Spain and Argentina face off in World Cup 2026 final as Messi meets Yamal at MetLife Stadium
Defending champions Argentina face Spain at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with Lionel Messi chasing a fourth World Cup title and Lamine Yamal aiming to deliver Spain's second.
The final matchup
Spain and Argentina, the top two teams in the FIFA ranking, meet for the first time in a World Cup final. Argentina are defending the title won in Qatar 2022 and are chasing a fourth star, while Spain seek a second world championship, 16 years after their triumph in South Africa 2010. The match kicks off at 21:00 local time at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, following a closing ceremony that starts at 19:30.
- Closing ceremony begins with Robbie Williams, Tom Cruise, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, IShowSpeed and Jennifer Hudson performing the US anthem
- Kick-off: Spain vs Argentina at MetLife Stadium
- Musical performances by Shakira, Madonna, Dudamel and BTS
Road to the final
Spain reached the final after a goalless draw against Cape Verde in their opening match and a commanding 2-0 semi-final win over France. Argentina survived two close calls: a 3-2 victory over Egypt in the round of 16 and a 2-1 win against England in the semi-finals. Lionel Messi, playing his third World Cup final after the 2014 loss and the 2022 win, leads an Argentina side that has been on the brink of elimination twice. Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo are the main attacking threats for Spain.
- Argentina
- 3 titles
- Spain
- 1 titles
Off-field tensions and spectacle
The build-up has been marred by security chaos for journalists. At 11:35 local time, three and a half hours before kick-off, correspondents who had queued for two and a half hours were still far from the scanners. A single entry point created a bottleneck, with confusing signage and few volunteers, leading to insults and shoving among accredited media. VIP and public areas, by contrast, were well organised with hundreds of police officers. President Donald Trump is among those attending.
Meanwhile, some Argentine streamers stirred controversy with insults directed at Spaniards. One streamer said, "Spaniards have to be mocked; they are stupid," while a journalist called Spain "a team of YouTubers used to playing the Kings League." The Argentine embassy responded by calling for respect, with the ambassador stating, "We are two brother countries, where we have many more things in common than differences."
Predictions and key figures
Toni Kroos, speaking on his podcast with his brother Felix, gave a blunt assessment. "If Spain make it 1-0, forget it, three or four will fall. Argentina will find no solutions," he said. Kroos believes Spain have been the most solid team of the tournament and that Argentina, while mentally strong, are not better than Germany but have Messi, whose "intelligence keeps increasing."
If Spain make it 1-0, forget it, three or four will fall. Argentina will find no solutions.
Arturo Pérez-Reverte wrote on X that he naturally wants Spain to win, but added, "If we had to lose, I prefer it to be to our Argentine cousins rather than to England. In family, things are different."
Fan scenes
In Madrid, thousands gathered at Plaza de Colón, where giant screens have become a traditional meeting point for big matches. Queues stretched for kilometres hours before kick-off. In Buenos Aires, similar crowds were expected to cheer for the Albiceleste. The final is being covered by a special programme from 20minutos, with reporters at MetLife Stadium, Colón and Buenos Aires.
