Spain vs Argentina
Competition/Round: 2026 World Cup Final
Spain Outs & Doubts: None
Argentina Outs & Doubts: None
Date/Time: Sunday, July 19, 2026, 3pm ET, 12pm PT (USA), 9pm CET (Barcelona), 8pm BST/WAT (UK & Nigeria), 12.30am IST (India, Monday)
Venue: MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey, United States
Referee
: Slavko Vincic (SVN)How to watch on TV: FOX (USA), BBC One, ITV1 (UK), United8 Sports 1 (India), SuperSport (Nigeria), TVE La 1 (Spain), others
How to watch online: FuboTV (USA), BBC iPlayer, ITVX (UK), ZEE5 (India),
DAZN (Spain), others
Following two fantastic semi-finals in midweek, World Cup 2026 comes to end with an epic matchup as Spain take on reigning champions Argentina at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey on Sunday afternoon.
This is the one game Barcelona fans were dreaming of watching ever since the Finalissima was canceled back in March, and it’s a beautiful twist of fate that the first and only matchup between Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi will take place in the World Cup Final.
The story between the two is one that not even the best script writers could have thought of, with the now iconic photo starting a journey that will end in a game that will either crown Yamal’s incredible two-year journey with the national team as an European and World champion or will further cement Messi’s untouchable status with two World Cup wins as the undisputed best player, including a truly remarkable performance in this tournament at the age of 39.
It’s really easy to focus on Lamine and Messi, but this Final is about the two best teams in the world facing each other in what could be an epic matchup: Spain’s victory against France in the semi-final was a brilliant display of teamwork and individual quality from a team that simply can’t lose in the last two years, while Argentina’s remarkable comeback against England was yet another reminder that the Albiceleste cannot die.
Both teams like to have the ball and play, but Argentina have an extra gear of physicality and passion that will test Spain’s machine-like approach to the limit. Yamal should be ready to receive one or two (or three (or four)) big tackles early on, and La Roja’s ability to match Argentina’s attitude and intensity will be key to their ability to win this.
As for Argentina, their approach will be the same: work as hard as possible, never give up, stay poised to the very end, and give the ball to Messi knowing he can literally win the game by himself as he’s done seven other times in this tournament.
For Barça fans, this is a fever dream: they will either celebrate a world title for Lamine and the largest Barça contingent in the tournament, or they will watch the GOAT reach untouchable status forever. It’s a glorious outcome either way, and it’ll be a Sunday none of us who bleed Blaugrana will ever forget.
Let’s dance.
(Be careful, Lamine.)
POSSIBLE LINEUPS
Spain (4-2-3-1): Simón; Porro, Cubarsí, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Fabián; Yamal, Olmo, Baena; Oyarzabal
Argentina (4-1-3-2): Martínez; Molina, Romero, Lisandro, Tagliafico; Paredes; De Paul, Enzo, Mac Allister; Messi, Julián
PREDICTION
For the first time in almost 13 years writing for this website, I will not predict a final score. I am just thrilled to be watching this as a fan, and I’ll be genuinely happy with whatever the final result is. The only thing I want is a great game, and the way these teams play pretty much guarantees one. Let’s all enjoy.
