FIFA 2026 World Cup Closing Ceremony Draws Anthem Protest

The FIFA World Cup 2026 final will be preceded by a star-studded closing ceremony this Sunday, July 19, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, an event that has drawn both excitement and controversy. The ceremony, set to begin before the 8 p.m. local time kickoff, will feature performances by Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams, and IShowSpeed, with a special appearance by Hollywood actor Tom Cruise. However, FIFA's announcement that Jennifer Hudson will perform the United States national anthem ahead of the match has sparked significant backlash from fans online.

Spain secured its place in the final with a 2-0 victory over France in the first semifinal. Their opponent will be determined on Wednesday, July 15, when Argentina faces England in the second semifinal in Atlanta. The final will conclude the unprecedented 48-team tournament, which was hosted across 16 cities in the United States, Mexico, and Canada over the past five weeks.

The planned anthem performance has become a focal point of criticism. Many fans on social media have expressed outrage, arguing that playing the host nation's anthem before the final is a departure from tradition, where typically only the...