Spain and Argentina, both tipped as favorites entering the 2026 FIFA World Cup, have earned their places in the final and will compete on Sunday at New York New Jersey Stadium.
Spain secured its berth by defeating France 2-0 in the semifinal at Dallas Stadium on Tuesday. Argentina advanced with a 2-1 victory over England in Atlanta Stadium on Wednesday.
The final will mark the first international meeting between Spain's Lamine Yamal and Argentina's Lionel Messi. Their careers have a unique connection, stemming from a charity photo shoot in 2024 where a young Yamal met Messi, a moment that gained viral attention and is now set to culminate on the world's biggest football stage.
Spain's Road to the Final
Spain opened its group stage with a scoreless draw against Cape Verde but has since won six consecutive matches. The team has been particularly strong defensively, neutralizing opponents in the knockout rounds. Their progression included a 3-0 win over Austria in the round of 32, followed by a narrow 1-0 victory against Portugal in the round of 16. In the quarterfinals, Spain defeated Belgium 2-1, conceding their only goal of the tournament in that match. Their dominant semifinal performance against France secured their place in the final.
Argentina's Journey
Argentina has maintained a perfect record leading up to the final, though their path has been challenging. After opening the group stage with decisive wins over Algeria and Austria, and a 3-1 victory against Jordan, Argentina faced a series of close contests in the knockout rounds. They narrowly beat Cape Verde 3-2 in extra time in the round of 32, followed by another 3-2 extra-time win against Egypt in the round of 16. A 3-1 extra-time victory over Switzerland in the quarterfinals preceded their semifinal win over England.
Key Players to Watch
Lamine Yamal, despite being in his first World Cup, has been identified as a significant offensive threat for Spain. Though he has not registered a goal contribution since scoring in the group stage, his ability to create fear in opposing defenses has been noted. After returning from a hamstring injury, Yamal continues to be a crucial part of Spain's attack. Analysts suggest his performance in the final could be key to Spain's chances of winning the trophy.
Lionel Messi continues to make history in his sixth World Cup appearance. He leads the tournament with eight goals, bringing his career World Cup total to 21, establishing him as the all-time leading goalscorer. Messi also leads the tournament with 12 assists. Argentina's resilience, demonstrated by their late-game comebacks throughout the knockout stages, combined with Messi's leadership, makes them a formidable opponent.
Match Details
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, at 3 p.m. ET. The match will be broadcast on FOX and available for streaming on FOX One.