19.07.2026 14:20
The 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain is drawing attention for off-field details as well. FIFA will give a special ring to the champion team, and a Super Bowl-style show featuring Madonna, Shakira, and BTS will take place during halftime. U.S. President Donald Trump will also watch the final from the stands. Ticket prices have reached up to $2 million in resale.
In the 2026 FIFA World Cup final to be played at New Jersey Stadium in the USA, Argentina and Spain will face off. The match, starting at 22:00 TRT, will be broadcast live on TRT channels. The closing ceremony before the final will take place at 20:30 TRT.
WORLD CUP CHAMPIONSHIP RINGS
FIFA is bringing the tradition of championship rings, a staple in American sports, to the World Cup. Players of the winning team will be presented with special rings inspired by those given to Super Bowl champions.
A total of 30 rings have been produced for the world champion team. Each ring design features a small World Cup figure, while a special inscription will be engraved on the inside. FIFA will also offer 1,996 commemorative rings for sale to fans.
HALFTIME WILL TURN INTO A SUPER BOWL SHOW
One of the most notable innovations of the final match will be the halftime show. Normally, according to football rules, halftime does not exceed 15 minutes, but it is expected to last 20 to 25 minutes in this final.
The halftime is planned to be extended due to an approximately 11-minute show led by Madonna, Shakira, and South Korean music group BTS.
In the FIFA Club World Cup final held in New Jersey last year, the halftime lasted a total of 24 minutes due to a show featuring Coldplay, J Balvin, Doja Cat, Tems, and Emmanuel Kelly.
In Sunday's show, in addition to Madonna, Shakira, and BTS, Justin Bieber, Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, and the PS22 Chorus prepared by Coldplay will also perform. The artist lineup for the show was created by Coldplay's lead singer Chris Martin.
STARS GALORE AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY
Tom Cruise, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams, and IShowSpeed are expected to perform at the closing ceremony before the final. The US national anthem will be sung by Jennifer Hudson.
AIR QUALITY WARNING ISSUED
Due to air pollution caused by forest fires in Canada, an air quality warning has been issued in New York. However, there is no indication that the final at MetLife Stadium will be affected by this situation.
TRUMP WILL ALSO WATCH THE FINAL FROM THE STANDS
The White House has confirmed that US President Donald Trump will watch the World Cup final from the stands. Trump is expected to present the trophy to the champion team.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino had previously announced that Trump would attend the final, and White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed this information.
Trump did not watch any of the 102 matches played in the tournament from the stands. He also did not attend the matches of the US National Team, including the match where they were eliminated by Belgium in the Round of 16.
The US President, during his two terms in office, has watched major sports events such as the Super Bowl, the US Open Tennis Tournament, the NBA Finals, and the Ryder Cup from the stands, and has also hosted a UFC event at the White House.
TRUMP-INFANTINO RELATIONSHIP SPARKS CONTROVERSY
The close relationship between Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino has become one of the most talked-about topics of the tournament.
It has been alleged that the US President spoke with Infantino to reconsider the red card penalty of US National Team player Folarin Balogun.
The subsequent suspension of Balogun's automatic ban drew intense criticism, sparking debates about the tournament's impartiality and credibility.
The US bid farewell to the tournament in the Round of 16, losing 4-1 to Belgium in the match where Balogun played.
Despite similar applications from France and England, no other red or yellow card penalties were suspended during the tournament.
FINAL TICKETS REACH RECORD PRICES
World Cup final tickets have not yet completely sold out. On FIFA's official sales platform, 32 standard tickets in the most expensive category are available for purchase.
The prices of non-VIP tickets range from $29,995 to $32,970.
On FIFA's official resale platform, more than a thousand final tickets are listed. Tickets with an initial sale price of $7,380 incur an additional $1,107 due to a 15% transaction fee.
The most expensive final ticket on the resale platform is listed at $2 million, and those wishing to purchase it must also pay a $300,000 transaction fee. FIFA states that prices on the resale platform are set by users and may not directly reflect the actual sale prices.