Post Malone kicked off the 2026 FIFA World Cup final with a hit-filled closing ceremony performance that included the live debut of a new song.
Dressed in his signature denim look and cowboy hat, the 31-year-old superstar took the stage at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., ahead of Sunday’s (July 19) championship match between Argentina and Spain.
Malone opened his three-song set with an unreleased track titled “Chrome Heartbreaker” before launching into his Hot 100 No. 2 hit “Wow.,” which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Standing atop a massive yellow stage as fireworks erupted around the stadium, Malone — wearing a white shirt that read “I Just Hope Both Teams Have Fun” — then welcomed Swae Lee for a performance of their Billboard Hot 100-topping hit “Sunflower,” from the 2018 animated blockbuster Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
Before Malone took the field, streamer IShowSpeed energized the crowd with a performance of his aptly titled song “Champions,” accompanied by drummers and dancers wearing colorful tracksuits.
The World Cup festivities were set to continue with an 11-minute halftime show headlined by BTS, Justin Bieber, Madonna and Shakira. The star-studded performance was curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.
Ahead of the final, FIFA teased Malone’s appearance in a press release, calling it a “landmark performance” that would set the stage for the championship match.
“At a time when sport, culture and global attention converge, Post Malone will deliver a performance designed to celebrate the tournament’s journey and ignite the atmosphere before the world’s attention turns to the two finalists,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in a statement. “We are thrilled to have so many stars taking to the pitch, from both the football and entertainment worlds. The closing ceremony will set the tone for a historic FIFA World Cup final, uniting the passion of 48 teams, 16 host cities and millions of fans on one unforgettable stage.”
Jennifer Hudson was also set to perform the national anthem before kickoff, while Nicole Scherzinger, Laura Pausini and Robbie Williams were scheduled to appear during the closing ceremony.
Actor Tom Cruise was also announced as part of the festivities, which began at 1:30 p.m. ET, about 90 minutes before kickoff.
