Preview: Spain vs Argentina | Latest news, line-ups, absences (19/07/2026)
Preview, team news, head-to-head, probable line-ups and where to watch Spain vs Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final
The biggest match in world football has arrived as Spain and Argentina meet at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday night, with the 2026 FIFA World Cup trophy at stake.
Spain reached the final after a superb 2-0 victory over France in the semi-finals. Mikel Oyarzabal calmly converted an early penalty before Pedro Porro capped a man-of-the-match display with a stunning second-half strike, sending Luis de la Fuente’s side into their first World Cup final since lifting the trophy in South Africa in 2010.
Argentina booked their place in a second successive World Cup final by coming from behind to beat England 2-1. Jude Bellingham’s opener briefly threatened to derail the holders, but Enzo Fernández’s spectacular long-range effort restored parity before Lautaro Martínez headed home a dramatic late winner to keep Lionel Scaloni’s side on course to retain the title they won in Qatar four years ago.
Beyond the battle for football’s greatest prize, Sunday’s final has been billed by many as Lionel Messi versus Lamine Yamal – the legendary icon chasing one final World Cup triumph against the teenager widely viewed as the next global superstar.
Latest news: absences, form, team news
Spain have arguably been the tournament’s most complete team, combining technical excellence with defensive solidity. Their victory over France highlighted the squad depth available to De la Fuente, who has not been afraid to make bold selection decisions during the knockout rounds.
Argentina have once again demonstrated why they are world champions. Scaloni’s side have needed extra time twice in the knockouts but continue to find decisive moments when it matters most, with Messi, Enzo Fernández and Julián Álvarez all playing key roles throughout the tournament.
Spain
One of the biggest talking points has been De la Fuente’s midfield selections. Pedri has surprisingly started the last two knockout matches on the bench, with Fabián Ruiz excelling in a more advanced role. The decision has paid off, making another start for Ruiz highly likely in the final.
On the left wing, Álex Baena now appears to have edged ahead of Nico Williams after impressing in consecutive knockout fixtures, while Pedro Porro has firmly established himself as Spain’s first-choice right-back. Marcos Llorente began the tournament in that role, but Porro’s outstanding performance and goal against France have made him almost certain to retain his place.
Rodri remains the team’s midfield anchor, while Lamine Yamal continues to be Spain’s most unpredictable attacking weapon alongside Mikel Oyarzabal.
Argentina
Scaloni’s midfield has evolved throughout the knockout rounds. Leandro Paredes has forced his way into the starting XI since the Round of 16, bringing additional control and defensive balance.
Against England, Rodrigo De Paul dropped to the bench, with Giuliano Simeone surprisingly selected to provide greater energy and pressing. One of the biggest selection questions ahead of the final is whether Scaloni recalls De Paul and fields all four of De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister and Paredes, as he did against Egypt and Switzerland, in an attempt to match Spain’s exceptional midfield.
Up front, Julián Álvarez has clearly established himself as Argentina’s first-choice striker ahead of Lautaro Martínez, despite Lautaro’s winning goal in the semi-final. Nahuel Molina and Nicolás Tagliafico remain the preferred full-backs, while Messi continues to orchestrate attacks from a deeper role.
Teams H2H: Head-to-head stats
Spain and Argentina have enjoyed several memorable meetings over the decades, although competitive encounters between the nations remain relatively rare.
Their last meeting came in a high-profile friendly in 2018, when Spain recorded a famous 6-1 victory. Argentina, however, won the previous meeting between the nations in 2010 shortly after Spain became world champions.
Recent meetings:
- 27/03/2018: Spain 6-1 Argentina (International friendly)
- 07/09/2010: Argentina 4-1 Spain (International friendly)
- 14/11/2009: Spain 2-1 Argentina (International friendly)
- 12/10/1999: Spain 0-2 Argentina (International friendly)
- 03/06/1995: Argentina 0-0 Spain (International friendly)
Predicted line-ups
Spain are expected to remain unchanged following their semi-final victory, while Argentina’s biggest decision centres on the balance of their midfield.
Tactical analysis: Can Spain control Messi?
This final is a fascinating clash between the tournament’s best possession side and the reigning world champions.
Spain will attempt to dominate the ball through Rodri and Fabián Ruiz, patiently moving Argentina around before creating one-on-one situations for Yamal and Baena. Their pressing has also improved throughout the tournament, allowing them to recover possession quickly after losing it.
Argentina are unlikely to mind playing without prolonged spells of possession. Scaloni’s side have become increasingly pragmatic in the knockout rounds, defending compactly before breaking through the intelligence of Messi and the relentless movement of Álvarez.
The midfield battle could ultimately determine the destination of the trophy. If Argentina deploy Paredes, Enzo, Mac Allister and De Paul together, they may sacrifice some attacking width in exchange for numerical superiority in central areas. Spain, meanwhile, will rely on Rodri’s composure and Fabián’s outstanding recent form to dictate the tempo.
Then there is the individual duel of Lionel Messi vs Lamine Yamal, which sees the greatest player in history against the teenager who is seen as his heir.
Key players to watch
Lamine Yamal (Spain)
At just 19, Yamal has become the face of Spain’s exciting new generation. His ability to beat defenders, create chances and deliver in the biggest moments has made him one of the most feared players in the world despite his age. It’s taken him a while to get going in this World Cup, having come into the tournament on the back of an injury, but his displays against Belgium and France see him enter the final in good form.
Against Argentina’s experienced defence, his direct running could be Spain’s greatest attacking weapon. Yamal to register a goal or assist looks an attractive player market.
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
This could be the final World Cup appearance of one of football’s greatest-ever players. Messi enters the final level with Kylian Mbappé on eight goals, but his four assists currently give him the edge in the Golden Boot race tiebreaker. Beyond the individual accolades, his vision and composure remain central to everything Argentina do. If the holders are to retain their crown, another iconic performance from Messi may well be required.
Depending on what Mbappé does in the France vs England third-place playoff, Messi may need to score or register assist to sway the award his way. That’s why we’re backing Messi to score anytime in the final.
Where to watch Spain vs Argentina in the UK and Ireland
Spain vs Argentina kicks off at 20:00 BST on Sunday, July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
In the United Kingdom, the World Cup final will be broadcast live on both BBC One and ITV1, with extensive pre-match coverage beginning several hours before kick-off.
In the Republic of Ireland, the match will be shown live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
Fans will also witness the first-ever FIFA World Cup half-time show, with stars like Shakira, BTS and Chris Martin among the performers.
Spain vs Argentina prediction and betting tips
Bookmakers make this one of the closest World Cup finals in recent memory. Current Spain vs Argentina predictions imply approximately a 36% chance of a Spain win inside 90 minutes, compared to around 34% for Argentina, while the draw is rated at roughly 30%, underlining how finely balanced the contest is expected to be.
Spain have arguably produced the most consistent football of the tournament, with Rodri controlling games and Porro, Fabián Ruiz and Yamal all peaking at the perfect time. Argentina, however, possess the invaluable experience of defending champions and continue to find ways to win the biggest knockout matches.
Whether the story ends with Messi lifting the World Cup one final time or Yamal announcing himself as football’s new king, Sunday’s final has all the ingredients to become one of the defining matches in World Cup history.
