Spain vs.Argentina.
Lamine Yamal vs.Lionel Messi.
The ultimate team vs.the comeback kids.
Will Spain win its second World Cup title, and its first since 2010? Or will Argentina become the first team to win back-to-back World Cups since Brazil in 1962?Subscribe to read this story ad-freeGet unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.We break down the World Cup final from every angle below.Oh, we previewed tomorrow’s bronze medal game, too, for good measure.
Final Preview It seems fitting that the biggest World Cup in history has produced a blockbuster final.Defending world champions Argentina will face European champions Spain in a mouthwatering showdown at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday.Argentina is chasing a fourth World Cup title and a place in history as the first team to win back-to-back tournaments since Brazil in 1958 and 1962.
Spain is bidding for its second crown after lifting the trophy in 2010.It will also be the first World Cup match featuring the top two teams in the FIFA rankings since the rankings were introduced in 1992, with No.1 Argentina facing No.
2 Spain.The final is also the first to feature the reigning European champion and the reigning world and South American champions, and the first to feature two Spanish-speaking nations since 1930.Despite the quality of both sides, the matchup pits the tournament’s most potent attack against its tightest defense.
Argentina has scored the most goals with 19, while Spain has conceded just once.Rodri #16 of Spain controls the ball against Michael Olise #11 of France during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi Final match between France and Spain on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas.Hannah Peters / FIFA via Getty ImagesThe spotlight, however, will fall squarely on Lionel Messi, widely regarded as the greatest footballer of all time.The Argentine captain, who dismantled England in the semifinal with two assists, is seeking a second World Cup title to further cement his legacy.
A victory ...