Argentina will face Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on Sunday, July 19, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey — temporarily rebranded the New York/New Jersey Stadium for the tournament — with kickoff set for the afternoon in the US Eastern time zone. A win would make Argentina the first team to win back-to-back World Cups since Brazil in 1958 and 1962.
Argentina booked its place with a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over England in the semifinal, scoring twice after the 84th minute. Lionel Messi, 39, provided the connecting thread on both late goals, extending a tournament run that has repeatedly seen his side find a way through even when trailing. It is widely expected to be Messi's final World Cup appearance, adding extra weight to Sunday's final regardless of the result.
Spain reached the final by beating France 2-0 in Dallas, with Mikel Oyarzabal converting a 22nd-minute penalty before Pedro Porro doubled the lead in the 58th. The win was Spain's sixth straight since a scoreless opening draw against Cape Verde, and the reigning European champions arrive as one of the form teams of the tournament, having conceded sparingly through the knockout rounds. Many neutral observers expect Spain to control possession against an Argentina team that has often needed late goals to get over the line.
For Argentina, the storyline is straightforward: a win completes a piece of football history that has eluded every side but Brazil's 1958-62 team, and does so with Messi lifting the trophy for a second consecutive tournament. For Spain, victory would add a second World Cup title to the one won in 2010 and confirm the squad as the dominant international side of this era.
A third-place playoff between France and England will be played Saturday, July 18, the day before the final.
Coverage of the final, including result and reaction, will follow immediately after the match.
