The 2026 World Cup final might not be remembered as a superb football match, but it will go down in history for everything that surrounded it.
Spain won the trophy for the second time, beating Argentina with a Ferran Torres goal in extra time. But the real story was off the pitch: the longest half-time in history, performances from Madonna, Shakira, and Justin Bieber, a pre-kick-off speech from Tom Cruise, an appearance by US President Donald Trump, and fireworks — lots of fireworks, all in broad daylight.
Trump’s Arrival and Trophy Moment
Trump had not attended a single match prior to the final. His arrival at New York New Jersey Stadium was hard to miss — he was in one of three helicopters that flew overhead before doing a circuit and landing.
He took his seat alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino about 20 minutes before kick-off, just in time to watch Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger perform.
During the first half, Trump was shown the World Cup trophy. After the match, he joined Infantino in handing out medals to both teams and lingered for the trophy presentation — though not as long as he did at last year’s Club World Cup final.
There were boos when Trump and Infantino emerged for the ceremony, and Argentina defender Cristian Romero appeared to walk straight past Trump after receiving his medal.
The Longest Half-Time in History
The mid-game break was extended to 27 minutes to allow a Super Bowl-style concert featuring Madonna, BTS, Coldplay, and Shakira, who performed the official World Cup anthem ‘Dai Dai.’ Justin Bieber also appeared, delivering an acoustic version of ‘Everything Hallelujah’ after getting a pep talk from Ted Lasso and Coach Beard.
The reaction was mixed. Former England striker Wayne Rooney, analysing for Match of the Day, was blunt: “I thought it was crap. The performances were bad. The timings were bad. Just let us play football.”
Security and Delays
With Trump attending, the US Secret Service took over security, leading to long queues. Gates opened four hours before kick-off, but confusion over access points caused delays. Bag checks were more thorough than in previous games.
Despite the congestion, the game kicked off without delays.
The Bottom Line
The 2026 World Cup final was as much about spectacle as sport. Trump’s appearance, a 27-minute half-time show featuring Bieber and Shakira, and a controversial trophy presentation overshadowed Spain’s 1-0 extra-time win over Argentina. The match itself may not be remembered — but the circus around it certainly will be.
