World Cup 2014 Closing Ceremony Date, Start Time, Live Stream and Predictions

The biggest match in international football is upon us once again on Sunday, as Germany and Argentina meet in the World Cup final, and it’s only fitting that a spectacular show should precede such an occasion.

Brazil will treat the world to a pre-final party at the famous Maracana, with some hugely entertaining acts officially bringing the curtain down on the month of tournament action.

It’s been a World Cup to remember in Brazil, and if the closing ceremony acts can treat us to as much excitement as the football has, then we’re in for a treat.

Date: Sunday, July 13

Time: 7:30 p.m. BST/2:30 p.m. ET

Live Stream: BBC Sport website or ITV Player (UK), ESPN Watch (U.S.)

TV Info: BBC One or ITV (UK), ABC (U.S.)

Shakira Heading for World Cup Hat-trick

Chris Pizzello/Associated Press

Starting 30 minutes prior to the final, the World Cup 2014 closing ceremony will see Shakira perform for the third tournament running, having brought an end to both the 2006 and 2010 tournaments.

The Colombian singer is the headline act at the Maracana and will once again thrill audiences as she did in the last two closing ceremonies—she better keep her diary free in 2018 if she does, too.

Naturally, the rehearsals have been ongoing for weeks now, and Shakira herself posted a photo via Twitter with a fellow performer, Carlos Santana:

Santana will team up with Wyclef Jean, Alexandre Pires and Avicii to perform "Dar Um Jeito (We Will Find A Way)"—the World Cup’s official anthem—and The Guardian’s Owen Gibson is excited for it to get underway:

It’s Shakira who will be hogging the limelight at the Maracana, though, and she revealed earlier this month that she’s thrilled to be a part of it, per BBC News:

"I have an intricate relationship with football for obvious reasons, and I truly understand what the World Cup means to so many people, myself included.  The fans have shown the most incredible support for this song and I can't wait to perform it for them."

Though Shakira’s experience of the World Cup in Brazil hasn’t been successful from a personal point of view—with partner Gerard Pique exiting at the group stage with Spain and her native Colombia coming up short—she’ll still set the closing ceremony alight.

John Shearer/Associated Press

Elsewhere, Ivete Sangalo will perform a medley of famous, Brazilian songs, and local Rio de Janeiro school pupils will put together a samba display.

World Cup 2014’s opening ceremony was everything that the pre-show hype promised it would be, so let’s hope Sunday’s performance doesn’t let us down.

The end of the tournament means summertime boredom for football fans, but Shakira, Santana and Co. will be determined to keep the party mood going long into football’s downtime and have the talent to do just that.