Robbie Williams says white object at World Cup final was a mint

During the closing ceremony of the 2026 World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New York, singer Robbie Williams was interviewed when a small white object fell from his mouth onto the microphone and later stuck to his forehead. The clip quickly went viral, prompting speculation that the object might have been a drug.

Williams addressed the incident on Instagram, posting a video in which he apologized and showed that the object was a Nicorette mint. He humorously displayed two more mints in his mouth and referenced his past struggles with addiction, noting he has been sober since 2007. The apology video amassed millions of views and generated widespread social‑media discussion. Williams also performed at the ceremony alongside Laura Pa​usini and Nicole Scherzinger.

The story was reported in multiple languages and countries, with the singer confirming that the “mintgate” was simply a harmless nicotine lozenge and not a substance of abuse.