Rhianna Benson
The welcome speech Tom Cruise gave ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final has left a sour taste in the mouths of some spectators.
The actor rocked up to the pitch of the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey - known during the tournament as the New York New Jersey Stadium - prior to kick-off between Argentina and Spain, where he delivered an unexpected speech about the importance of unity.
He began: "More than 30 days ago, 48 nations began a journey. They crossed oceans, they crossed borders, they crossed cultures. And together they showed us why this game belongs to the world.
"From three countries across them, and from every corner of the globe, we have witnessed greatness. We have shared moments of joy, moments of hope, moments that we will all never forget.
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"Football is a language spoken without words, a force that unites people, turns strangers into friends, and reminds us of what we all have in common."
The Mission: Impossible star continued: "Today, only two teams remain: Spain and Argentina. But these stories belong to each and every one of us, to every nation, to every player, to every supporter, to every volunteer, and to every dream carried onto the pitch."
Cruise, 64, concluded: "So as we gather for one final chapter, let us celebrate a tournament that brought the world together. Let us celebrate each other.
"This is football. This is unity. This is greatness."
Some social media users were pleased by the movie-like charades, especially after New York-born Cruise described the sport as 'football' in his final sentence, as opposed to 'soccer'.
"Tom Cruise saying 'football' not 'soccer' as dramatic music plays in the background and the WC final is about to kick off," one X user teased. "Absolute cinema."
"It was a surprise for me. And Cruise knows the game’s name is 'Football' lol," another claimed.
"Thank heavens he called it football!!:soccer: Well done, Tom," a third went on.
As we say, however, not all viewers were best pleased by the impassioned plea, with some users questioning why a film star had been chosen to speak out over a World Cup alum.
"Why am I watching a Tom Cruise speech on my screen right now?" another asked.
A fifth demanded: "What the hell does Tom Cruise have to do with soccer?"
A sixth continued: "Tom Cruise was a weird move."
"WTF does Tom Cruise have to do with soccer?" another added.
"I love Tom Cruise, but unless he came from a plane to the pitch. This was the weirdest thing seen in a world cup final," one also wrote.