The culmination of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the “New York New Jersey Stadium” has officially transformed the biggest sporting event on earth into Hollywood’s premier red carpet.
As Spain and Argentina prepare to battle on the field for soccer’s ultimate crown, a galaxy of global icons, music royalty, and world political leaders have descended upon the luxury suites. Moving past traditional sporting crowds, the 80,000-seat stadium is playing host to a high-profile guest list that rivals any awards show.
From political heavyweights to entertainment titans, here is a complete running list of who has been spotted on the stadium’s exclusive “gold carpet” and inside the VIP lounges ahead of kickoff.
Political and royal dignitaries
The luxury boxes are anchoring major geopolitical visibility this afternoon, highlighted by host-nation presence and European royalty.
Donald Trump: The U.S. President is officially in attendance to take part in the pre-match greetings and final medal presentations.The Spanish Royal Family: King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, and Princesses Leonor and Sofía made the journey from Madrid to support La Roja directly from the main presidential box.Pedro Sánchez: The Spanish Prime Minister is also on-site alongside the royal delegation.
(Note: Argentina’s President Javier Milei famously chose to decline his invitation, choosing to watch the match from his residence due to strict local soccer superstitions).
🕴️♂️ President Trump stated in interview:
“I won’t pick sides — I just think it’s very hard to bet against Messi.”
He made the comment ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between defending champions Argentina (led by Messi) and Spain at MetLife Stadium.…
— Bella (@stockbella) July 19, 2026
Hollywood and entertainment icons
Hollywood’s elite have turned the stadium into a secondary home, with several major stars arriving early to mix with the crowds.
Tom Cruise: Arriving early ahead of a heavily rumored stunt appearance in the pre-game closing ceremony, the “Mission: Impossible” star spent time mingling near the field.Kevin Hart: The comedian and actor arrived early alongside his wife, Emiko, posing for the international media scrum on the stadium’s gold carpet.Winnie Harlow: The international supermodel brought high-fashion flair to the stadium concourses, sporting custom matchday apparel.
Lionel Messi exchanged handshakes with Rio Ferdinand and Kevin Hart ahead of the FIFA World Cup Final Fest.
Just look at Kevin Hart’s reaction after hugging Messi. 🐐❤️ pic.twitter.com/B1YwcnCm26
— MC (@CrewsMat10) July 17, 2026
Legendary athletes and sports royalty
Beyond the players on the field, sports icons from tennis, football, and track and field are watching history unfold.
Tom Brady: The NFL legend and multi-time Super Bowl champion was tracked arriving into the lower executive suites.Serena Williams: The tennis titan is expected in the stands before the first-ever World Cup halftime show gets underway.Marta: The legendary retired Brazilian icon was spotted walking the field early, celebrating ahead of Brazil hosting the Women’s World Cup next year.Lindsey Vonn: The iconic Olympic skier turned heads on the gold carpet, arriving early in a vibrant red polo.Ilia Malinin: The American figure skating world champion added additional Olympic star-power to the early guest lineups.Music stars on dual duty
With a massive halftime showcase and a complex closing ceremony scheduled around the match, global recording artists are treating the final like a stadium tour stop.
Pop icons Madonna and Justin Bieber, K-Pop megagroup BTS, and Colombian star Shakira are all inside the venue preparing for the historic 11-minute intermission spectacle curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin. They are joined in the performer lounges by Post Malone, Jennifer Hudson, and Afrobeats pioneer Burna Boy.
This article will be updated continuously as more celebrity sightings are verified live throughout the match.
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