Shakira, Madonna lead A-list stars at World Cup final

The World Cup tournament was bigger than ever before this year, and so is the list of stars expected at MetLife Stadium for Sunday's final, from Tom Cruise in the closing ceremony to Shakira and Madonna on the halftime stage.

After five weeks of more than 100 matches in three countries, Spain and Argentina will vie for the title, but before the 80,000 fans on hand and billions of viewers at home find out who the victor will be, the venue will glisten with celebrities.

And US President Donald Trump, the reality show star-turned-world leader, will be in attendance as it all unfolds.

At 1:30 pm (1730 GMT), Cruise is expected for the pre-game closing ceremony, along with British pop star Robbie Williams, Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, who will sing the US national anthem.

Madonna (centre) performs in concert with dancers during her ‘Rebel Heart Tour’ in Mexico City. File/Associated Press

After Cruise's show-stopping stunt at the Olympic closing ceremony at the Stade de France in 2024, when he abseiled from the roof to the stadium floor, pundits are hoping he spreads a bit more Hollywood stardust with his "special appearance."

American rapper-singer Post Malone and streamer IShowSpeed will also be there.

High-wattage halftime

But the 11-minute halftime show -- the first in World Cup history -- will be the main entertainment event. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said it will be the "biggest in the world."

Madonna, who just dropped a new album at 67, will share the stage with Justin Bieber, K-pop megagroup BTS and Shakira, whose song "Dai Dai" with Burna Boy is the official song of the tournament.

Other performers include Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel and a New York chorus accompanied by Coldplay, whose frontman Chris Martin curated the entire show.

The halftime event will raise money for an education initiative led by FIFA and the non-governmental organization Global Citizen.

Will the show run over the usual 15-minute halftime match break? Setting up and tearing down the stage could indeed send it into overtime.

During last year's Club World Cup final, held at the same stadium in the New York suburbs, the break lasted more than 24 minutes.

Agence France-Presse