World Cup 2026: An early look at the final between Argentina and Spain

The 2026 World Cup final is set. After beating France on Tuesday , Spain will face Argentina following its comeback win over England on Wednesday. Here’s what you need to know now that we know who will be playing for the title on Sunday. The day before, France will pay England for third place. Argentina vs. Spain 3 p.m. ET | Sunday, July 19 | East Rutherford, New Jersey | TV: Fox Odds: Spain (-175), Argentina (+125) Argentina aims for history Argentina is now a win away from being the first team since Brazil in 1958 and 1962 to win consecutive World Cups. And, perhaps more remarkably, it’s also a win away from winning its fourth consecutive major tournament. Argentina won Copa América in 2021 for Lionel Messi’s first major international tournament win. A year later, it won the World Cup in penalty kicks over France. Two years after its first World Cup win in 26 years, Argentina beat Colombia to win Copa América again. Messi is likely already the greatest player in soccer history. A fourth straight major tournament title and second straight World Cup will cement his status as soccer’s G.O.A.T. Yes, there will be people who will still vouch for Pelé, but no one has had the sustained run that Messi is still on. Spain simply doesn’t give up goals It’s extremely hard to score on this Spain team. That’s why it’s a sizable favorite even though Argentina simply does not lose in this tournament. Spain has allowed just one goal over its seven World Cup games so far and that goal came in a 2-1 quarterfinal win against Belgium. In the semifinals, Spain’s ability to dominate possession absolutely controlled the game against a France side with the best attackers in the world. France simply couldn’t get the ball enough to have sustained attacks. And it couldn’t strike quickly on the counter, either. Argentina is a totally different opponent than France. But Spain hasn’t looked vulnerable against anyone yet. Can Argentina continue its run of comebacks? Spain coach Luis de la Fuente will assuredly have noticed how Argentina immediately pushed ahead when it realized that England would be content to sit back and defend after Anthony Gordon scored in the 55th minute of the semifinal to give the Three Lions the lead. Argentina has needed late goals in all of its knockout-round games this tournament and is now extremely comfortable in stressful situations. Does this team even get nervous late in games any longer? But breaking down Spain will be an entirely different process if Argentina finds itself needing a late goal once again on Sunday. England showed no threat to go forward unless it got a sudden break on the counter-attack. Spain isn’t going to play that way. It will likely still want to retain possession, even if that means pinging the ball around the middle of the park. Argentina’s pressing to force a turnover will be key. Are we in for a patient game? Argentina’s semifinal with England went over 30 minutes without an official shot on Wednesday. Don’t be surprised if a similar theme unfolds on Sunday. Both teams can be incredibly methodical. Argentina clearly dials back the intensity for stretches — sometimes to its own detriment — and Spain’s ability to defend with the ball can be lull-inducing. It may take a bit for the breakthrough goal to happen. Argentina may be comfortable sitting back at times while looking to spring Messi free on the counter and prevent Lamine Yamal from making runs down the wing. And Spain, meanwhile, may be the team best-suited to preventing Messi from getting into dangerous areas. Rodri is again looking like the best defensive midfielder in the world and will be pivotal as an eraser in the middle of the field. Both of Argentina’s goals against England came with Messi on the right side of the field in the second half. Will he be deployed out wide more often to find space to operate as a distributor rather than a scorer?