FIFA World Cup: Spain vs Argentina – What you need to know before reaching the final | World Cup 2026 news


Title holders Argentina will face rivals Spain in a star-studded tournament 2026 FIFA World Cup the last one, when the 39-day exhibition is preparing for its closing.

Sunday’s show in New Jersey will produce a special warputting the best competition in the best defense – Argentina has scored the most goals (19); Spain has allowed very few (one).

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The final brings together South American and European champions at the World Cup for the first time in 60 years.

And, to make things even more special, it shows a generational conflict: 19-year-old Spanish actor Lamine Yamal faces his own. childhood heroLionel Messi is 39 years old from Argentina.

Here’s everything you need to know about Spain vs Argentina:

What is the winning prediction for Spain vs Argentina?

Opta’s supercomputers predict that Spain has a 59.46 percent chance of winning the 2026 World Cup, while Argentina has a 40.54 percent chance of retaining the title they won in 2022.

Where will the World Cup final be played?

The World Cup final will be played on MetLife Stadiumhome of two National Football League (NFL) teams: the New York Giants and the New York Jets. For the FIFA World Cup, the venue was temporarily renamed the New York-New Jersey Stadium.

The stadium, which was built in 2010, has a capacity of 82,500 spectators. The venue also hosted the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final and all the semifinals.

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 16 - Brazil v Norway - New York New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US - July 5, 2026 Full view of the match action REUTERS/Omar Aziz
The last game of the World Cup at MetLife Stadium was the round of 16 in which Norway won 2-1 against Brazil (Omar Aziz / Reuters)

Spain vs Argentina: head to head

  • Similarities: 16
  • Spain wins: 6
  • Argentina wins: 6
  • Drawings: 2

Spain vs Argentina: Last 5 matches

(all friendly)

  • 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 in the World Cup?

Yes, but only once.

They met in the group stage at the World Cup in England in 1966, where Argentina beat Spain 2-1.

Spain were eliminated from the group stage, while Argentina lost in the quarterfinals.

Spain's Lamine Yamal lines up with Dani Olmo and Mikel Oyarzabal ahead of the World Cup
Spain’s Lamine Yamal lines up with Dani Olmo and Mikel Oyarzabal before the World Cup (Jessie Alcheh/Imagn Images via Reuters)

Spain and Argentina: Cups

Spain has won the World Cup once, in 2010, while Argentina has won three times: 1978, 1986 and 2022.

At the continental level, Spain is the European champion four times (1964, 2008, 2012 and 2024), while Argentina is the 16th winner in South America, with their latest Copa America title coming in 2024.

Who are the main Spanish players?

Mikel Oyarzabal has been Spain’s top scorer at the World Cup with five goals, including one in the semifinals in France. Rodri has been a key player in the Spanish midfield, completing the most goals (648) in the competition.

Youngster Yamal, who is playing in the tournament after an injury, has not shown his magic, but he is always a threat on the right wing.

Who are Argentina’s greatest players?

Messi is the team’s hero, leading the way with eight goals and four assists, which also makes him the leading scorer. Golden Shoes.

Messi scored in every game until the round of 16, and his assists led them to victory in the quarterfinals and semifinals.

Lautaro Martinez (three goals) and Enzo Fernandez (two) also took part in the Argentine attack.

What have the players or coaches said?

Luis de la Fuente, the great Spanish teacher: “I believe that Spain and Argentina will have a game plan where talent and good football will dominate everything else.”

Rodri, the Spanish captain: “This team and this generation will make history… and now it has reached the end of the World Cup. So we are happy with the journey this team has gone through, but we are not leaving it there; our ambitions are moving forward.”

(COMBO) A combination of file photos taken on July 16, 2026, show Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni in Kansas City on July 11, 2026 (L); and Spain coach Luis de la Fuente to Cornella de Llobregat on March 31, 2026. Spain and Argentina will meet in the final match of the 2026 World Cup soccer tournament at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on July 19, 2026. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN and Lluis GENE / AFP)
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni, left, and Spain coach Luis de la Fuente face off in the World Cup final (Odd Andersen and Lluis Gene/AFP)

Lionel Scaloni, the head coach of Argentina: “It makes me proud because he (Messi) is the best player in the history of football. To reach the final as he has done now, at the age of 39, I think it is not surprising.”

Emi Martinez, Argentine goalkeeper: “Honestly, sometimes I cry to myself when I think about what we have achieved. I’m just trying to enjoy this moment. Because sometimes, as football players, you don’t know where you are in your career. My message to my teammates is to enjoy this moment, prepare and put a smile on our faces. This is something we will remember forever.”

What happens if the final game ends in a draw?

If the match is level at the end of playing time, extra time of 15 minutes each will be played. If still tied, the match will be decided by a penalty shootout.



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