Streamer IShowSpeed kicked off the World Cup closing ceremony in a blaze of colour, joining drummers and dancers in vibrant tracksuits on the field at the New York New Jersey Stadium.
The halftime show, curated by Coldplay's Chris Martin, was part of a larger closing ceremony that included a range of performances. These included Jennifer Hudson singing the US national anthem, accompanied by a live band, and a speech from actor Tom Cruise, who said, "From every corner of the globe, we have witnessed greatness, and we have shared in moments of joy." He also added, "Football is a language spoken without words, a force that unites people."
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The halftime show itself featured performances by Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira, Burna Boy, BTS, and Chris Martin. Madonna appeared to seem from tunnels under the arena, singing her hit song Music. The event will raise money for the Fifa Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative working to raise $100m (£73m) for children worldwide.
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BTS, who have been making their comeback from a three-year music hiatus to complete their mandatory military service in South Korea, were also part of the halftime show. The band is currently in the midst of an 85-date world tour. Their collaboration, Dai Dai, has been a global chart hit and has been a fixture in stadiums throughout the tournament.
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Colombian pop star Shakira and Nigerian musician Burna Boy reunited on stage after performing together at the tournament's opening ceremony in Mexico City last month. Italian singer Laura Pausini also performed, telling the BBC's Carl Nasman that she's "very excited" and "proud" to be performing alongside Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger at the closing ceremony.
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"When Robbie [Williams] invited me to sing with him, I felt goosebumps everywhere because Robbie's one of my favorite singer, songwriter, and performer," Pausini told the BBC. Post Malone also performed his hit song Wow, as part of the larger closing ceremony.
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The halftime show was a fitting conclusion to the 2026 World Cup, which has been marked by a range of high-profile performances and collaborations. The tournament has brought together fans from around the world, and the closing ceremony was a testament to the power of football to unite people.
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The closing ceremony will continue with further performances and a final speech from Tom Cruise.
Source: BBC