FIFA World Cup: Spain vs Argentina – What to know ahead of the final

Title-holders Argentina look challengers Spain successful a star-studded 2026 FIFA World Cup final, arsenic the 39-day spectacle prepares for its closing act.

Sunday’s showdown successful New Jersey volition signifier a unique battle, pitting the tournament’s champion onslaught against the champion defence – Argentina person scored the astir goals (19); Spain person conceded the fewest (one).

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The last besides brings unneurotic the champions of South America and Europe astatine the World Cup for the archetypal clip successful 60 years.

And, to marque things much special, it marks a clash of generations: Spain’s 19-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal facing his childhood hero, Argentina’s 39-year-old Lionel Messi.

Here’s each to cognize astir Spain vs Argentina:

What is the victor prediction for Spain vs Argentina?

The Opta supercomputer predicts Spain person a 59.46 percent accidental of winning the 2026 World Cup, portion Argentina person a 40.54 percent probability of retaining the rubric they won successful 2022.

Where volition the World Cup last beryllium played?

The World Cup last volition beryllium played astatine MetLife Stadium, location to 2 National Football League (NFL) teams: the New York Giants and the New York Jets. For the FIFA World Cup, the venue has temporarily been rebadged arsenic New York-New Jersey Stadium.

Built successful 2010, this immense multipurpose stadium holds up to 82,500 spectators for shot matches. The venue besides hosted the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup last and some semifinals.

The past World Cup lucifer astatine the MetLife Stadium was a circular of 16 lucifer that Norway won 2-1 against Brazil [Omar Aziz/Reuters]

Spain vs Argentina: Head-to-head

• Matches: 16
• Spain wins: 6
• Argentina wins: 6
• Draws: 2

Spain vs Argentina: Last 5 matches

(All friendlies)

• Spain 6-1 Argentina (March 2018)
• Argentina 4-1 Spain (September 2010)
• Spain 2-1 Argentina (November 2009)
• Spain 2-1 Argentina (11 October 2006)
• Spain 0-2 Argentina (November 1999)

Have Spain and Argentina ever played astatine the World Cup?

Yes, but conscionable once.

They met successful a radical lucifer astatine the 1966 World Cup successful England, with Argentina beating Spain 2-1.

Spain were knocked retired successful the radical signifier of that tournament, portion Argentina bowed retired successful the quarterfinals.

Spain’s Lamine Yamal lines up with Dani Olmo and Mikel Oyarzabal earlier a World Cup lucifer [Jessie Alcheh/Imagn Images via Reuters]

Spain and Argentina: Trophies

Spain person won the World Cup once, successful 2010, portion Argentina are three-time winners: 1978, 1986 and 2022.

At the continental level, Spain are grounds four-time European champions (1964, 2008, 2012 and 2024), portion Argentina are grounds 16-time winners of South America, with their latest Copa America rubric coming successful 2024.

Who are Spain’s cardinal players?

Mikel Oyarzabal has been Spain’s apical scorer astatine this World Cup with 5 goals, including 1 successful their semifinal triumph implicit France. Rodri has been a captious beingness successful Spain’s midfield, completing the astir passes (648) successful the tournament.

Teen sensation Yamal, playing successful the tourney aft an injury, has not shown his accustomed magic yet, but is ever a menace connected the close wing.

Who are Argentina’s cardinal players?

Messi is the outright leader of the team, starring by 8 goals and 4 assists, which besides makes him the frontrunner for the Golden Boot.

Messi scored successful each lucifer up until the circular of 16, and his assists acceptable them up for occurrence successful the quarterfinals and semifinals.

Lautaro Martinez (three goals) and Enzo Fernandez (two) person besides played a relation successful Argentina’s attacking masterclass.

What person the players oregon coaches said?

Luis de la Fuente, Spain’s caput coach: “I judge that some Spain and Argentina volition person a crippled program wherever endowment and bully shot volition regularisation implicit everything else.”

Rodri, Spain’s captain: “This squad and this ⁠generation were going to marque a sanction for themselves… and present reaching the last of a World Cup. So we’re pleased with the travel the squad has taken, but we’re not stopping there; our ambition goes overmuch further.”

Argentina’s caput manager Lionel Scaloni, left, and Spain’s manager Luis de la Fuente volition conscionable successful the World Cup last [Odd Andersen and Lluis Gene/AFP]

Lionel Scaloni, Argentina’s caput coach: “It fills maine with pridefulness due to the fact that helium [Messi] is the champion subordinate successful the past of football. To person been capable to get to a last successful the mode that helium has successful this moment, astatine the property of 39, I deliberation it is incredible.”

Emi Martinez, Argentina’s goalkeeper: “Honestly, sometimes I outcry to myself reasoning astir what we person achieved. I americium conscionable trying to bask the moment. Because sometimes, arsenic footballers, you don’t truly realise wherever you are successful your career. My connection to my teammates is that they should bask this moment, hole with a grin connected our faces. This is thing we volition retrieve forever.”

What happens if the last lucifer ends successful a draw?

If a lucifer is level astatine the extremity of mean playing time, other clip of 2 periods of 15 minutes each volition beryllium played. If inactive tied, the lucifer volition beryllium decided by a penalty shootout.