The White House press pool has made its way to the stadium, resulting in the temporary closure of all ramps and staircases on the north side. This indicates that the president is likely nearby.
Will Trump face boos today?
Arguments in favor: his policies on Iran, immigration, and economic issues, among others, have drawn criticism. Additionally, football fans often boo prominent figures.
Arguments against: ticket holders may choose to avoid creating a scene, having invested significantly in their seats.
Trump’s history at sports events shows he has faced boos before, but today remains uncertain.
In an interesting turn, streamer IShowSpeed, likely more recognized than many of the World Cup’s participants, is also set to perform. It seems he may not even be watching the match while on stage.
Post Malone has arrived for the closing ceremony, currently in progress, joined by Swae Lee for a performance of their hit song, “It’s Lio [Messi]’s last one. We wanted to come and cheer him and the rest of the squad on – to support them from here. We’ll watch the game on our phones if we have to,”
Just a quick reminder: the halftime show is expected to last between 25 and 30 minutes, with about 11 minutes dedicated to the actual performance. The remaining time will be spent setting up and dismantling the stage. Concerns have been raised that this downtime could increase the risk of injuries as players cool down. However, fans will be treated to a brief performance by Justin Bieber.
The lineup of artists includes:
- Shakira
- Burna Boy
- BTS
- Madonna
- Kermit and Miss Piggy
- Conductor Gustavo Dudamel with musicians from the New York Philharmonic and the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela
- Dance troupe Ghetto Kids
- Emmanuel Kelly
- PS 22 Chorus (local school children)
Facundo Iglesia is on the ground in Buenos Aires, soaking in the atmosphere among Argentina’s supporters:
Argentinians are showcasing their usual intensity and superstitions as they prepare for the World Cup final. On the eve of the match, thousands, mainly parents and children, gathered in Buenos Aires’ Parque Rivadavia to trade or purchase Panini stickers, racing to complete their collections. Many have placed stickers of Spanish players in freezers, a quirky superstition believed to cast a curse on the opposing team.
On the day of the final, despite a steady drizzle, hundreds are gathered at the Obelisco, the designated celebration spot for the national team, regardless of the outcome. The streets leading to the monument are bustling with fans and vendors selling flags, face paint, and plastic ponchos.
María de las Nieves López, a Paraguayan pizzeria owner who traveled from Ezeiza, about 35 kilometers from the capital, remains undeterred by the rain or the absence of a screen near the monument.
“had watched all the games.”
she expressed. López, a resident of Argentina for 25 years, brought along a 20-year-old doll, which she believes brings “Well, we’ve been winning so far,” as it has “I promised her that, if Argentina wins the final, I’ll buy her a new dress.”
“fan-centric pre-match ceremony” she remarked. “an immersive, 360-degree concept that transforms the stadium into a shared stage. No matter where supporters are seated, each will have a distinct and engaging perspective, with extra-large country flag banners and on-pitch elements carefully positioned to involve the crowd in an authentic and meaningful way.”
The closing ceremony is expected to start soon, although it was originally scheduled to begin 90 minutes prior to kickoff. Delays are common when Trump is in attendance due to security procedures. It remains uncertain whether the kickoff will be affected, but adjustments to the ceremony could expedite the process.
Alexander Abnos is present at the stadium and has provided some team updates:
Spain has just entered the stadium and is currently milling about the center of the field. A group of FIFA volunteers are seen holding what appears to be a large tarp, likely crucial for the closing ceremony. The Spain team may need to relocate shortly.
And here comes the tarp! It features a somewhat gaudy blend of several New York City landmarks. Clockwise from the bottom left on screens: the new Calatrava train hub at the World Trade Center, 1 World Trade, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Empire State Building, The Vessel, an unrecognized structure, the Guggenheim, the Chrysler Building, the Statue of Liberty, 30 Rock, the Washington Square Arch, and the Flatiron Building.
FIFA has announced that today will include a “the youth programme and players’ tunnel will feature both traditional and new integrations of FIFA’s Commercial Partners, thanks to the involvement of adidas, Coca-Cola, Kia, Mengniu, Qatar Airways and Quaker.” which promises to transform the stadium into an immersive experience for supporters. No matter their seating, fans will have a unique perspective, enhanced by large country flag banners and various on-pitch elements designed to engage the crowd meaningfully.
Additionally, FIFA plans to incorporate both traditional and novel presentations from its commercial partners, including adidas, Coca-Cola, Kia, Mengniu, Qatar Airways, and Quaker. Initially misread as “additional elements such as coloured smoke or pyrotechnics.” the expectation was for a silent prayer meeting, which would have been an interesting touch.
The pre-match event will also feature “additional elements such as colored smoke or pyrotechnics.” The choice between smoke or pyrotechnics raises eyebrows—tickets costing $5,000 should ideally include both. Fans are hoping for an exciting match to justify the expense.
Kevin Hart is legally required to attend any event in the United States drawing a crowd exceeding 598 individuals, hence his presence at today’s final.
Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan reported that the World Cup has generated approximately $20 billion in economic activity within the U.S., an amount roughly equal to the cost of three tickets to today’s final. It’s worth mentioning that the economic figures linked to sporting events are often questionable at best.
Welcome to our live blog covering everything aside from the football at the World Cup final, which has gained relevance now that FIFA aims to emulate the Super Bowl experience (allegedly one of 104 Super Bowls at this tournament!).
What do Gianni and the organizers have planned for today? Expect:
1) The widely popular and articulate President Donald Trump making his appearance, likely to be met with boos from ticket holders who have paid to express their discontent.
2) A halftime show featuring performances by BTS, Shakira, Madonna, Burna Boy, and Justin Bieber, overseen by the ever-charismatic Chris Martin.
3) A closing ceremony that was set to begin 90 minutes before kickoff, featuring streamer IShowSpeed and various stars who were last trendy at least 25 years ago, including Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams, and Tom Cruise. There’s a strong possibility that Cruise will leap from a high place (perhaps from Gianni’s forehead?).
- World Cup 2026
- World Cup
- Shakira
- Madonna
- BTS
- FIFA
- Donald Trump
