Superstars including Tom Cruise, Jennifer Hudson, and Javier Bardem arrived at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday for the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina. The influx of celebrities preceded a chaotic start to the event for many fans, who experienced hours-long delays entering the venue.
Cruise, 64, was seen with a smile as he made his way into the stadium, dressed casually in a black t-shirt and jeans, interacting with fans and posing for selfies. He is expected to make a special appearance at the closing ceremony. Other notable attendees included actresses Julia Garner and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, Spanish actor Javier Bardem, and skiing legend Lindsey Vonn. David and Victoria Beckham were also present, having been fixtures at the tournament.
The day's entry process was marred by significant queues, with fans reporting waits of over four hours to have their tickets scanned. Reports indicated technological glitches with FIFA's ticket-scanning system and confusion among security staff managing the crowds. These issues were compounded by enhanced, airport-style security measures due to the attendance of former President Donald Trump.
FIFA had encouraged ticket holders to arrive up to four hours before the game, which was anticipated to draw billions of viewers worldwide. Lionel Messi of Argentina was playing in his second consecutive World Cup final, with the team aiming for a second successive World Cup triumph. Argentina were set as narrow underdogs against Spain, the European champions.
For the first time in the tournament's history, FIFA introduced a halftime show, featuring performances from artists such as Madonna and Justin Bieber. The closing ceremony was also set to include performances by Post Malone, Cruise, Nicole Scherzinger, IShowSpeed, Jennifer Hudson, Robbie Williams, and Laura Pausini. The ceremony was designed to pay tribute to all 48 participating nations.
The cheapest resale tickets for the final were reportedly starting at around $7,000, making it potentially the most expensive sporting event to attend. Despite the entry chaos, many fans expressed determination not to let the disruptions spoil their experience, particularly with the prospect of witnessing what could be Lionel Messi's final World Cup appearance.