Spain v Argentina: World Cup Final Live
Live build-up and coverage of the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey.
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Full time: Spain 1-0 Argentina
Full time at MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey. Spain 1, Argentina 0. Thanks for following our live coverage.
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Yellow card: Alexis Mac Allister (111')
Alexis Mac Allister is shown a yellow card for Argentina in the 111' minute.
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GOAL! Spain 1-0 Argentina (106')
Ferran Torres breaks the deadlock! The substitute forward scores for Spain in the 106th minute, early in the second period of extra time, to give Spain the lead against ten-man Argentina. Spain 1, Argentina 0.
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Yellow card: Giuliano Simeone (105')
Giuliano Simeone is shown a yellow card for Argentina in the 105' minute.
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Substitution, Argentina (102')
Marcos Senesi replaces Julian Alvarez for Argentina.
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Substitution, Spain (99')
Eric Garcia replaces Aymeric Laporte for Spain.
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Substitution, Spain (99')
Martin Zubimendi replaces Rodri for Spain.
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Extra time begins
90 minutes were not enough to separate these two sides. Spain and Argentina go to extra time still level at 0-0, with Argentina down to ten men after Enzo Fernandez's second-half red card. Two periods of 15 minutes will follow, with penalties to decide the World Cup if the scores remain level.
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RED CARD! Enzo Fernandez is sent off (90'+3')
Enzo Fernandez picks up a second yellow card and is shown red in the 90'+3' minute, having already been booked in the 82nd minute. Argentina are reduced to ten men in stoppage time with the score still level at 0-0.
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Yellow card: Cristian Romero (90'+2')
Cristian Romero is shown a yellow card for Argentina in the 90'+2' minute.
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Yellow card: Enzo Fernandez (82')
Enzo Fernandez is shown a yellow card for Argentina in the 82' minute.
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Substitution, Spain (75')
Mikel Merino replaces Dani Olmo for Spain. Merino scored the decisive goal in the round of 16 against Portugal and the winner in the quarter-final against Belgium, both times off the bench.
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Substitution, Spain (75')
Nico Williams replaces Alex Baena for Spain.
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Substitution, Argentina (70')
Giuliano Simeone replaces Rodrigo De Paul for Argentina.
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Substitution, Argentina (70')
Facundo Medina replaces Cristian Romero for Argentina.
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Substitution, Spain (62')
Pedri replaces Fabian Ruiz for Spain.
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Substitution, Spain (62')
Ferran Torres replaces Mikel Oyarzabal for Spain.
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Substitution, Argentina (58')
Nahuel Molina replaces Gonzalo Montiel for Argentina.
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Yellow card: Leandro Paredes (52')
Leandro Paredes is shown a yellow card for Argentina in the 52' minute.
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Second half under way
We are back for the second half.
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Substitution, Argentina
Leandro Paredes replaces Nico Gonzalez for Argentina.
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Half time: Spain 0-0 Argentina
It is the break at MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey.
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Substitution, Argentina (44')
Nicolas Otamendi replaces Lisandro Martinez for Argentina.
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Yellow card: Lisandro Martinez (41')
Lisandro Martinez is shown a yellow card for Argentina in the 41' minute.
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Kickoff at MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey
We are under way. Spain get the 2026 World Cup Final clash with Argentina started.
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Almost time, both teams are out on the pitch
Spain and Argentina have emerged onto the MetLife Stadium pitch as the closing ceremony draws to a close. Kick-off is imminent. Follow this page for minute-by-minute updates once the referee gets the 2026 World Cup final under way.
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What to expect at half-time
The historic half-time show, the first official one at a men's World Cup final, is expected to begin around 4 to 4.15pm ET depending on first-half stoppage time, and will run for around 11 minutes. Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber and BTS co-headline, with Burna Boy joining Shakira and New York's PS22 Chorus performing alongside Coldplay. The show is tied to FIFA's Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative aiming to raise 100 million dollars for children's education worldwide. In the United States, the final airs in English on Fox and Fox One, and in Spanish on Telemundo and Peacock.
