Tom Cruise took center stage during the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on Sunday, delivering a message celebrating the sport’s ability to bring people together before the championship match between Argentina and Spain.
“This is football. This is unity. This is greatness,” the Hollywood star said as he addressed the crowd inside MetLife Stadium.
Before kickoff and the national anthems, Cruise praised the global impact of the sport, saying soccer “brings people together” and “turns strangers into fans.”
The pre-match ceremony also featured British singer Robbie Williams, while World Cup champions Mario Kempes of Argentina and Andrés Iniesta of Spain carried the FIFA World Cup trophy onto the field.
Award-winning singer Jennifer Hudson performed a special rendition of the U.S. national anthem before the start of the match, helping set the stage for one of the biggest sporting events in the world.
