Spain vs Argentina World Cup Final 2026: Time, Team News, Lineups & Preview
Spain vs Argentina meet in the FIFA World Cup Final on Sunday, July 19, 2026. Kickoff is 3:00 PM ET at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. FOX and Telemundo carry the match in the US. BBC One and ITV1 show it free in the UK.
It is the first World Cup Final ever between these two nations. The bottom line: we predict Spain 2-1, but Argentina has spent this entire tournament proving predictions wrong.
Spain vs Argentina Quick Facts
| Match | Spain vs Argentina, FIFA World Cup 2026 Final |
| Date | Sunday, July 19, 2026 |
| Kickoff Time | 3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM BST / 9:00 PM CEST |
| Venue | MetLife Stadium (New York New Jersey Stadium), East Rutherford, NJ |
| Capacity | 82,500 |
| TV Channels | US: FOX (English), Telemundo (Spanish) | UK: BBC One and ITV1 |
| Streaming | Fox One, Fox Sports app, Peacock, BBC iPlayer, ITVX |
| Referee | To be confirmed. FIFA’s announcement is expected by Friday |
| Head-to-Head | 14 meetings: Spain 6 wins, Argentina 6 wins, 2 draws |
| World Cup Titles | Spain 1 (2010), Argentina 3 (1978, 1986, 2022) |
Spain vs Argentina Team News
Last updated: Thursday, July 16, 2026
Spain Team News
Spain reported no new injuries from the semifinal win over France. The squad picture has been stable for weeks. Nico Williams has worked back from the injury he suffered against Uruguay in June. He has returned to the bench, and Alex Baena has held the left-wing role in his absence.
The one genuine selection debate sits in midfield. Fabian Ruiz has started ahead of Pedri in the last two matches. Pedri is pushing hard for a Final start. Mikel Merino stays as the designated closer. He scored the winning goal in consecutive knockout games against Portugal and Belgium.
Argentina Team News
Argentina emerged from the England semifinal without fresh fitness concerns. No player is suspended. FIFA wiped all yellow cards after the quarterfinals, so only a semifinal red card could have ruled anyone out. Cristian Romero managed his minutes through the knockout rounds after his pre-tournament knee issue, but he has started every knockout match.
Lionel Scaloni has one less day of rest to manage than Spain, having played on July 15. His big calls are up front and wide right. Lautaro Martinez came off the bench and headed the stoppage-time winner against England, pushing Julian Alvarez for a start.
Giuliano Simeone replaced Rodrigo De Paul in the semifinal XI, and De Paul will want his place back for the Final. Lionel Messi, who assisted both semifinal goals, starts as long as he can walk.
Spain vs Argentina Lineups
Spain Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1)
Unai Simon; Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella; Rodri, Fabian Ruiz; Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Alex Baena; Mikel Oyarzabal.
This is the exact XI that beat France 2-0. Luis de la Fuente has changed little all tournament. Pedri for Fabian Ruiz is the only realistic switch.
Argentina Predicted Lineup (4-4-2)
Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico; Giuliano Simeone, Leandro Paredes, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez.
This is the XI that beat England, with Simeone wide right and Messi floating behind Alvarez. Scaloni has two live decisions: Lautaro Martinez for Alvarez after his semifinal winner, and De Paul reclaiming the right side from Simeone. We expect Scaloni to keep the winning XI, with Lautaro held as the closer.
Confirmed lineups drop roughly one hour before kickoff on Sunday. This section will be updated the moment FIFA releases them.
Spain vs Argentina Head-to-Head Record
| Head-to-Head Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total meetings | 14 |
| Spain wins | 6 |
| Argentina wins | 6 |
| Draws | 2 |
| Last meeting | March 2018 friendly, Spain won 6-1 |
| Only World Cup meeting | 1966 group stage, Argentina won 2-1 |
| Meetings in a final | Never |
The rivalry could not be more even. Fourteen games, six wins each. The 6-1 in 2018 was the last word, but neither squad resembles those teams. The planned Finalissima between these Euro and Copa America champions was canceled. Sunday settles it with the biggest trophy instead.
How Spain and Argentina Reached the Final
Spain beat France 2-0 in Dallas on July 14. After a scoreless opening draw with Cape Verde, Spain has won six straight. The European champions went six matches without conceding before Belgium scored in the quarterfinal. That remains the only goal Spain has allowed all tournament. No team has controlled possession like Spain, leading the field at 66 percent.
