The best parts of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final (that had nothing to do with the match)

The best parts of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final (that had nothing to do with the match)

MetLife’s stands were studded with stars on Sunday, among them Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner, Matt Damon, Mick Jagger, the Beckhams, Will Ferrell, Zinedine Zidane, Lamine Yamal’s adorable little brother, Trevor Noah, Adrien Brody and Serena Williams.

Photo: Getty Images

Others showed up on the field before the match began. There were Hoyeon and Carlos Alacaraz, who walked out to reveal the World Cup trophy, housed within a custom Louis Vuitton trunk; and then Tom Cruise, who gave a little speech on the pitch. (”Today, only two teams remain: España v. Argentina!”)

The halftime show

Photo: Getty Images

A lot went on during the World Cup’s first-ever halftime show. After an opener from Madonna, performing ‘Music’ flanked by Brazilian soccer legends Ronaldinho Gaúcho and Ronaldo, came—deep breath—Gustavo Dudamel in a custom jersey; violinists miming the ‘Viking Row’; Muppets; a performance of ‘Dynamite’ by BTS; Jason Sudeikis, as Ted Lasso, introducing Justin Bieber, who sang ‘Everything Hallelujah’; Shakira and Burna Boy doing ‘Dai Dai’ amid a sea of child dancers (Uganda’s ‘Ghetto Kids’); and then a performance by Staten Island’s PS22 Chorus, with an assist from Chris Martin, as the entire field was covered in the word ‘LOVE’ (the O was a globe). Is that clear?

This article first appeared on Vogue.com

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