Tom Cruise and half of Hollywood light up World Cup final
Tom Cruise and half of Hollywood turned Sunday's 2026 FIFA World Cup final into a star-packed TV event. Cruise opened Spain vs. Argentina at MetLife Stadium with a unity speech, then a Coldplay-curated halftime show featuring BTS, Justin Bieber, Madonna and Shakira lit up the scoreless half as ratings soared worldwide.
Key Takeaways
- Tom Cruise opened the Spain-Argentina final at MetLife Stadium after promoting his fall film Digger during the tournament.
- Chris Martin curated the World Cup's first official halftime show, co-headlined by BTS, Justin Bieber, Madonna and Shakira.
- Jason Sudeikis appeared as Ted Lasso to introduce Bieber while the match sat scoreless at the half.
- A long list of A-listers filled the New Jersey stands as the tournament smashed global ratings records.
What did Tom Cruise do at the 2026 World Cup final?
According to Variety, Cruise hung out with Sesame Street's Elmo and Cookie Monster before kickoff, then delivered the final's opening address.
He told the crowd: "So, as we gather for one final chapter, let us celebrate a tournament that brought the world together. Let us celebrate each other. This is football. This is unity. This is greatness." FOX carried the moment live.
The Mission: Impossible star has been pushing Oscar-courting fall movie Digger, including special TV spots during World Cup matches, so the final appearance also doubled as a massive crossover audience grab.
Who else from Hollywood showed up in New Jersey?
Spain faced defending champions Argentina at MetLife Stadium, temporarily branded the New York New Jersey Stadium for the tournament. The guest list stretched well beyond Cruise.
Variety reported attendees including President Donald Trump, Matt Damon and his wife, Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner, Mick Jagger, Justin Bieber, Will Ferrell, Victor Wembanyama, Post Malone, Pharrell Williams, Trevor Noah, Anya Taylor-Joy in an Argentina jersey, and Adrien Brody.
That mix of film, music and sports stars helped explain why the final felt like the hottest ticket since Game 4 of the NBA Finals, and why viewers hunting livestream alerts keep checking BlasterPost Streaming & TV Alerts.
Why did the World Cup final halftime show matter so much?
Coldplay's Chris Martin curated the competition's first-ever official halftime show. With the match still scoreless, BTS, Justin Bieber, Madonna and Shakira co-headlined a medley built for both the American host market and a global TV audience.
Jason Sudeikis then popped out in Ted Lasso mode to introduce Bieber, urging him to "make us proud" in front of a "BELIEBE" sign, as FOX Sports captured Ted Lasso and Coach Beard joining the moment.
Variety tied the buzz to a tournament already powered by Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar in possible farewell World Cups, plus younger draws like Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Lamine Yamal. Star power on the pitch met star power in the stands, and U.S. and worldwide ratings records followed.
How does this change the streaming and TV conversation?
Big-event sports are no longer just about the ninety minutes. Cruise's opener, the Hollywood turnout and the first official World Cup halftime package turned Sunday's final into appointment television on FOX and around the world.
For fans tracking where the next must-see sports spectacle lands online, the takeaway is simple: celebrity crossover is now part of the World Cup product, and the 2026 final proved how loudly tom cruise and half the industry can still move a global audience.