{"id":2052130,"date":"2026-07-20T08:18:39","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T05:18:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2052130"},"modified":"2026-07-20T08:18:39","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T05:18:39","slug":"watch-robbie-williams-laura-pausini-and-nicole-scherzinger-perform-desire-at-world-cup-2026-closing-ceremony","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2052130","title":{"rendered":"Watch Robbie Williams, Laura Pausini and Nicole Scherzinger perform \u2018Desire\u2019 at World Cup 2026\u2122 Closing Ceremony"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Robbie-Williams-Scherzinger-2026.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"template-id-2749694\" class=\"post-2749694 tdb_templates type-tdb_templates status-publish post\">\n<div id=\"tdi_65\" class=\"tdc-zone\">\n<div class=\"tdc_zone tdi_66  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div id=\"tdi_67\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_68  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_70  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_breadcrumbs tdi_71 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-breadcrumbs \" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_71\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span>News<\/span><i class=\"tdb-bread-sep td-icon-right\"><\/i><span>Music News<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_title tdi_72 tdb-single-title td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_72\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Watch Robbie Williams, Laura Pausini and Nicole Scherzinger perform \u2018Desire\u2019 at World Cup 2026\u2122 Closing Ceremony<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_subtitle tdi_73 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_73\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Fans have reacted to Williams&#8217; flamboyant tracksuit that he donned for the occasion<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_author tdi_75 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_75\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span> Alex Rigotti<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_date tdi_76 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_76\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2026-07-20T09:18:39+01:00\">20th July 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .\/block --><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_77\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_78  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_80  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span8\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_featured_image tdi_81 tdb-content-horiz-left td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_81\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<figure>\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"696\" height=\"442\" class=\"entry-thumb\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Robbie-Williams-Scherzinger-2026-696x442.jpg\" alt title=\"Spain v Argentina: Final - FIFA World Cup 2026\"><figcaption class=\"tdb-caption-text\">Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams and Laura Pausini (Photo by David Ramos\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row_inner tdi_83 article-content-row vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column_inner tdi_85  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Robbie Williams, Laura Pausini and Nicole Scherzinger have performed \u2018Desire\u2019 at World Cup 2026\u2122 Closing Ceremony \u2013 watch the moment down below.<\/p>\n<p>The World Cup final was staged at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey last night (19 July), with President Donald Trump,\u00a0Beyonc\u00e9,\u00a0Jay-Z,\u00a0Timothee Chalamet, Kylie Jenner and\u00a0Matt Damon just some of the famous faces spotted in attendance.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Spain triumphed against Argentina, Ferran Torres scoring the winning goal 106 minutes into the game to beat them 1-0.<\/p>\n<p>Now, during the closing ceremony, Williams, Pausini and Scherzinger have performed their version of \u2018Desire\u2019. Williams emerged in a bedazzled tracksuit alongside Scherzinger and Pausini to sing the first ever official\u00a0FIFA anthem. The track was written by Williams, who last summer was announced as the official Music Ambassador for the global football governing body.<\/p>\n<p>Watch the performance below:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>Now, fans have reacted to Williams\u2019 performance \u2013 and his unusual outfit for the occasion.\u00a0Some compared his look to Paulie Walnuts of <em>The Sopranos<\/em>, while others were simply surprised he didn\u2019t look like an ape \u2013 a reference to his monkey-starring biopic.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<div id=\"taboola-mid-article\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>However, some appreciated Williams\u2019 look. \u201cRobbie Williams singing at the wc final in a royal blue bedazzled glittery tracksuit in all seriousness is killing me\u201d, one person wrote.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Robbie Williams homage to Paulie Walnuts at the World Cup Final in New Jersey pic.twitter.com\/B5gYqwrrY3<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Sopranos World (@SopranosWorld) July 19, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"es\" dir=\"ltr\">\u00bfC\u00f3mo puede ser este Robbie Williams?<\/p>\n<p>\u00a1Ni siquiera es un simio! pic.twitter.com\/rBNkxT6lJk<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 COTM (@COTM_2) July 19, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Robbie Williams singing at the wc final in a royal blue bedazzled glittery tracksuit in all seriousness is killing me<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 lea (@leaalottie) July 19, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad2 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-2\" class=\"lazy-ad\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>This year\u2019s World Cup also featured the first ever halftime show, curated by Coldplay\u2019s Chris Martin.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Alongside Coldplay, Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, Shakira\u00a0and\u00a0Burna Boy performed at the show, with football legends Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and The Muppets making cameos on the night.