Celebrity World Cup Watch
Hollywood Stars and Celebrities Watch World Cup Final Live from New York's MetLife Stadium
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The 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain drew a star-studded crowd to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Sunday, July 19. Actors, singers, and athletes packed the stands to watch one of the biggest sporting events in history, according to El País.
Kick-off was delayed by six minutes. A closing ceremony featuring live performances and an unexpected speech held things up before the match could begin, The Independent reported.
Tom Cruise Steals the Show Before Kick-Off
Tom Cruise delivered what many called a bizarre pre-game speech during the closing ceremony. The Hollywood star addressed the crowd at MetLife Stadium before the match between Argentina and Spain. His appearance was unscripted in tone and caught many viewers off guard, according to Yahoo Sports.
British pop legend Robbie Williams also performed at the ceremony. His set, combined with Cruise's speech, pushed the start of the most-watched sporting fixture in the world back by six full minutes, The Independent reported.
Timothée Chalamet, Kylie Jenner, and Bardem Fill the Stands
The celebrity turnout rivaled any red carpet event. Actor Timothée Chalamet and reality star Kylie Jenner were both spotted in the stands. Spanish actor Javier Bardem also attended, giving the crowd a connection to one of the two nations competing on the pitch, according to El País.
Tom Cruise was not just in the pre-game show — he also watched the match from the stadium. The mix of Hollywood, music, and sports royalty made MetLife one of the most glamorous venues in recent World Cup history, El País noted.
New York Hosts the Biggest Match of the Tournament
MetLife Stadium, home to the NFL's Giants and Jets, served as the host venue for the final. It sits in East Rutherford, New Jersey, just outside New York City. The stadium held tens of thousands of fans for the Argentina vs. Spain showdown, one of the most anticipated finals in World Cup history.
The 2026 World Cup was co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico — the first edition ever to span three countries. New York was chosen as the host city for the final, cementing the region's place at the center of global football, according to EFE via Yahoo Noticias.
Ceremony Sets the Stage for a Historic Final
The closing ceremony mixed music and spectacle before the match. Robbie Williams performed for the global audience. His set was part of a broader show designed to mark the end of a tournament that spanned three nations and dozens of cities, The Independent reported.
Despite the six-minute delay, the pageantry drew praise for its scale. The final between Argentina — the defending World Cup champion — and Spain set up a clash between two of football's most storied nations. Billions of viewers worldwide tuned in to watch, making it the most-watched sporting fixture on the planet, according to Yahoo Sports.
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