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ITALY – ITALY STAKES ITS CLAIM AT THE 2026 WORLD CUP WITH THE CLOSING CEREMONY IN NEW YORK PRODUCED BY BALICH WONDER STUDIO. DEBUT OF THE FIRST HALFTIME SHOW IN THE TOURNAMENT’S HISTORY, CREATIVELY DIRECTED BY CHRIS MARTIN
While the Azzurri remained absent from the pitch, Italian talent took center stage in the event industry thanks to the creativity, production capability, and international vision of professionals like Marco Balich.
Italy was not on the field, yet it was still among the major stars of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final. Although the Azzurri missed the tournament, our country left its mark through one of its globally recognized areas of excellence: the event industry.
After producing the three opening ceremonies, Balich Wonder Studio also created the spectacular closing ceremony staged prior to the final on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at the New York New Jersey Stadium, once again confirming Italian leadership in designing and producing major international events.
This achievement extends beyond football and serves as a point of pride for the entire Italian event sector, which is increasingly becoming a lead actor in major global gatherings and a recognized exporter of skills, innovation, and creativity.
A Production Celebrating Football, Music, and Unity
Before kickoff, the stadium transformed into a massive stage where music, sports, technology, and live entertainment combined to create a show designed to celebrate the journey of the first World Cup featuring 48 national teams. The production symbolically narrated the tournament’s path across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, placing fans, host cities, and the universal power of football at its core.
Rather than a traditional protocol ceremony, it was a major entertainment event that confirmed how sports competitions are now immersive experiences in which the creative and spectacular components play a role as strategic as the athletic competition itself.
Leading this organizational machine once again was Marco Balich, author of some of the most prominent international productions of recent decades.
“It is a ceremony about music, sports, energy, and joy. I am interested in celebrating the things that unite us, not differences—that is a mantra for me,” Balich explained to journalists on the sidelines of the event organized by the Consulate General of Italy in New York.
The creative director also highlighted that a World Cup final ceremony has very different characteristics compared to an Olympic one: “It isn’t like an Olympic ceremony, where the narrative has to be highly articulated. Here, it is primarily about entertainment, and FIFA’s desire to involve a vast array of artists pointed directly in that direction.”
These words perfectly summarize the approach taken for a show built to speak to a global audience through universal languages such as music and sports.
The Cast and Key Highlights
The international cast reflected this vision. Taking the stage were Laura Pausini, Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger, Post Malone, and creator IShowSpeed, while a special appearance by Tom Cruise added further spectacle to a production designed to alternate emotion, rhythm, and audience engagement.
For Italy, the most significant moment was undoubtedly Laura Pausini performing alongside Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger to deliver “Desire,” the official anthem of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Her presence further solidified the Italian signature on the show.
Just minutes before the teams entered the pitch, Jennifer Hudson performed the U.S. national anthem, delivering one of the production’s most powerful moments.
The ceremony began ninety minutes prior to kickoff, engaging spectators from the moment the gates opened with fan activations, experiential content, and entertainment—turning the wait for the final into an event within an event.
“Great celebrations do not belong to politics or individual organizations: they belong to the world and to the people. My only fear is when politics tries to hijack these moments, whereas it should simply celebrate them,” Balich commented.
The Historic Debut of the Halftime Show
The final also marked the historic debut of the first-ever halftime show in FIFA World Cup history—a brand-new addition for the competition. The production was supported by the Balich Wonder Studio team and developed creatively by Chris Martin.
Madonna kicked off the show with an energetic rendition of “Music,” followed by a surprise entry from BTS, who performed an engaging rendition of “Dynamite.”
Justin Bieber then slowed the tempo with a more intimate performance before making way for Shakira and Burna Boy, who performed “Dai Dai,” the official 2026 World Cup song.
Closing the spectacle were the PS22 Chorus alongside Coldplay themselves, delivering an emotional finale framed by lighting displays and pyrotechnics.
The entire show lasted approximately eleven minutes, while the total halftime break for the final extended well beyond the traditional fifteen minutes to allow for the setup and dismantling of the stage structure on the field. This choice had sparked debate in the preceding weeks, but FIFA defended it as part of a new vision for the world’s most-watched football event.
Beyond the artistic aspect, the Halftime Show served a charitable purpose. Organized in collaboration with Global Citizen, the event helped promote the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative dedicated to supporting education programs and sports access for millions of children worldwide.
On social media, the show immediately divided opinions. Many praised the production quality and the international scope of the cast, calling it a historic milestone for world football. Others criticized the growing “Americanization” of the World Cup final, arguing that such an extended halftime risks interrupting the match’s momentum and moving the tournament away from its traditions.