Soccer fans expressed frustration on social media over the scheduling of the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, with many criticizing the 3:00 PM local time kickoff at the open-air MetLife Stadium. The decision to host the match under bright afternoon sun was seen by some as detracting from the event's prestige.
"World Cup final should always be played at night time. Dark sky just makes the occasion feel special," one user posted on X, formerly Twitter. Another commented, "FIFA World Cup Final played in broad day light. Utter woke nonsense." Some fans felt the daytime setting made the match resemble an "ordinary match" without the desired atmosphere.
Previous World Cup finals, including the 2022 event in Qatar and the 2018 final in Russia, both began at 6:00 PM local time. FIFA's Chief Tournament Officer in the US, Manolo Zubiria, had previously stated that start times were determined by balancing factors such as player recovery and maximizing event coverage.
The 3:00 PM kickoff also coincided with a Sunday evening primetime slot across Europe. The timing of the match was not the only aspect of the pre-game proceedings to draw criticism.
Fans also voiced confusion and disappointment regarding the closing ceremony, which featured a monologue by actor Tom Cruise and a performance by streamer IShowSpeed. The ceremony, intended to honor the competing nations, began with IShowSpeed's performance, with Cruise appearing shortly before the teams entered the pitch.
Cruise delivered a message celebrating the tournament's ability to unite the world. "So as we gather for one final chapter, let us celebrate a tournament that brought the world together," he said. "Let us celebrate each other. This is football. This is unity. This is greatness."
However, some viewers questioned the message of unity, pointing to reported travel and visa issues faced by teams like Iran. "Brought the world together. You banned Iran from entering your country until game day," one user claimed on X. Others felt the ceremony was overly focused on American elements, with one commenter stating, "Just more USA’in (sic) c**p. How did the USA treat the Iranian team and players? Disgracefully, as fittingly represents the USA."
