Only one match remains at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. On the night of July 20 (Kazakhstan time), Spain and Argentina will meet in the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, just outside New York. Kickoff is at midnight, reports infohub.kz.
Last night, the bronze medalist was decided. England defeated France 6-4 in Miami in the highest-scoring match of the knockout stage. The French trailed 0-4, fought back with a brace from Kylian Mbappé and a goal from Bradley Barcola, but the English held on late. Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick, and Jude Bellingham netted the final goal.
The third-place match also reshuffled the scoring race. Mbappé brought his World Cup goal tally to 22, becoming the tournament's all-time top scorer, surpassing Lionel Messi. The Argentine has 21 goals before the final. To draw level with the Frenchman, Messi needs one goal; to surpass him, at least two. There is also a separate race for the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot. Mbappé finished the tournament with 10 goals; Messi has eight before the final. So the Argentine needs a brace to catch France's forward and a hat-trick to take the lead in goals at this World Cup.
For Argentina, this final could also be historic from a team perspective. If Lionel Scaloni's side beats Spain, they will become only the third nation to win back-to-back World Cups. Only Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962) have achieved that feat. No team has successfully defended the title since.
Spain is pursuing its second World Cup title. The Spaniards first won in 2010. At this tournament, Luis de la Fuente's team has stood out for its reliability: in seven matches, they have conceded just one goal and never trailed during a game.
Argentina's story is different – the experience of a team that knows how to overcome adversity. In this tournament, the Argentines have found themselves in difficult positions several times but advanced through character, squad depth, and Messi's decisions in key moments. In the semifinal against England, his passes led to goals by Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez.
The final is also a clash of generations. Messi and Lamine Yamal have long been linked by one of the most famous football photos of recent years. Nearly 19 years ago, the future Spanish star, as a baby, appeared in a UNICEF charity photo shoot with Messi. It was just a calendar picture then, but now the participants will meet in a World Cup final.
Statistical models give a slight edge to Spain. According to Opta, Spain's chances of winning in regulation time are 45%, while Argentina's probability is 26%. However, both teams' form suggests a more balanced match: Spain is unbeaten in 37 matches excluding penalty shootouts, and Argentina has won its last 14 games.
The 23rd edition of the World Cup kicked off on June 11. For the first time, the global football tournament is being held across three countries – the United States, Canada, and Mexico – and for the first time features 48 teams. After the group stage, the top two teams from each group and the eight best third-placed sides advanced. After four knockout rounds, the finalists (Spain and Argentina) and bronze medal match participants were determined, with England defeating France 6-4 in a tennis-like score.