The FIFA World Cup 2026 final is scheduled for Sunday, July 19th, 2026, at 3pm local time (19:00 GMT) at the New York-New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States. The match will see Spain face off against Argentina in what promises to be a historic encounter.

Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, aims to become just the third team in World Cup history to retain the title, joining Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962). The team has shown resilience throughout the tournament, overcoming a tough round of 32 match against Cape Verde with a 3-2 extra-time win and a controversial last-16 comeback victory over Egypt after being two goals down. In the quarterfinals, Argentina secured a 3-1 win against Switzerland after playing the full 120 minutes and then triumphed in a dramatic semifinal with a late 2-1 comeback against England.

Spain has also impressed with their style of play, winning over New York’s die-hard World Cup fans with their 'Spanish style'. Rodri, a key player for Spain, noted the team's gradual growth and maturity over recent years, emphasizing that this generation is now making a name for themselves by reaching the World Cup final.

Argentina’s coach, Scaloni, praised Messi’s remarkable achievement of reaching the final at the age of 39, urging fans to appreciate having him in the team, drawing parallels with the legacy of Diego Maradona.

Fans can follow all the build-up and live text commentary on Al Jazeera Sport starting from 15:00 GMT on the day of the final.

Sources