World Cup final set for Sunday showdown

By Sanjay Menon — 16 July 2026 — 3 min read

World Cup final set for Sunday showdown

The World Cup final is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, at 3 p.m. ET, taking place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. This highly anticipated match will feature Argentina against Spain, marking the conclusion of the tournament. The stadium, home to the Giants and Jets, is expected to host 82,500 fans for the event.

The kickoff time was specifically chosen to accommodate prime time viewing overseas, with a 9 p.m. start in most of Europe and 8 p.m. in Britain. This will be the first World Cup final held on American soil since 1994, when Brazil defeated Italy in a penalty shootout at the Rose Bowl.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that President Donald Trump will be present to hand the trophy to the winning team. While heads of state have participated in this tradition before, such as Queen Elizabeth II in 1966, Infantino has presented the trophy solo in recent tournaments, specifically in 2018 and 2022.

Clash of styles and champions

The final will pit Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, against Spain, featuring Lamine Yamal. Argentina, the defending champion, is seeking its fourth title and aims to be the first team to win back-to-back World Cups since Brazil achieved the feat in 1958 and 1962. Spain, on the other hand, is vying for its second title, having previously won in 2010.

Argentina advanced to the final by defeating England 2-1 in one semifinal on Wednesday. Spain secured its spot by beating France 2-0 in the other semifinal on Tuesday. Argentina has been noted for its offensive prowess, leading the tournament in goals scored. Spain has demonstrated a strong defensive record, allowing the fewest goals in the tournament.

The two teams were ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in FIFA‘s world rankings heading into the World Cup. Argentina entered as the top-ranked team, with Spain following at No. 2. Both teams bring impressive unbeaten streaks into the final. Spain holds a 37-match unbeaten streak across all competitions and friendlies, with 28 wins and nine draws, with their last loss occurring in March 2024 against Colombia. Argentina is unbeaten in its last 13 World Cup matches, securing 11 victories and two draws since a loss to Saudi Arabia in the 2022 tournament’s group stage.

Viewing information and team paths

For viewers in the United States, the final will be broadcast in English on Fox and in Spanish on Telemundo. Streaming options include the FOX One app and Peacock for the Spanish broadcast, as well as YouTube TV, Fubo, and Hulu + Live TV for subscribers.

Spain’s journey to the final included:

• Group stage: drew with Cape Verde 0-0, beat Saudi Arabia 4-0, beat Uruguay 1-0.
• Knockout stage: beat Austria 3-0, beat Portugal 1-0, beat Belgium 2-1, beat France 2-0.

Argentina’s path to the final involved:

• Seven wins, zero draws, zero losses.
• Goals for: 19.
• Goals against: 7.
• Group stage: beat Algeria 3-0, beat Austria 2-0, beat Jordan 3-1.
• Knockout stage: beat Cape Verde 3-2, beat Egypt 3-2, beat Switzerland 3-1, beat England 2-1.

Early odds have installed Spain as the favorite at +120, with Argentina at +275, and a draw at +200, though these numbers are subject to change before the match on Sunday.

Source: apnews.com