VIDEO: ISHOWSPEED THRILLS FANS WITH ‘CHAMPIONS’ PERFORMANCE AT WORLD CUP FINAL CLOSING CEREMONY
Read Time:1 Minute, 32 Second
By: Muftau Fatimo
American streamer and content creator Darren Watkins Jr., better known as IShowSpeed, performed his hit song “Champions” at the closing ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final held in New York on Sunday.
The internet sensation entertained a global audience at the New York New Jersey Stadium, taking the spotlight with a high-energy performance ahead of the final showdown between defending champions Argentina and Spain.
Dressed in an all-white suit, IShowSpeed was joined by a large group of backup dancers in colourful outfits for the three-minute performance, which featured marching drummers, coordinated choreography and impressive visual displays across the pitch.
The ceremony also included pyrotechnics, smoke effects and aerial displays.
Clips of the performance quickly circulated across social media, with many describing the appearance as a major milestone in IShowSpeed’s career, which has grown from football-themed streaming content to music
The performance comes weeks after IShowSpeed released “World Cup (Champions),” a self-acclaimed and unofficial World Cup anthem that generated widespread attention online.
The music video, released on YouTube on June 1, amassed more than 3.3 million views within 24 hours and sparked debate among football fans over whether it should be adopted as the tournament’s official anthem.
The song gained further attention after IShowSpeed tagged FIFA on social media, requesting that it be adopted for the tournament.
FIFA’s verified account responded, “We will be in touch,” fuelling speculation among fans.
However, FIFA retained “Goals” by Lisa, Anitta and Nigerian singer Rema as the tournament’s official soundtrack. Sunday’s performance of “Champions” at the World Cup final closing ceremony nevertheless marked a significant moment for the streamer on football’s biggest stage.
WATCH VIDEO BELOW:
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0