2026 World Cup: A Touch of Italy in the Final—Laura Pausini Will Sing the National Anthem
There will also be a touch of Italy at the 2026 World Cup final. Laura Pausini has been chosen to perform live and on global television during the World Cup closing ceremony, which will take place at MetLife Stadium in New York before the kickoff of the tournament’s final match, scheduled for 3 p.m. local time (9 p.m. Italian time) on Sunday, July 19. The singer-songwriter from Romagna will join Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger to perform “Desire,” the official FIFA anthem that combines two of the world’s most widely spoken languages, English and Spanish.
“What a thrill! Off to New York! A year ago, Robbie Williams invited me to join him in singing ‘Desire,’ FIFA’s first official anthem, and it was a true honor to share this song with such an iconic artist,” explained Laura Pausini in a post on her official Instagram account.
She then reflected on the journey that led her to the 2026 World Cup final. “Having the chance to adapt part of the lyrics into Spanish—a language that has played such an important role in my life and career—made the experience even more special,” added Laura Pausini.
““After performing it together for the first time in New York last year, we’ll return to that stage—this time joined by Nicole Scherzinger—for another unforgettable moment celebrating the power of music, soccer, and the emotions that bring people together,” added Laura Pausini. “I’m proud that an Italian voice is part of this global celebration alongside Robbie and Nicole. I can’t wait to share this special moment with soccer fans around the world and with all of you.”
The story of “Desire” began in June 2025, when FIFA officially unveiled the song written by Robbie Williams together with collaborators Karl Brazil, Owen Parker, and Erik Jan Grob. The song was performed live for the first time during the Club World Cup final on July 13, 2025, while its world premiere had already taken place at the opening match of the same tournament, between Al Ahly and Inter Miami, accompanied by a video projected onto the giant screen at Hard Rock Stadium. On that occasion as well, FIFA President Gianni Infantino had spoken enthusiastically: “Our FIFA musical ambassador, Robbie Williams, has created a fantastic, incredible, moving, and brilliant official FIFA anthem, and Laura Pausini’s contribution is wonderful. With the participation of two incredible musicians, this great song, ‘Desire,’ is the song of world soccer.”
This isn’t the first time Laura Pausini has taken center stage at a major international sporting event in 2026. Last February, the singer-songwriter from Faenza was already the star of the opening ceremony for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, held on February 6 at San Siro, where she had the honor of singing the Italian national anthem in front of over 70,000 spectators in attendance and millions of television viewers around the world. On the stage set up for the occasion, Pausini shared the spotlight with an exceptional international cast, including Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli, Ghali, and Cecilia Bartoli, as well as actors Pierfrancesco Favino, Sabrina Impacciatore, and Matilda De Angelis.
The final, which Laura Pausini will open with her voice, will feature Spain as the first finalist to have already qualified. Luis De La Fuente’s team secured their ticket to New York on the evening of Tuesday, July 14, defeating France 2-0 in the semifinal played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The match was decided by goals from Mikel Oyarzabal, on a penalty kick, and Pedro Porro in the second half, in a game dominated by the Spanish from start to finish. For Spain, this marks a return to the World Cup final sixteen years after their 2010 triumph in South Africa. The opponent that Oyarzabal and his teammates will face on Sunday at MetLife Stadium will be determined by the second semifinal between Argentina and England.
