Spain and Argentina clash in World Cup final as Messi chases history amid political and environmental tensions
Argentina, led by 39-year-old Lionel Messi, meets Spain at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday, with the Albiceleste seeking a second consecutive title and La Roja aiming for a second star.
The final matchup
The 2026 World Cup concludes Sunday evening at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with Spain facing defending champions Argentina. Kick-off is set for 21:00 Paris time (20:15 Brussels time). Spain, winners in 2010, eliminated France 2-0 in the semi-finals. Argentina, seeking a fourth star, have been pushed to extra time by Cape Verde and Switzerland and narrowly avoided elimination against Egypt and England. The match pits 39-year-old Lionel Messi, playing in his third final, against Spain's young star Lamine Yamal, both products of Barcelona's La Masia academy.
Argentina's chaotic road
Argentina's campaign has been a series of narrow escapes. After a group stage powered by six Messi goals, the Albiceleste needed extra time to overcome Cape Verde and Switzerland, then survived scares against Egypt and England. Messi has been directly involved in 12 of Argentina's 19 goals, scoring eight and providing four assists. Coach Lionel Scaloni's 4-4-2 diamond funnels all creativity through the number 10, with midfielders Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister and Thiago Almada dominating possession to free Messi. The team is unbeaten in international competition since 2019 and arrives at the final having won the last three major tournaments: the 2021 and 2024 Copa América and the 2022 World Cup.
- Messi goals
- 8
- Messi assists
- 4
- Other players
- 7
Spain's defensive solidity
Spain, European champions in 2024, have been less flamboyant than during that triumph but have conceded only once in the knockout stage, to Belgium's Charles De Ketelaere. Coach Luis de la Fuente called his side "the best team in the world" after the semi-final shutout of France. A victory would see the generation of Rodri, Unai Simon and Yamal match the legacy of Xavi, Iniesta and Casillas, who won Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup.
Political undercurrents
The final has drawn political lines in Israel and the Palestinian territories. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would support Argentina because its president, Javier Milei, "is a friend of Israel."
I will support Argentina because they have a president who is a superstar. Milei is a friend of Israel.
An Israeli woman, Michal, told Franceinfo that "Javier is a supporter of Israel. He is a Zionist." She added that Spain is "a hard country for us" because of social media criticism. In Ramallah, Yazane said most Palestinians back Spain, partly because Lamine Yamal recently waved a Palestinian flag, which was seen as a gesture of solidarity.
Even a football match is politics.
Some Palestinians still support Argentina because of Messi's aura and Diego Maradona's pro-Palestinian stance.
Integrity concerns
Hours before kick-off, Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset called on FIFA to launch a "third half" to protect football from political and financial pressures. He cited the suspension of a red card given to American Folarin Balogun after an intervention by Donald Trump, racist insults directed at players, and the rise of betting on individual actions such as passes and corners. Berset also criticised FIFA's partnership with a prediction market company.
You win a bet by making other people lose. That opens the door to fraud.
He urged FIFA to begin a dialogue on integrity rules for the 2030 World Cup.
Smoke and storms over New York
Thick smoke from over 950 active wildfires in Canada blanketed the New York region on Saturday, pushing air quality to hazardous levels. New York topped IQAir's ranking of the world's most polluted cities, ahead of Toronto and Washington. Mayor Zohran Mamdani warned of violent thunderstorms with strong winds and flash floods, advising residents to stay indoors. The US National Weather Service said storms would persist into Saturday evening, while smoke would continue affecting the area. Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House team organising the tournament, said organisers were "monitoring closely." President Trump threatened Canada over the fires, though details were not specified.
Messi's legacy
A third final appearance places Messi alongside Brazil's Cafu as the only players to achieve the feat. The BBC notes that supporters of Messi's claim to be the greatest of all time point to his longevity and consistency: eight Ballon d'Or awards, league titles in Spain and France, Champions League trophies, a Copa América and the 2022 World Cup. Former Barcelona teammate Thierry Henry recalled training sessions where a perceived injustice would transform Messi.
You must not wake the beast.
Henry told Marca that the Argentine would score several goals in quick succession after feeling a foul had been missed.
