Spain and Argentina are set to compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on Sunday, July 19, at the New York New Jersey Stadium. The match is scheduled to kick off at 3 p.m. ET.
Spain advanced to the final after an undefeated run through the knockout stages. The team began its tournament with a scoreless draw in the group stage against Cape Verde but subsequently won six consecutive matches. Spain defeated Austria 3-0 in the round of 32 and then edged out Portugal 1-0 in the round of 16. In the quarterfinals, Spain conceded its first goal of the tournament but secured a 2-1 victory over Belgium, with Mikel Merino scoring the decisive goal for the second game in a row.
Defending champions Argentina have also reached the final with a perfect record, though their journey was marked by several close contests. After winning Group J with dominant performances against Algeria and Austria, and a 3-1 victory over Jordan, Argentina required extra time in all three of its knockout matches. They secured a 3-2 win against Cape Verde in the round of 32, followed by another 3-2 victory over Egypt in the round of 16. Argentina then defeated Switzerland 3-1 in the quarterfinals and clinched their spot in the final by beating England 2-1 in the semifinals.