Final preparations are under way for a star-studded closing ceremony that will be staged before Argentina and Spain compete for the 2026 FIFA World Cup title on Sunday.

Post Malone will headline the show, with Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams and online personality IShowSpeed also included in the performance lineup. The artists have been rehearsing at the final venue as organizers complete the production before international sports biggest spectacle which is expected to attract a viewership of more than one billion people across the length and breadth of the planet. 

Actor Tom Cruise is scheduled to make a special appearance. The Hollywood star attended matches earlier in the tournament and previously took part in a stunt at the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics in 2024.

Jennifer Hudson will perform the United States national anthem before kickoff. The closing ceremony is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. local time, 90 minutes before the final starts. 

FIFA said the production will recognize the journey of the 48 participating teams across 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Spectators have been encouraged to arrive early, with supporters inside the venue expected to play an active role in the show.

The ceremony is being produced with Balich Wonder Studio under Marco Balich, who also worked on the opening and closing ceremonies at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. There is also set to be a "superbowl" like half-time show featuring performances from Shakira, Madonna and boy-band BTS. While the show is set to be at least 11 minutes, it will extend the half-time break to at least 20-25 minutes which has attracted criticism from some fans as such breaks usually do not exceed 15 minutes. Critics have argued that the show which will be the first of its kind at a World Cup final negatively impacts upon the values of the game. 

Argentina will attempt to retain the trophy they won in 2022, while Spain is seeking another world title after lifting the trophy for the first time in 2010.