Sixteen years after lifting the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, La Roja are back on top of world football. Spain defeated defending champions Argentina 1-0 after extra time, with Ferran Torres’ decisive strike in the 106th minute sealing a second World Cup title and writing another chapter in the nation’s footballing history.
But while the football delivered the drama, everything around it signalled the beginning of a new era.
For the first time in FIFA World Cup history, the final featured a Super Bowl-style halftime show, turning football’s biggest stage into a celebration of sport, music and pop culture. Curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin in partnership with Global Citizen, the 11-minute performance reimagined what the World Cup final could look and feel like.
Madonna headlined the historic halftime show alongside Brazilian football icons Ronaldo and Ronaldinho before performances from BTS, Justin Bieber, Burna Boy and Shakira transformed New York New Jersey Stadium into one of the biggest concert stages in the world.
Hollywood also had its moment. Timothée Chalamet unveiled the official World Cup Final match ball before kick-off, while Tom Cruise opened the evening with a message celebrating football’s unique ability to unite cultures across borders. The stands were just as star-studded. Beyoncé made a rare public appearance alongside Jay-Z, while Zinedine Zidane watched from the crowd as speculation continued over reports linking him with the France national team job ahead of September.