Black Sabbath to Perform at FIFA Club World Cup Final Ceremony in the U.S. on July 13, 2025
July 11, 2025 — Atlanta, Georgia
In a development that has electrified both football and rock music fans worldwide, legendary heavy metal band Black Sabbath is set to perform at the closing ceremony of the FIFA Club World Cup Final on July 13, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The performance will be the grand finale to the inaugural 32-team edition of the tournament—and it will mark a rare reunion for the pioneers of heavy metal.
FIFA confirmed the announcement this morning, declaring that Black Sabbath will headline a spectacular show just minutes before the final kicks off, blending world-class football with one of the most iconic sounds in rock history.
⚽ Football Meets Heavy Metal on the World Stage
As the tournament prepares to crown its global club champion, FIFA is upping the ante by fusing elite sport with a legendary musical act. The choice of Black Sabbath is symbolic: bold, powerful, and globally respected.
“Black Sabbath shaped music forever, just as football continues to unite people across continents,” said FIFA’s Head of Events Ana-Maria Salazar. “This final will not only be about crowning the world’s best club—it will be a cultural moment, a once-in-a-generation experience.”
The Return of the Dark Lords of Rock
Black Sabbath—Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward—will reunite for this one-night-only performance, their first live appearance together since concluding their “The End” tour in 2017. Though there have been rumors of potential reunion shows over the years, this is the first confirmed performance by the original lineup in nearly a decade.
In a statement released earlier today, Osbourne called the opportunity “absolutely mental in the best way,” adding: “To play in front of a global audience at a football final—it’s mad, it’s beautiful, and it’s gonna be heavy.”
Tony Iommi echoed the sentiment: “Music and football both move people in ways few things can. We’re honored to bring our music to such a massive stage.”
A Global Audience, A Massive Stage
The Club World Cup Final is expected to draw more than 75,000 fans in the stadium and a global broadcast audience in the hundreds of millions, with over 150 countries set to air the event live. The 2025 edition of the tournament is the largest in history, featuring 32 clubs from across six confederations, including heavyweights like Manchester City, Real Madrid, Flamengo, and Al Ahly.
With the U.S. hosting for the first time, the final in Atlanta will serve as a prelude to the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, also hosted in North America.
The performance is scheduled to begin 30 minutes before kickoff, with Black Sabbath performing a medley of their greatest hits, including “Iron Man,” “Paranoid,” “Children of the Grave,” and “War Pigs.” FIFA has promised a full-scale production featuring state-of-the-art pyrotechnics, a synchronized light show, and on-field choreography.
Fan Frenzy and Cultural Impact
The reaction online has been explosive. Within hours of the announcement, hashtags like #SabbathAtTheFinal and #FIFAxMetal were trending globally. Music publications hailed the performance as “the most unexpected halftime moment since Prince in the Super Bowl,” while fans have been calling it “the crossover we didn’t know we needed.”
“This is absolutely insane—in the best way,” said 26-year-old football fan Jenna Morales, who flew in from Mexico City for the final. “I came for the football, but I never imagined I’d be seeing Sabbath live. This just turned into a bucket-list weekend.”
What to Expect from the Show
Sources close to the production team revealed that the band has been rehearsing in Los Angeles with a full support crew, including a custom stage designed specifically for the stadium’s 360-degree viewing experience. The set will reportedly include nods to both Sabbath’s classic iconography and elements inspired by football, such as projection-mapped visuals featuring club crests, trophy animations, and international flags.
FIFA has also worked with U.S.-based entertainment firms to ensure the show has mainstream appeal while preserving the band’s signature heavy metal energy.
The Grand Finale of a Landmark Tournament
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup has already made history as the first edition of the newly expanded format. With global clubs competing in a World Cup-style tournament, the final is expected to be a fiercely contested affair. Many expect a showdown between European and South American powerhouses, adding even more anticipation to a night already packed with emotion, pride, and now—rock and roll.
“The match itself will be unforgettable,” said Salazar, “but when you combine it with the sound of Black Sabbath roaring through a packed stadium—you’re talking about a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle.”
Don’t Miss It
The closing ceremony featuring Black Sabbath will be broadcast live globally on July 13, 2025, starting at 7:30 PM ET, ahead of the final’s kickoff at 8:00 PM. Fans can tune in via major international broadcasters or stream it through FIFA’s digital platforms.
As football and metal prepare to collide on a global stage, one thing’s certain: the end of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup won’t go quietly—it will go out with a roar.