Argentina beat England 2-1 in Atlanta on July 15. England led from the 55th minute until the 85th. Then Enzo Fernandez struck from distance and substitute Lautaro Martinez headed the winner in stoppage time.
Messi assisted both. Every previous knockout round needed extra time: Cape Verde, Egypt, and Switzerland all pushed the champions past 90 minutes. Argentina has won 14 straight matches and all six World Cup semifinals in its history.
Key Battles in Spain vs Argentina
Yamal against Tagliafico. Spain’s 19-year-old against Argentina’s 33-year-old left back. Yamal has not scored since the group stage, but he draws double-teams every match and remains Spain’s biggest threat. There is history here too: a viral photo shows a baby Yamal with a young Messi at a charity photo shoot. Their first competitive meeting comes with the trophy on the line.
Rodri against the Argentine press. Fernandez, Mac Allister, and Paredes will hunt Rodri in packs. No team has cut off Spain’s supply line yet. Argentina has the legs and the game plan to try.
Messi against Spain’s high line. Spain squeezes teams with possession and a high defensive line. That leaves grass behind the back four. Messi produced two perfect deliveries into that space against England in the final ten minutes.
Spain vs Argentina Prediction
Our Spain vs Argentina prediction is Spain 2-1. Spain has been the most complete team in the tournament, and one conceded goal across seven matches is no accident.
We expect Spain to score first through its wide play, Messi to answer, and Spain’s deeper bench to decide it late.
The honest counterargument: never pick against Messi in a final. Argentina’s four straight knockout rescues are a pattern, not luck.
Read the full Spain vs Argentina prediction with key battles, score picks, and our reasoning.
What Time is Spain vs Argentina?
| Region | Local Kickoff Time |
|---|---|
| US East (ET) | 3:00 PM Sunday |
| US Pacific (PT) | 12:00 PM Sunday |
| UK (BST) | 8:00 PM Sunday |
| Spain (CEST) | 9:00 PM Sunday |
| Argentina (ART) | 4:00 PM Sunday |
| India (IST) | 12:30 AM Monday |
| Bangladesh (BST) | 1:00 AM Monday |
| Australia East (AEST) | 5:00 AM Monday |
For every timezone and the full broadcast schedule, see what time is the World Cup Final.
How to Watch Spain vs Argentina World Cup Final
FOX shows the match in English in the US, with Telemundo in Spanish and streaming on Fox One and Peacock. UK viewers watch free on BBC One or ITV1.
Australian fans stream free on SBS. Full details, free options, and pregame times are in our guide on how to watch Spain vs Argentina.
FAQ About Spain vs Argentina World Cup Final
What happens if Spain vs Argentina ends in a draw?
The Final goes to two 15-minute periods of extra time. A penalty shootout decides the champion if the score stays level. Argentina won the 2022 Final on penalties after a 3-3 draw with France.
Has any team ever won back-to-back World Cups?
Yes, but not for 64 years. Italy won in 1934 and 1938, and Brazil won in 1958 and 1962. Argentina would be the first repeat champion since Brazil in 1962.
How much prize money does the World Cup Final winner get?
The champion earns $50 million, the largest prize in World Cup history. The runner-up earns $33 million. FIFA pays the money to national federations, not directly to players.
Can Messi win the Golden Boot in the Final?
Yes, and he currently leads the race. Messi and Kylian Mbappe both have eight goals, but Messi’s four assists beat Mbappe’s three on FIFA’s tiebreaker. Mbappe plays the third-place match on Saturday, so Messi will know his target before kickoff.
Is this Lionel Messi’s last World Cup match?
It could be. Messi is 39 and has not confirmed his international future beyond this tournament. He already holds the all-time World Cup scoring record with 21 goals.
Who is performing at the World Cup Final halftime show?
Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, BTS, and Burna Boy headline the first halftime show in World Cup history. Chris Martin of Coldplay curated the 11-minute performance.
Who won the last World Cup Final?
Argentina won the 2022 Final in Qatar, beating France 4-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw. Messi scored twice in that match and won the Golden Ball.
Spain vs Argentina is the final this World Cup deserved. The tournament’s best team meets its most relentless one, and Messi meets Yamal with everything on the line.
Kickoff is 3:00 PM ET on Sunday, July 19 on FOX and Telemundo. Check back Sunday morning for confirmed lineups the moment FIFA releases them.