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The closing ceremony is under way
MetLife Stadium has burst into life as the pre-match closing ceremony gets going, opening with a drumline and dancers before Post Malone takes the stage, performing his new track 'Chrome Heartbreaker' alongside a collaboration with Swae Lee. More performers are expected before the half-time show later in the match. Tickets for today's final have reportedly become the most expensive in US sporting history. Kick-off remains on schedule for 3pm ET.
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Both lineups are in, straight from the official team sheets
Spain line up in a 4-1-2-3: Unai Simon in goal, a back four of Pedro Porro, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsi and Marc Cucurella, Rodri sitting alone in front of the defence, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Olmo ahead of him, and Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal and Alex Baena forming the front line, captained by Rodri. Argentina go with a 4-4-2: Emiliano Martinez in goal behind Nicolas Tagliafico, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez and Gonzalo Montiel, a midfield four of Rodrigo De Paul, Nico Gonzalez, Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernandez, with Julian Alvarez partnering captain Lionel Messi up front. Notably, Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina both start on the bench for Argentina, along with Giuliano Simeone and top scorer Lautaro Martinez. Both starting elevens are now official with kick-off approaching.
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Argentina's midfield puzzle
Argentina's starting lineup is still to be officially confirmed, though with a fully fit squad to choose from, head coach Lionel Scaloni is expected to name Emiliano Martinez in goal behind Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez and Nicolas Tagliafico, with Enzo Fernandez, Leandro Paredes and Alexis Mac Allister in midfield and Julian Alvarez alongside Lionel Messi up front. The main selection question is over the final midfield slot, where Scaloni is weighing up Giuliano Simeone against Rodrigo De Paul. Official lineups are due imminently.
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Spain's full lineup confirmed
Spain have confirmed their starting eleven in a 4-2-3-1: Unai Simon in goal, a back four of Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte and Marc Cucurella, a double pivot of Rodri and Fabian Ruiz, an attacking midfield line of Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo and Alex Baena, and Mikel Oyarzabal leading the line. It is, as expected, an unchanged side from the semi-final win over France. Argentina's lineup has not yet been officially confirmed. No fresh injury concerns have been reported in either camp.
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The numbers behind the final
Spain arrive unbeaten in 37 consecutive matches and have conceded just a single goal across the entire tournament. Lionel Messi, meanwhile, is set to make his 34th World Cup appearance today, a record for any player, men's or women's, in the tournament's history. The final airs in the United States on Telemundo and Peacock, with kick-off just over an hour away.
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Team news taking shape
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente is reported to be sticking with the same starting eleven that beat France in the semi-final, with Unai Simon in goal behind a back four of Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte and Marc Cucurella, and Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal and Alex Baena again forming the attacking trio. For Argentina, Rodrigo De Paul is expected to reclaim his midfield place alongside Enzo Fernandez and Leandro Paredes, with Alexis Mac Allister, Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez completing the attack. Official confirmation from both camps is still to come.
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Base camps: Spain in Montclair, Argentina in Clifton
Spain have been based at a hotel in Montclair, New Jersey, which the squad has occupied in full since arriving by bus on Wednesday night, with a training session held nearby at Melanie Lane Training Grounds in East Hanover. Argentina have been staying at a hotel in Clifton, New Jersey. Both squads are due to make the short journey to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford this afternoon.
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A stacked halftime show and closing ceremony
The entertainment lineup for today's final has been confirmed. Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber and BTS will co-headline the half-time show, joined by Burna Boy, conductor Gustavo Dudamel, New York's PS22 Chorus and the Muppets, with the performance curated by Coldplay's Chris Martin. Post Malone headlines the pre-match closing ceremony, with Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams and IShowSpeed also performing, and a special appearance from Tom Cruise. Jennifer Hudson will sing the United States national anthem.