<\/p>\n<p>The show also featured some memorable opinions from pundit and former England footballer Wayne Rooney, who slammed the show as \u201ccrap\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI like a lot of them artists but I thought it was crap,\u201d he said on the night. \u201cIt just didn\u2019t get me going and I wanted the football to come back on. I like Burna Boy, I like Bieber, I like Shakira, but that was too flat.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>Elsewhere, Robbie Williams has joined CMAT on stage during day two of Bilbao BBK Live 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_tags tdi_87 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_87\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<ul class=\"tdb-tags\">\n<li><span>Related Topics<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Nicole Scherzinger<\/li>\n<li>Robbie Williams<\/li>\n<li>World Cup<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_89 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>You May Also Like<\/h3>\n<div id=\"taboola-below-article\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_91  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span4 td-is-sticky\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td-a-rec td-a-rec-id-sidebar  tdi_92 td_block_template_2\">\n<p><span 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data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/lynks@2000x1270-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/lynks@2000x1270-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Lynks shares \u201caccidental\u201d England World Cup parody banger \u2018Kick The Ball!\u2019<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>                    <span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span>                <\/article>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Robbie Williams, Laura Pausini and Nicole Scherzinger have performed \u2018Desire\u2019 at World Cup 2026\u2122 Closing Ceremony \u2013 watch the moment down below.<\/p>\n<p>The World Cup final was staged at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey last night (19 July), with President Donald Trump,\u00a0Beyonc\u00e9,\u00a0Jay-Z,\u00a0Timothee Chalamet, Kylie Jenner and\u00a0Matt Damon just some of the famous faces spotted in attendance.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Spain triumphed against Argentina, Ferran Torres scoring the winning goal 106 minutes into the game to beat them 1-0.<\/p>\n<p>Now, during the closing ceremony, Williams, Pausini and Scherzinger have performed their version of \u2018Desire\u2019. Williams emerged in a bedazzled tracksuit alongside Scherzinger and Pausini to sing the first ever official\u00a0FIFA anthem. The track was written by Williams, who last summer was announced as the official Music Ambassador for the global football governing body.<\/p>\n<p>Watch the performance below:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>Now, fans have reacted to Williams\u2019 performance \u2013 and his unusual outfit for the occasion.\u00a0Some compared his look to Paulie Walnuts of <em>The Sopranos<\/em>, while others were simply surprised he didn\u2019t look like an ape \u2013 a reference to his monkey-starring biopic.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<div id=\"taboola-mid-article\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>However, some appreciated Williams\u2019 look. \u201cRobbie Williams singing at the wc final in a royal blue bedazzled glittery tracksuit in all seriousness is killing me\u201d, one person wrote.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Robbie Williams homage to Paulie Walnuts at the World Cup Final in New Jersey pic.twitter.com\/B5gYqwrrY3<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Sopranos World (@SopranosWorld) July 19, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"es\" dir=\"ltr\">\u00bfC\u00f3mo puede ser este Robbie Williams?<\/p>\n<p>\u00a1Ni siquiera es un simio! pic.twitter.com\/rBNkxT6lJk<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 COTM (@COTM_2) July 19, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Robbie Williams singing at the wc final in a royal blue bedazzled glittery tracksuit in all seriousness is killing me<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 lea (@leaalottie) July 19, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad2 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-2\" class=\"lazy-ad\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>This year\u2019s World Cup also featured the first ever halftime show, curated by Coldplay\u2019s Chris Martin.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Alongside Coldplay, Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, Shakira\u00a0and\u00a0Burna Boy performed at the show, with football legends Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and The Muppets making cameos on the night.<\/p>\n<p>The show also featured some memorable opinions from pundit and former England footballer Wayne Rooney, who slammed the show as \u201ccrap\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI like a lot of them artists but I thought it was crap,\u201d he said on the night. \u201cIt just didn\u2019t get me going and I wanted the football to come back on. I like Burna Boy, I like Bieber, I like Shakira, but that was too flat.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>Elsewhere, Robbie Williams has joined CMAT on stage during day two of Bilbao BBK Live 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/watch-robbie-williams-laura-pausini-and-nicole-scherzinger-perform-desire-at-world-cup-2026-closing-ceremony-3957908&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Robbie-Williams-Scherzinger-2026.jpg&#8221;] NewsMusic News Watch Robbie Williams, Laura Pausini and Nicole Scherzinger perform \u2018Desire\u2019 at World Cup 2026\u2122 Closing Ceremony Fans have reacted to Williams&#8217; flamboyant tracksuit that he donned for the occasion By Alex Rigotti 20th July 2026 Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams and Laura Pausini (Photo by David Ramos\/Getty Images) Robbie Williams, Laura [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,78],"class_list":["post-2052130","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-nme-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2052130","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2052130"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2052130\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2052130"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2052130"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2052130"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}