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Tom Cruise to appear in FIFA World Cup closing ceremony pre-match show, alongside Robbie Williams and Jennifer Hudson
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

Culture/The Apex Times/Jul 14, 2:19 PM EDT

Tom Cruise to appear in FIFA World Cup closing ceremony pre-match show, alongside Robbie Williams and Jennifer Hudson

FIFA says the Mission: Impossible actor will take part in a talent-led event set to begin about 90 minutes before the World Cup final, with additional performers including Robbie Williams and Jennifer Hudson.

2 min readEditor-approved Apex article

FIFA announced on Tuesday that actor Tom Cruise is among the performers scheduled for the World Cup closing ceremony, a pre-match show planned for the period immediately before the final. The event is set to take place roughly 90 minutes before Sunday’s championship match, according to FIFA’s published lineup.

The list FIFA released includes performers spanning film, pop music, and entertainment media. In addition to Cruise, FIFA said British singer-songwriter Robbie Williams and Academy Award-winning singer-actress Jennifer Hudson are slated to appear during the closing ceremony program.

FIFA also said the pre-game show will feature IShowSpeed, a streamer with a large online following, reflecting a broader shift in major sports events to blend traditional broadcast entertainment with internet-native talent. The ceremony is designed, FIFA said, to celebrate the World Cup’s wider cultural footprint as it concludes the tournament.

The announcement did not provide further details on which specific segments Cruise, Williams, Hudson, or IShowSpeed will perform, nor did it outline the choreography, song selection, or whether Cruise’s appearance will be filmed or live in the stadium. FIFA also did not disclose production costs, rehearsal schedules, or timing breakdown beyond the show’s start window.

FIFA’s timing places the closing ceremony program in the lead-up to the final kickoff, a point when stadium crowds and global television audiences are at their largest. By scheduling the talent portion before the championship match, FIFA is effectively treating the closing ceremony as a complement to the match broadcast, rather than a standalone event later the same day.

The lineup announcement comes as FIFA continues to manage expectations that the final will include high-profile public entertainment alongside sporting competition. For performers, the placement of major entertainment acts in the match-day program also raises operational questions for ticketing, crowd flow, and stadium security, though FIFA’s announcement did not address those specifics in Tuesday’s release.

Because the event is being organized by FIFA, changes to individual appearances can still occur up to match day, but FIFA’s published lineup provides the clearest official timetable so far for the closing ceremony show’s star-studded lineup. FIFA did not, in the Tuesday announcement, indicate any contingency plan if a performer is unable to appear.

Why It Matters

  • The closing ceremony timing means the talent segments will be integrated into the World Cup final’s match-day broadcast window for stadium attendees and television audiences.
  • High-profile performers such as Cruise, Williams, and Hudson add entertainment demand and operational considerations for FIFA and host venues on a day dominated by the championship match.
  • Including a top-tier internet streamer alongside mainstream music and film talent reflects FIFA’s approach to reaching younger and digitally engaged audiences at the tournament’s conclusion.
  • The event’s official lineup, and the lack of additional segment details, leaves questions about the precise form of appearances for each performer until closer to match day.

Sources

Key Facts

  • FIFA said Tom Cruise is scheduled to take part in the World Cup closing ceremony pre-match show.
  • FIFA’s announcement places the show about 90 minutes before Sunday’s World Cup final.
  • Robbie Williams and Jennifer Hudson are also listed among the performers for the closing ceremony event.
  • FIFA said streamer IShowSpeed will be part of the closing ceremony program.
  • FIFA did not provide details beyond the lineup and the show’s timing in Tuesday’s announcement.