The Argentina vs Spain final will decide the FIFA World Cup 2026 title at New York-New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, with kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m. EDT, or midnight Monday in Pakistan.
Argentina are seeking a second successive World Cup and their fourth title overall. Spain is pursuing their second championship after winning the tournament in 2010.
A successful defence would make Argentina the first team to retain the men’s World Cup since Brazil completed back-to-back triumphs in 1958 and 1962.
The match could mark the final World Cup appearance of Argentina captain Lionel Messi, 39. Head coach Lionel Scaloni described the former Barcelona forward as a legend who had already made football history.
Argentina reached the final after a series of difficult knockout matches, including a late comeback against England in the semifinal. Their campaign has relied on Messi’s creativity and the team’s ability to recover from losing positions.
Spain advanced after beating France 2-0 in the semifinal. Luis de la Fuente’s team have conceded only one goal in seven matches, combining possession football with the tournament’s strongest defensive record.
Spain captain Rodri said his team expected a physical contest and would adapt to the demands of the match. Nineteen-year-old Lamine Yamal provides Spain’s main individual threat, although their progress has centred on coordinated team play.
Read: Spain’s Messi Plan Rejects Man-Marking in World Cup Final
The final concludes the first 48-team men’s World Cup, which featured 104 matches across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
