Tom Cruise, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams, and internet streamer IShowSpeed are set to perform at the FIFA World Cup closing ceremony on July 19th at MetLife Stadium. The ceremony will also feature Jennifer Hudson performing the U.S. national anthem ahead of the final match. The World Cup semifinals are underway, with France and Spain facing off today in Dallas, and England and Argentina playing on Wednesday in Atlanta. France remains the tournament favorite, having secured a convincing win against Morocco in the last round. England has also shown strong momentum, particularly after their eventful victory against Mexico at the Azteca Stadium in the Round of 16.
The World Cup is a global ratings success, with the 2022 final attracting 1.42 billion viewers, dwarfing the average Super Bowl viewership. The U.S. national team's loss to Belgium in the Round of 16 set a new record for the most viewers for a soccer telecast in the U.S., with 33.086 million viewers tuning in. The peak viewership of 41 million from 9:15 pm to 9:30 pm ET was the largest non-NFL audience on any network in a decade. Telemundo has also achieved record Spanish-language ratings this tournament.
In the UK, England's win against Norway in the quarter-finals was the largest audience of the tournament so far, with 16.8 million viewers watching the 2-1 triumph on ITV1. The game, which kicked off at 10 p.m. local time at the Miami Stadium, topped the previous peak of 15 million viewers for England's opening match against Croatia last month.
The World Cup closing ceremony promises to be a spectacle, with a mix of established pop stars and internet personalities. Tom Cruise's special appearance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games closing ceremony, where he abseiled from the roof of the Stade de France, adds an element of surprise and excitement. The inclusion of IShowSpeed, a popular internet streamer, further highlights the tournament's appeal to a diverse and global audience.
As the World Cup progresses, the excitement builds, and the final match is poised to be a ratings blockbuster. The performances at the closing ceremony will undoubtedly add to the festive atmosphere, creating a memorable conclusion to an already historic tournament.
