Messi's Argentina set up a World Cup final against Spain
The reigning champions beat England 2-1 to earn a July 19 showdown at MetLife with the tournament's stingiest defence.
Argentina against Spain. The 2026 World Cup will be decided on Sunday, 19 July at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where the reigning world champions meet the reigning European champions in a final that sets raw attacking star power against the stingiest defence of the tournament.
Argentina booked their place with a 2-1 win over England in Atlanta, a late goal completing yet another comeback from Lionel Scaloni's side. It has not been a procession. The holders were dragged to extra time by Cape Verde and Switzerland and had to claw back a two-goal deficit against Egypt, but they keep finding a way, and they keep finding Lionel Messi. At 39, in what may be his last World Cup match, Messi has eight goals and set up both against England to move ahead in the Golden Boot race.
Spain arrived first, and arrived differently. A 2-0 win over France in Arlington, built on an Oyarzabal penalty and a Pedro Porro strike, sent La Roja to their first final since they lifted the trophy in 2010. De la Fuente's side have run on control and a back line that has conceded just once all tournament, keeping six clean sheets on the way. Teenager Lamine Yamal remains the spark most likely to unpick a disciplined defence.
The subplots write themselves. Messi first met Yamal when the Barcelona prodigy was a baby; their next meeting is a World Cup final. Argentina chase back-to-back titles and a fourth star, Spain a second. It is late-game magic against relentless organisation, and on Sunday only one side lifts the trophy.
