Argentina vs Spain World Cup 2026 Final: Highlights, Full Match, Prediction, Live Stream

It is the final the tournament deserved. Argentina, the reigning champions chasing a piece of history, against Spain, the team that has looked like the best side in the competition from start to finish. On Sunday, 19 July, the two meet at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with the World Cup on the line and Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal sharing a pitch for the first time in their careers.

This is your complete guide to the final: how both sides got here, the team news and predicted lineups, the head-to-head history, our score prediction, how to watch, and where to find highlights and the full match report once the game is done.

Quick facts

• Match: Argentina vs Spain, FIFA World Cup 2026 final
• Date: Sunday, 19 July 2026
• Kick-off: 8pm BST / 3pm ET
• Venue: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
• UK coverage: BBC One and ITV1, both free-to-air

Argentina’s road to the final

Argentina arrive as the defending champions and have needed every bit of that pedigree to get back to the final. Their knockout run has been built on resilience rather than comfort: extra time was required to see off Cape Verde in the round of 32, another twelve minutes were needed against Switzerland in the quarter-final, and they came from behind late on to beat Egypt in the round of 16, according to a breakdown of the tournament by ESPN. The semi-final against England followed the same script, with Argentina falling behind before Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez struck late to complete another dramatic turnaround.

A win on Sunday would make Argentina just the third nation in World Cup history to retain the trophy, joining Brazil and Italy, and a fourth star overall following their titles in 1978, 1986 and 2022.

Spain’s road to the final

Spain have taken the opposite path. After an opening scoreless draw against debutants Cape Verde, Luis de la Fuente’s side have won every match since, and have been the tournament’s most complete team. They eliminated Austria 3-0, edged Portugal and Belgium by a single goal apiece, then produced their best performance of the summer to beat France 2-0 in the semi-final, a result that denied Kylian Mbappe a second World Cup and confirmed Spain as the form side of the competition, as reported by Forbes. Spain have conceded just once across the entire tournament, comfortably the meanest defensive record left in the competition.

Victory would give Spain their second World Cup, sixteen years on from their only previous triumph in South Africa in 2010.

Head-to-head history

Remarkably, this is uncharted territory for both nations. Argentina and Spain have met only once before at a World Cup, a group-stage game in 1966 that Argentina won 2-1, and their most recent meeting of any kind was a heavy 6-1 defeat for Argentina back in 2018, long before either squad took the shape it has today, as noted by Bolavip. Neither of those results carries much weight now, but Sunday will be the first time the two countries have ever met in a major final after a scheduled Finalissima between them was cancelled in recent years.

Team news and predicted lineups

Argentina

Lionel Scaloni’s side head into the final with no fresh fitness concerns from the semi-final win over England, though he does have selection decisions to make after several substitutes made an impact off the bench in that game. Emiliano Martinez continues in goal, with Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez the likely central defensive pairing in front of him, according to team news gathered by Yahoo Sports. Messi is expected to start after playing through a facial knock in the quarter-final, with Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez again expected to lead the line alongside him.

Spain

Spain’s main talking point in the buildup has been the fitness of Lamine Yamal, who missed a training session in New Jersey with a bandage on his thigh after picking up knocks in the semi-final win over France. Manager Luis de la Fuente played down the concern immediately after that match, and Yamal is expected to start, with Dani Olmo, Alex Baena and Mikel Oyarzabal completing an attacking unit that has been consistent all tournament, based on lineup reporting from Yahoo Sports. Rodri and Fabian Ruiz are set to anchor midfield, with Pedri again likely to be left out of the starting eleven despite his profile, a decision that has paid off for de la Fuente throughout the knockout stage.

Key storylines to watch

Messi vs Yamal. The two have never faced each other on a football pitch before, and the meeting carries extra weight thanks to a photo of the pair together as a baby and a legend that resurfaced and went viral after the 2024 Euros. Sunday is the first time either has played the other, and it comes with the World Cup on the line.

Can Argentina make history? No side has retained the World Cup since Brazil in 1962. Argentina’s knockout run has been built on resilience under pressure rather than dominance, which is exactly the kind of profile that has produced this kind of achievement before.

Spain’s defensive record. One goal conceded in the entire tournament is an extraordinary number heading into a final, and it has been built on a settled back line and a midfield that rarely lets opponents build any rhythm.

The supporting cast. Beyond the two headline names, Mikel Oyarzabal has been Spain’s most reliable finisher of the tournament, while Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez have carried a heavy share of Argentina’s attacking work alongside Messi.

Prediction

Spain have been the most complete side in the tournament, built on control, patience and a defense that has barely been tested. Argentina have been anything but comfortable in the knockout rounds, needing extra time or late goals in three of their four matches to get here. On raw form, that points toward Spain.

But finals are rarely decided by the form book alone, and Argentina’s knockout run says as much about their nerve as it does about any weakness. A team that keeps finding a way to survive difficult moments should not be written off in a one-off match, particularly with Messi still capable of deciding a game from nothing.

Expect a tight, cautious opening with Spain controlling possession, and the game likely turning on one moment, a set piece, a transition, or an individual piece of quality, rather than a spell of sustained pressure from either side. A narrow margin, potentially decided in extra time or on penalties, feels the most realistic outcome.

How to watch

The final is being shown free-to-air in the UK on both BBC One and ITV1, with build-up starting from around 6.45pm BST ahead of an 8pm kick-off. Both channels can also be streamed for free through BBC iPlayer and ITVX. In the United States, coverage runs through Fox in English and Telemundo in Spanish. For the full breakdown by region and time zone, see our dedicated guides to UK broadcast coverage and free streaming options.

Highlights

Highlights will be added here shortly after full time.

Full match report

Our full match report will be published here once the final has been played, covering the key moments, the turning points and the reaction from both camps.