The 2026 FIFA World Cup reaches its final tonight, Sunday 19 July at 21:00 CEST (15:00 ET), when Spain face reigning champions Argentina in the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, branded during the tournament as New York New Jersey Stadium. It is the first time these two footballing giants meet in a World Cup final, and only the second time Spain reach the final since their 2010 triumph in South Africa. Argentina, meanwhile, are chasing back-to-back World Cup titles, a feat last achieved by Brazil in 1962. FIFA's live win probability model gives Spain a clear edge at almost 42 percent, with Argentina at just under 27 percent and a draw at around 32 percent, though after a month of upsets and stoppage time drama, few Argentine fans will pay much attention to the odds.

Spain's Road to the Final

Luis de la Fuente's side arrive in New Jersey unbeaten and, until recently, uncrossed. Spain topped Group H with wins over Saudi Arabia (4-0) and Uruguay (1-0) and a draw against Cape Verde, then swept aside Austria 3-0 in the Round of 32. A stoppage-time winner ended Portugal's tournament in the Round of 16 and, most likely, Cristiano Ronaldo's international career. In the quarter-finals, they edged past Belgium 2-1 in Los Angeles, and then, in Tuesday's semi-final at Dallas Stadium, produced arguably the most complete performance of the tournament. Spain suffocated France 2-0. Mikel Oyarzabal scored from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute after Lamine Yamal was fouled inside the box, and Pedro Porro added the second in the 58th, playing a give and go with Dani Olmo. It was Spain's sixth clean sheet in seven matches and the third summer in a row that they have knocked France out of a major tournament semi-final, after Euro 2024 and the 2025 Nations League. Around veterans Rodri and Pedri, the nineteen-year-old Yamal has been the tournament's most talked about creator, while the defensive discipline of Robin Le Normand and Marc Cucurella has given the side its foundation.

Argentina's Road to the Final

Lionel Scaloni's Argentina have arrived here the hard way. After a perfect group stage in Group J, La Albiceleste needed extra time to see off Cape Verde 3-2 in the Round of 32, another extra-time win against Egypt 3-2 in the Round of 16, and a 3-1 quarter-final win over Switzerland in Kansas City, sealed by a 112th-minute Julián Álvarez strike. Wednesday's semi-final against England in Atlanta followed the same script. Anthony Gordon put England 1-0 up in the 55th minute, and Thomas Tuchel's side looked to be closing in on their first final since 1966. Then, in the 85th minute, Enzo Fernández equalised with a strike from outside the box. In the second minute of stoppage time, Lautaro Martínez headed home the winner. Lionel Messi assisted both goals. It was the fourth consecutive knockout match Argentina had survived by the thinnest of margins. At 39, Messi is playing in what is expected to be his last major tournament, sits on 21 career World Cup goals, and enters the final on eight goals for the competition, the same as Kylian Mbappé.

The Third-Place Play-off: France 4-6 England, and a Historic Record

Before the two finalists took to their pre-match walkthroughs on Saturday, France and England produced one of the most extraordinary third-place matches in World Cup history at Miami Stadium. England, still processing their semi-final collapse against Argentina, raced into a 4-0 half-time lead through Declan Rice in the 3rd minute, Ezri Konsa in the 18th, and a first-half brace from Bukayo Saka. France then delivered one of the great World Cup comebacks that came up just short. Kylian Mbappé pulled one back in the 48th minute, assisted Bradley Barcola for a second in the 54th, and then scored again in the 66th to become the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with 22 goals, moving one clear of Messi. Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 87th minute. Ousmane Dembélé pulled another back in the 96th minute, before Jude Bellingham sealed the 6-4 result deep in stoppage time. Ten goals in one match, the highest tally in a World Cup game since Hungary's 10-1 defeat of El Salvador in 1982, and the highest ever in a third-place match. England claim their first World Cup bronze medal, their best finish since winning it all in 1966.

The Stakes Tonight

For Spain, a second star on the shirt would crown a generational rebuild that has already delivered two European Championships (2012, 2024) and confirm the arrival of Yamal as the face of the sport for the next decade. For Argentina, a second consecutive title would end sixty-four years of waiting for anyone to repeat as world champions, and would give Lionel Messi the perfect farewell to major international football.