American streamer and digital creator IShowSpeed made a memorable appearance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final by performing his song, Champions, during the tournament’s closing ceremony on Sunday in New York.
The internet sensation, born Darren Watkins Jr., entertained thousands of fans at the New York New Jersey Stadium before Spain faced defending champions Argentina in the final.
Dressed in an all-white outfit, IShowSpeed delivered an energetic performance backed by a large group of dancers in colourful tracksuits. The show featured marching drummers, coordinated dance routines and stunning visual projections across the stadium pitch.
Fireworks, smoke effects and aerial displays added to the spectacle, making the ceremony one of the highlights before kickoff.
Shortly after the performance, videos flooded social media, with many fans hailing it as another major achievement for the streamer, whose career has expanded beyond gaming and football livestreams into music.
His appearance followed the release of World Cup (Champions), a track he promoted as an unofficial anthem for the tournament. The song’s music video drew over 3.3 million views on YouTube within its first day and sparked debate among football fans about whether it deserved official recognition.
IShowSpeed also appealed to FIFA on social media to adopt the song, receiving a response from the organisation’s verified account that read, “We will be in touch,” which fuelled excitement among supporters.
While FIFA eventually chose Goals by Lisa, Anitta and Nigerian singer Rema as the official tournament soundtrack, IShowSpeed’s performance at the World Cup final cemented his place on one of football’s biggest stages.
The Full IShowSpeed Performance (TV Broadcast) https://t.co/ZEdhBdWCyA pic.twitter.com/1mSFw9VaKp
— Dody🥀 (@_Dody20) July 19, 2026
🚨| BREAKING: Speed just performed his World Cup song “Champions” in front of a crowd of 82,000 people at the FIFA World Cup Final closing ceremony 🤯🐐 pic.twitter.com/OlcxCwut9S
— Speedy HQ (@IShowSpeedHQ) July 19, 2026
