Robbie Williams is heading for one of football’s biggest stages.
The British pop star is reportedly set to perform at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, adding another major entertainment name to an event that is already being shaped as a Super Bowl-style spectacle.
The final will be played on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium, the tournament name for MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Williams set for final appearance
According to The Sun, Williams has been booked to perform on the pitch before the World Cup final.
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The 52-year-old former Take That singer is expected to perform “Desire” with Italian singer Laura Pausini, also 52.
The song has already been linked to FIFA’s recent football events, with Williams having performed it before the FIFA Club World Cup final in 2025.
A source close to Williams told The Sun: “Robbie loves football and is excited to play at this momentous gig.”
The source added: “Of course, he hopes England will be one of the teams in the final.”
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Halftime show has bigger names
Williams’ appearance is separate from the official World Cup final halftime show.
According to FIFA, Madonna, Shakira and BTS will co-headline the historic halftime performance, which will be curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.
It will be the first halftime show of its kind at a World Cup final and marks a clear move by FIFA towards the kind of entertainment model long associated with the Super Bowl.
The show is expected to be watched by a global audience, with FIFA presenting it as a major cultural moment as well as a sporting one.
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A final built for a global audience
The 2026 World Cup is being staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico, making it the largest edition of the tournament so far.
The final in New Jersey will close a month-long event spread across 16 host cities. That scale has given FIFA more space to build the tournament around entertainment as well as football.
Opening events have already featured several international artists, and the final is now set to bring together some of the biggest names in pop music.
For Williams, the performance continues his long public connection with football. He is a well-known supporter of the sport and has often tied his music career to major football moments.
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Football meets showbusiness
The plan has not pleased everyone.
Some traditional football voices have questioned whether a major halftime performance belongs in a World Cup final, where the match itself has usually been treated as the only show that matters.
But FIFA is clearly moving in a different direction. With the final being staged in the United States, the tournament is leaning into a more entertainment-driven presentation.
Williams’ role adds another recognisable name to that picture, even if he is not the headline act of the official halftime show.
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For FIFA, the ambition is obvious. The 2026 final is not only being sold as the biggest match in football, but as one of the biggest live entertainment events of the year.
