ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JULY 15: Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina celebrates with teammates after the 2-1 win during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi Final match between England and Argentina at Atlanta Stadium on July 15, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
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For the first time since 1966, Spain and Argentina face each other in the World Cup — though Sunday’s meeting has much bigger implications as the matchup is in the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium.
The match marks the seventh time Argentina has played in the final, compared with Spain, whose lone appearance came in 2010 when it defeated the Netherlands 1-0 in South Africa.
More Details On Spain Vs. Argentina
Last Tuesday, Spain defeated France 2-0 in the semifinals at AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, to advance to the World Cup final. The team, which has played staunch defensively throughout the entire tournament, has surrendered just one goal through seven matches in 2026.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Argentina beat England 2-1 in a thrilling finish, thanks to two timely assists from star footballer Lionel Messi, to secure its third final appearance in the past four years.
Most recently, in the 2022 final in Qatar, Argentina defeated France 4-2 on penalty kicks after a 3-3 draw to win its third World Cup. Messi, who is the second highest-paid footballer at the World Cup per Forbes, is in the top spot for this year’s Golden Boot race.
Less 24 hours from kickoff, the “get-in” price to see the likes of Messi and Spain phenom Lamine Yamal — who has experienced a social media bump from the World Cup — is over $9,100, according to information provided by TicketData.
What Time Is The FIFA World Cup Final?
The World Cup final kicks off on Fox (English) and Telemundo (Spanish) around 3 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon in East Rutherford, N.J. On Fox, veteran broadcaster John Strong will serve as the play by play announcer, and he will be joined in the booth by analyst Stu Holden. Other reporters on-site at MetLife Stadium include Jenny Taft, Tom Rinaldi, Natalie Gedra, and Geoff Shreeves. Mark Clattenburg will be Fox’s rules analyst.
Who Is Performing At The World Cup Final Halftime Show?
For the first time ever, this year’s World Cup final will feature a halftime show complete with musical entertainment and guest appearances. Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, and K-pop band BTS will co-headline the 11-minute halftime performance.
Betting Odds For World Cup Final
Ahead of the World Cup final, Spain is the betting favorite at -150, according to the latest odds at the DraftKings Sportsbook. Meanwhile, France is the favorite (-240) to beat England in the third-place match on Saturday, which kicks off at 5 p.m. ET on Fox. The match is being held at HardRock Stadium in Miami.