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Teacher versus student in the dugouts
There is a personal storyline behind the two head coaches. Spain boss Luis de la Fuente taught Lionel Scaloni back in 2017 when the Argentina coach was studying for his UEFA Pro licence, and the pair now face off in the biggest match in football. Both have talked up an open, attacking final, with Scaloni saying the two sides 'both look to attack through the ball, with some nuances.' On containing Messi, de la Fuente recalled once setting a man-marker on him only to see him score four goals inside 15 minutes, and said Spain would instead keep a close eye on their opponent's captain rather than assign a dedicated marker.
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Oyarzabal's big-game pedigree
Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal, who has scored five goals on the way to this final, is no stranger to deciding major finals: he scored the winning goal in Spain's Euro 2024 final victory over England. Confirmed starting lineups for both sides are expected roughly an hour before kick-off, with further team news to follow as the squads arrive at MetLife Stadium.
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Fans converge on MetLife Stadium
Spain and Argentina supporters have been gathering across the New York area since the morning, with roughly 80,000 fans expected inside MetLife Stadium. Gates open at 11am local time, with a pre-match closing ceremony planned for 1:30pm ahead of the 3pm kick-off. NJ Transit rail via Secaucus Junction is the recommended route to the stadium, with heavy road traffic expected around Midtown and the Meadowlands. Security has been significantly increased for the final, with clear-bag rules in effect and fans urged to arrive early to allow time for screening.
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Is this Messi's last dance?
Speculation is growing over whether this will be Lionel Messi's final appearance for Argentina, after he posted an emotional message to his longtime boot sponsor referencing 'The Last Tango' ahead of the final. Head coach Lionel Scaloni says he has no indication of his captain's plans beyond the tournament, and Messi himself has made no explicit mention of retirement. Win or lose, his legacy is already made: he is set to become just the second player in history, after Brazil's Cafu, to feature in three World Cup finals, and the only one of the two to start all three. Victory would also make Argentina only the third nation, after Italy and Brazil, to defend the World Cup title.
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Fitness doubts and a packed house expected
There is a slight fitness scare for Spain after Lamine Yamal sat out training in New Jersey on Thursday with a bandage on his left thigh, though he and Tottenham's Pedro Porro are both expected to be fit to start. Spain otherwise have a clean bill of health. Argentina are managing a lingering issue for a defender who has not featured since limping off in the round of 32 with a calf problem, and is racing to be fit for the final. A crowd of around 80,000 is expected at MetLife Stadium, with even the cheapest remaining tickets on resale sites reportedly close to 10,000 dollars.
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Referee, weather and the odds
Slovenian official Slavko Vincic has been appointed referee for the final, becoming the first Slovenian to take charge of a men's World Cup final. He previously refereed the 2024 Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund. The forecast at MetLife Stadium calls for a high near 83F with a mix of sun and cloud and only a slight chance of rain. Spain go in as favourites with Opta's model giving them a 59.6 percent chance of winning the tournament to Argentina's 40.4 percent, though bookmakers see a tight, cagey final as most likely, with four of the last five World Cup finals having needed extra time.
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Anticipation builds at MetLife Stadium
Spain captain Rodri has said his side must raise their level for the final after a dominant run through the knockout rounds. Demand for last-minute tickets has been extraordinary, with resale prices reportedly ranging from 10,000 to 60,000 dollars. One senior broadcast executive has called the pairing of Messi and Lamine Yamal in a final between two continental champions the makings of the greatest World Cup final ever. Elsewhere, Kylian Mbappe leads the tournament's Golden Boot race with ten goals after his double in France's 6-4 third-place defeat to England on Saturday.
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Predicted lineups
Spain are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 with Mikel Oyarzabal leading the line and Lamine Yamal wide. Argentina are projected in a 4-4-2 with Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez up front, supported by Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister in midfield. Official confirmed lineups follow around an hour before kick-off.
