Lionel Messi and Argentina are set to face Lamine Yamal and Spain in the final of the FIFA World Cup on Sunday at MetLife Stadium. This marks the 104th match of the expanded 48-team tournament, which has already set records for the most goals scored.
Argentina is competing for its fourth World Cup title, while Spain has the opportunity to become the first nation to hold both the men's and women's World Cup crowns simultaneously. The final is scheduled for a 3 p.m. EDT kickoff.
This year's tournament, hosted across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, has seen a surge in scoring, with 307 goals entering the final match. Should the combined total of goals in the final be at least two, this World Cup would achieve the highest average goals per game since 1956. Even with fewer than two goals, the current average remains the highest since the 1970 World Cup.
The event's closing ceremony will precede the final, featuring a performance by Post Malone. The halftime show, a new addition to the FIFA World Cup, boasts a lineup including Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, BTS, Burna Boy, conductor Gustavo Dudamel, the PS 22 Chorus with Coldplay, and characters from Sesame Street and the Muppets.
President Donald Trump is expected to attend the final and participate in the trophy presentation. Argentina will wear its traditional light blue and white striped jerseys, while Spain will don red jerseys with navy sleeves. The officiating team for the match hails from Slovenia, with Slavko Vinčić as the referee.