The World Cup final between Spain and Argentina is being played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with the occasion overshadowed by a huge supporting cast of celebrity performers and the confirmed attendance of US President Donald Trump. The White House has confirmed Trump's presence, prompting speculation over whether he will be booed, as has happened at several recent US sporting events including the NBA finals, an NFL game, the US Open and the World Series.

The pre-match and half-time entertainment features an extensive line-up including Shakira, Burna Boy, BTS, Madonna, Justin Bieber, Post Malone, Swae Lee and streamer IShowSpeed, alongside conductor Gustavo Dudamel with the New York Philharmonic and Simón Bolívar orchestras. The half-time show itself is expected to last 25-30 minutes, though only around 11 minutes will be performance, raising concerns that the lengthy break could increase injury risk as players' muscles cool down. Meanwhile, in Buenos Aires, thousands of Argentina fans gathered at Parque Rivadavia to trade Panini stickers ahead of the final, with some reportedly freezing images of Spanish players as a superstitious curse.