Fact Check: Is Drake performing at 2026 World Cup closing ceremony?

WASHINGTON, DC: Ahead of the much-awaited 2026 FIFA World Cup, a rumor began circulating on social media platforms claiming that Canadian rapper Drake will be performing at the closing ceremony of the soccer World Cup, watched by millions, sparking speculations. Let us analyse the origins of the viral rumor and fact-check its authenticity.

Claim: Drake to perform at 2026 FIFA World Cup

According to the rumor circulating on social media, Drake will be performing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup closing ceremony, triggering mixed reactions from online users. 

The rumor has spread on multiple platforms such as X, Facebook, and Instagram, garnering more than a million views as of this writing.

While fans expressed excitement, many others remained sceptical and questioned the authenticity of the viral claim.

Fact Check: The claim originated from parody account

However, there is no evidence that the Canadian singer will be performing at the closing ceremony of the world’s most-watched sports event.

Although FIFA expressed interest in having Drake for the Halftime show performance last year, there are no official announcements or statements from the rapper or from the FIFA association that supports the rumor.

A search on Google for the claim yielded no credible reports by any prominent news, sports, or entertainment media outlets about the claim. 

The Google search also revealed that the claim originated from a popular satire account called Hoops Crave, which describes itself in the bio as a ‘parody account.’ Hence, the claim was intended to be a satire for the sake of engagement. 

A fact check by Grok confirmed this, stating, “Yes, the original post is from a parody account (HoopsCrave) that's not affiliated with real news. It's satire. No official announcement confirms Drake performing at the 2026 World Cup closing ceremony—there's only older speculation and rumors.”

Trump claims World Cup ticket sales have already shattered records

President Donald Trump said early ticket sales for the upcoming World Cup have already more than doubled previous records, touting what he described as unprecedented demand.

Trump pointed to the World Cup and the Summer Olympics as major events scheduled during his time in office. 

“We have the World Cup, and we have the summer Olympics. And the World Cup has gone out with their tickets and more than double,” Trump said in February during the National Governors Association dinner. 

“They’ve sold more than double what they’ve ever sold before, way early, and it’s unbelievable.”