Filipino American singer Nicole Scherzinger will join a slate of global entertainers at the FIFA World Cup 2026 closing ceremony ahead of the tournament’s final at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, July 19.
The show is scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. local time, about 90 minutes before kickoff, and will cap the first 48-team World Cup hosted across Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and raised partly in Louisville, Kentucky, Scherzinger is of Filipino, Native Hawaiian, Ukrainian and Polish descent and has often acknowledged her Filipino roots through her work and public appearances.
She rose to worldwide prominence as the lead vocalist of The Pussycat Dolls, one of the best-selling girl groups of the 2000s, and has since built a career as a solo artist, television personality and stage performer in productions including London’s West End.
FIFA said the closing ceremony lineup will also feature Laura Pausini, Robbie Williams and creator IShowSpeed, with a special appearance by actor Tom Cruise and additional artists to be announced in the days leading up to the match.
Jennifer Hudson, the Emmy-, Grammy-, Oscar- and Tony-winning performer, has been tapped to deliver the United States national anthem before the final.
The ceremony is being produced in creative partnership with Balich Wonder Studio and is designed to reflect the “passion, emotion and global spirit” of the expanded, 23rd edition of the World Cup, which FIFA has described as a record-setting, game-changing event inspiring new generations of players and fans.
“Echoing the spirit of the opening ceremonies, which welcomed the world to the greatest stage in Canada, Mexico and the United States, the closing ceremony will bring the FIFA World Cup 2026 full circle through music, culture and football, before we kick off the highly anticipated match that will crown the champions of this groundbreaking tournament,” said Heimo Schirgi, chief operating officer for FIFA World Cup 2026.
Fans with tickets to the final are encouraged to arrive early. Gates at New York New Jersey Stadium will open at 11 a.m., with fan activations, rewards and other pre-match entertainment scheduled ahead of the ceremony and championship game.
