Spain and Argentina will face off in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on Sunday, July 19, at 3 p.m. ET at MetLife Stadium in the New York/New Jersey area [1, 2, 3]. The final follows a record tournament featuring 48 teams, an increase from 32, and a total of 100 matches played before the championship game [1]. More than 6.2 million fans attended the tournament in person as of early July 2026 [1].
For the first time in World Cup history, the final will include a full-scale halftime show modeled after the Super Bowl’s famous productions [2, 3]. The halftime show will begin around 3:45 p.m. ET and last approximately 30 minutes, doubling the usual halftime length to accommodate multiple performances [2, 3]. Artists scheduled to perform include Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, BTS, Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, the PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay, and characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets [2, 3]. Coldplay’s Chris Martin curated the show, which is associated with Global Citizen to support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund aimed at raising $100 million to broaden access to education and football opportunities worldwide [2, 3].
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said, "We are proud to have Justin Bieber joining Madonna, Shakira and BTS to co-headline the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Halftime Show in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund and our mission to expand access to quality education and football opportunities for children around the world" [3].
Before the final, the 90-minute closing ceremony will begin at 1:30 p.m. ET, featuring performances by Jennifer Hudson, Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger, Laura Pausini, Tom Cruise, IShowSpeed, and Post Malone [3]. The semifinal losers France and England will play a third-place match on Saturday, July 18, at 5 p.m. ET at Miami Stadium [1].
U.S. viewers can watch the final and halftime show across multiple channels, including ESPN, Fox Sports, Fox Sports 1, Peacock, Telemundo, and via streaming on FIFA+ [1, 3]. Streaming options include FoxOne, YouTube TV sports plan, Fubo, and Hulu live sports with subscriptions ranging from $20 to $90 a month [1].
