Some events go beyond sport to become celebrations of culture, entertainment, and human connection. The FIFA World Cup 2026 Closing Ceremony, held last night at MetLife Stadium in New York New Jersey ahead of the final between Spain and Argentina, was undoubtedly one of them.
Among the stars of the evening, one name filled us with particular pride: Laura Pausini.
For more than three decades, the Romagna-born artist has been one of the world’s most celebrated ambassadors of Italian music. Once again, she confirmed her status as a global icon, representing Italy on the stage of the most-watched sporting event on the planet. It is a recognition earned through a career built on talent, authenticity, and a unique ability to connect with audiences across every continent.
Laura Pausini shared the spotlight with some of the biggest names in international entertainment. Together with Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger, she performed Desire, the official anthem of the FIFA World Cup 2026, creating one of the most memorable moments of the evening.
The ceremony also featured an extraordinary lineup of international guests, including Madonna, Shakira, BTS, Justin Bieber, Burna Boy, Chris Martin (Coldplay), Gustavo Dudamel, the PS22 Chorus, Tom Cruise, Post Malone, Jennifer Hudson, and IShowSpeed, delivering a spectacular celebration that brought together music, entertainment, and sport before hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide.
Following her performance of the Italian national anthem at the Opening Ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, Laura Pausini once again took center stage at one of the world’s most prestigious events, performing during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Ceremony at MetLife Stadium in New York.
Two of the world’s greatest global events in the same year, with one artist continuing to represent the very best of Italian excellence.
For FREE EVENT, this is a source of great pride. Our relationship with Laura Pausini spans many years, dating back to the early stages of her international career, when we had the privilege of supporting her worldwide concert tours. Seeing her today performing on the world’s most prestigious stages is both a personal and professional source of pride for our entire team.
