The report says Cruise delivered a formal address about the tournament’s global reach.
“More than 30 days ago, 48 nations began a journey,” Cruise said. “They crossed oceans, they crossed borders, they crossed cultures. And together they showed us why this game belongs to the world.”
The words were designed for a grand sporting occasion, but some fans felt the moment was too carefully packaged. A World Cup final carries its own drama, and any ceremony before kick-off risks becoming a distraction if it appears to compete with the match.
That tension explains the sharpest reaction. One fan reportedly described the speech as “ridiculous”, while another questioned why Cruise was delivering it at all.
Cruise did find some approval, though not necessarily for the substance of his address. His decision to call the sport “football” rather than “soccer” was warmly received by international supporters.
“At least he called it football,” one fan wrote.
That small choice became the most popular part of the appearance for viewers who regard the terminology as a marker of the sport’s global identity. Another fan celebrated the moment by writing: “He called the World Cup football ahhh.”
It was a revealing response. The language landed more naturally than the celebrity presentation, perhaps because it connected with supporters rather than speaking over them.
The wider lesson is familiar: stars can add glamour to football’s biggest occasions, but the sport remains the main event. The next major ceremony will face the same challenge - finding spectacle that enhances the final without making fans ask who the moment is really for.