertainment, the halftime show will also support a charitable cause, raising funds for an education initiative jointly led by FIFA and the international advocacy organisation Global Citizen.
One question surrounding the event is whether the halftime spectacle will extend beyond football's traditional 15-minute interval. Given the scale of the production and the logistics involved in assembling and dismantling the stage, organisers may require additional time.
A similar situation occurred during last year's FIFA Club World Cup final at the same MetLife Stadium, where the halftime break stretched to more than 24 minutes to accommodate entertainment activities.
With football, music and celebrity culture converging on one stage, Sunday's World Cup final promises to be remembered not only for crowning a world champion but also for delivering one of the most ambitious entertainment productions in the tournament's history.