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The Messi factor
Lionel Messi has been the standout player of the tournament, with eight goals and four assists heading into the final. Argentina will lean heavily on their captain once more, while Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal, who has scored two knockout-stage winners already this tournament, leads their attack with five goals overall.
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Spain v Argentina: the World Cup final is here
Welcome to our live build-up to the 2026 World Cup final. Spain face Argentina at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with kick-off at 15:00 ET (19:00 UTC). It is the first-ever men's World Cup final between two continental champions. Spain reached the final with a 2-0 semi-final win over France, having conceded just one goal in seven matches so far. It is only Spain's second World Cup final appearance, the first coming in 2010, and they arrive as reigning European champions after winning Euro 2024. Argentina booked their place with a 2-1 extra-time win over England and are defending the title they won in Qatar in 2022. Victory would make them the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups.
Match events
- 0' ↔️ Leandro Paredes→ Nico Gonzalez
- 41' 🟨 Lisandro Martinez
- 44' ↔️ Nicolas Otamendi→ Lisandro Martinez
- 52' 🟨 Leandro Paredes
- 58' ↔️ Nahuel Molina→ Gonzalo Montiel
- 62' ↔️ Ferran Torres→ Mikel Oyarzabal
- 62' ↔️ Pedri→ Fabian Ruiz
- 70' ↔️ Facundo Medina→ Cristian Romero
- 70' ↔️ Giuliano Simeone→ Rodrigo De Paul
- 75' ↔️ Nico Williams→ Alex Baena
- 75' ↔️ Mikel Merino→ Dani Olmo
- 82' 🟨 Enzo Fernandez
- 90' 🟥 Enzo Fernandez
- 90' 🟨 Cristian Romero
- 99' ↔️ Martin Zubimendi→ Rodri
- 99' ↔️ Eric Garcia→ Aymeric Laporte
- 102' ↔️ Marcos Senesi→ Julian Alvarez
- 105' 🟨 a player
- 106' ⚽ Ferran Torres
- 111' 🟨 Alexis Mac Allister
Attendance · 80663
Squad
Lineup
Spain
4-1-2-3- 23 Unai Simon
- 12 Pedro Porro
- 14 Aymeric Laporte
- 22 Pau Cubarsi
- 24 Marc Cucurella
- 8 Fabian Ruiz
- 15 Alex Baena
- 16 Rodri (C)
- 10 Dani Olmo
- 19 Lamine Yamal
- 21 Mikel Oyarzabal
- 1 David Raya
- 13 Joan Garcia
- 2 Marc Pubill
- 3 Alex Grimaldo
- 4 Eric Garcia
- 5 Marcos Llorente
- 6 Mikel Merino
- 9 Gavi
- 18 Martin Zubimendi
- 20 Pedri
- 7 Ferran Torres
- 11 Yeremy Pino
- 17 Nico Williams
- 25 Victor Munoz
- 26 Borja Iglesias
Manager · Luis de la Fuente Castillo
Argentina
4-4-2- 23 Emiliano Martinez
- 3 Nicolas Tagliafico
- 4 Gonzalo Montiel
- 6 Lisandro Martinez
- 13 Cristian Romero
- 7 Rodrigo De Paul
- 15 Nico Gonzalez
- 20 Alexis Mac Allister
- 24 Enzo Fernandez
- 9 Julian Alvarez
- 10 Lionel Messi (C)
- 1 Juan Musso
- 12 Geronimo Rulli
- 2 Marcos Senesi
- 19 Nicolas Otamendi
- 25 Facundo Medina
- 26 Nahuel Molina
- 5 Leandro Paredes
- 8 Valentin Barco
- 11 Giovani Lo Celso
- 14 Exequiel Palacios
- 16 Thiago Almada
- 17 Giuliano Simeone
- 18 Nico Paz
- 21 Jose Manuel Lopez
- 22 Lautaro Martinez
Manager · Lionel Scaloni