Topics include pre-match ceremonies, live performances, the tournament’s first-ever halftime show
The stage is set: three-time champions Argentina will defend their World Cup title against a red-hot La Roja of Spain on Sunday, July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. This match will be the lasting legacy of FIFA World Cup 2026, but over the past 39 days, fans have experienced an exciting atmosphere within all 16 venues. From live performances at the opening match of each host nation and a re-imagined player introduction with gigantic flags and pyro to honoring fan traditions of each participating country and creating new ones, the festivities will conclude with the first halftime performance in World Cup Final history featuring Justin Bieber, BTS, Madonna, and Shakira.
Prior to the finale, FIFA’s Head of Event Production and Stadium Entertainment Lance Brass describes the processes that went into preparing for the sport’s biggest competition, the creative and logistical challenges of powering 16 venues across three countries, how they infused local flavor of each host city into their productions, how music played a huge role inside the venue, and more.
