The highly anticipated World Cup final between Argentina and Spain got off to a delayed start, with the match kicking off at 8:06pm BST, six minutes after the scheduled kick-off time. The delay was caused by a series of pre-match performances and a bizarre speech by actor Tom Cruise. The festivities included a performance by Robbie Williams, the singing of the national anthem by Jennifer Hudson, and a 'let's get ready to rumble' build-up by the Buffer brothers. Additionally, the World Cup closing ceremony, featuring performances by Post Malone and streamer IShowSpeed, took place 90 minutes before kick-off.
Tom Cruise's speech, in which he addressed the crowd and spoke about the importance of unity and football, was met with a mixture of confusion and amusement from the audience. The actor's comments were seen as unusual and unexpected, adding to the delays and disruptions that plagued the pre-match proceedings.
As the World Cup final got underway, attention turned to the on-field action, with Lionel Messi's Argentina looking to become the first team to defend their title since Brazil in 1962. Spain, who are favourites to win, will be hoping to add to their Euro 2024 victory and claim their second World Cup title.
The conditions at the New York New Jersey stadium, where the match is being held, are warm, with no air conditioning available. This could potentially impact the players' performance and endurance throughout the match.