Trump, Bieber and Shakira - a World Cup final like never before

ByGary Rose

BBC Sport writer astatine New York New Jersey Stadium

The 2026 World Cup last mightiness not beryllium remembered arsenic a superb shot lucifer but it volition astatine slightest spell down successful past for each that surrounded it.

There was the longest half-time successful history, featuring performances from artists including Madonna and Justin Bieber, a pre-kick-off code from Hollywood A-lister Tom Cruise, an quality by US president Donald Trump and fireworks. Lots of fireworks - each successful wide daylight.

Spain won the trophy for the 2nd time, beating Argentina through a Ferran Torres extremity successful other time but determination was small other to speech astir successful the crippled itself. Plenty happened astir the crippled though, with these immoderate of the astir memorable moments.

This World Cup was co-hosted by the USA, Mexico and Canada but it has been the United States which has garnered overmuch of the attention, peculiarly astir comments oregon actions by Trump.

He antecedently stated that this has been a World Cup similar nary different - and he's surely not incorrect astir that, not slightest with the contention of US striker Folarin Balogun avoiding a prohibition contempt being sent disconnected .

That came aft Trump admitted helium had spoken to Fifa president Gianni Infantino, asking him to reappraisal the sending off. The lifting of the suspension meant Balogun was capable to play for the USA successful the last-16 nonaccomplishment to Belgium.

Perhaps conscionable arsenic astonishing was Trump's deficiency of attendance astatine games passim the tournament. He had not been to a azygous lucifer anterior to the final, meaning each eyes were connected his quality astatine New York New Jersey Stadium connected Sunday.

His accomplishment was disposable to those successful the stadium arsenic helium was successful 1 of 3 helicopters that flew overhead earlier doing a circuit of it and past landing.

He appeared to instrumentality his spot - alongside Infantino - astir 20 minutes earlier kick-off, conscionable successful clip to ticker Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger execute successful the closing ceremony.

He was aboriginal seen successful the archetypal fractional being shown the trophy.

As good arsenic Trump's appearance, the different large talking constituent successful the pb up to the last was the Super Bowl-style half-time show.

While the mid-game interruption is usually for players to retrieve from first-half exertion, coaches to springiness a team-talk and fans to bargain nutrient and drinks, this clip it was extended to let a mini-concert to instrumentality place.

There were immoderate large names featured - Madonna, BTS, Coldplay and Shakira, whose opus 'Dai Dai' is the authoritative anthem of the World Cup - each starred, portion determination was besides an quality by Justin Bieber.

After getting a pep speech from Ted Lasso and his adjunct manager Beard, Bieber changed the gait of the different energetic performances with an acoustic guitar mentation of 'Everything Hallelujah'.

The half-time interval lasted 27 minutes, but did it work? The absorption among fans was a spot mixed - but wrong the Match of the Day studio, the appraisal by erstwhile England striker Wayne Rooney was beauteous blunt.

"I thought it was crap," helium said. "I thought the performances were bad. The timings were bad. Just fto america play football."

Meanwhile, the closing ceremonial earlier the lucifer was akin successful benignant to galore different specified ceremonies with large music, dancing connected the transportation though with the summation excessively of a somewhat melodramatic code by histrion Cruise.

For neutrals, 1 of the most-anticipated post-match moments centred astir however disposable a portion Trump would play successful the trophy presentation.

At the extremity of past year's Club World Cup final, Trump got caught up with the Chelsea celebrations aft presenting the trophy to skipper Reece James.

On that occasion, having handed the main prize over, helium remained connected the signifier for a fewer seconds alongside James and goalkeeper Robert Sanchez earlier yet departing to the rear.

"They told maine that helium was going to contiguous the trophy and past exit the stage... but helium wanted to stay," said James, who was portion of England's squad for this year's World Cup.

At the extremity of Sunday's World Cup final, Trump - who had joined Infantino successful handing retired the medals to some the winning and losing players - did linger again for the trophy presentation, though not for rather arsenic agelong arsenic helium did for the Club World Cup.

There had besides been boos erstwhile Trump and Infantino emerged for the trophy ceremonial portion astatine slightest 1 subordinate besides appeared to take not to shingle Trump's hand, with Argentina defender Cristian Romero walking consecutive past him aft receiving his medal from Infantino.

This was surely a glamorous World Cup last and determination was nary shortage of fireworks - they went disconnected earlier kick-off, during the half-time amusement and aft Spain's trophy lift.

But the hours beforehand volition person felt thing but glamorous arsenic heightened information meant those getting into the crushed faced agelong queues.

With Trump attending successful person, the United States concealed work took implicit information for the game.

Gates for spectators opened astatine 11:00 section clip - 4 hours earlier kick-off but stadium staff, performers and media had been arriving since overmuch earlier.

Confusion implicit entree gates had led to immoderate members of the media being told to spell to 1 entrance, lone to beryllium told they had to spell backmost and commencement again astatine the queue they had been successful previously.

Bag checks were besides much thorough than successful erstwhile games, contributing to the magnitude of clip radical waited to get in.

Despite that, congestion was yet eased and the crippled kicked disconnected without immoderate delays.