A general view of the closing ceremony before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Doha, Qatar: The showpiece at the New York New Jersey Stadium, kicking off at 10pm Qatar time, will be the 104th and final match of the first-ever 48-team FIFA World Cup. Argentina are aiming to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend the World Cup, while Spain are bidding to lift the trophy for only the second time after their historic triumph in South Africa 16 years ago.
Much attention will naturally focus on Messi and Yamal. The veteran chasing one final World Cup triumph and the teenager widely regarded as one of football’s brightest talents represent two generations sharing the biggest stage in the sport.
History offers little between the two nations at the World Cup. Their only previous meeting came in the 1966 tournament, when Argentina claimed a 2-1 victory. They have met frequently in friendlies since then, with Spain holding the advantage, including a memorable 6-1 win in Madrid in 2018.
None of those results, however, will matter when they step onto the field tonight. De la Fuente said he has “nothing but admiration” for Argentina and Scaloni, believing both finalists will produce a contest in which “talent and good football will rule over everything else.”
Follow all the highlights and match excitement here.
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120' + 5' Game over. Spain are champions of the world.
120' + 4' possibly last play of the game. foul for Argentina.
119' Argentina ALMOST get the equalizer but last-minute clearance from Spain keeps the score in their favour.
113' Messi with Argentina's first chance of the goal but his cross from the right flank is over the bar.
112' Torres scores the second but is judged offside by the linesman.
105' GOAL! Ferran Torres open the scoring for Spain.
102' CLOSE! Spanish sub Mikel Merino gets to the end of a Nico Williams cross but he heads it wide from point blank.
94' Nico Williams scores for Spain but the referee disallows it due to a previous foul by Mikel Merino.
93' CLOSE! Pedri's dinked cross finds Nico Williams alone in the box but the Spanish winger's headed effort just enough to get to the ball but not enough to get in the goal.
90' + 6' End of regular time. 0-0. Game is going to Extra Time.
90' + 4' Freekick for Spain in a promising position. Possibly last play of the game.
90' + 2' Promising counterattack for Spain but Nico Williams shoots it straight at Martinez. Enzo Fernandez then fouls Pau Cubarsi on the counter and is sent off after the second yellow. Argentina down to 10 men.
89' Rodri tries from distance but is well off target.
86' Merino's lobbed ball finds Torres in the box but his effort goes wide.
80' Laporte reaches the cross from Nico Williams but not enough power on it to give Martinez any trouble.
77' Pau Cubarsi tries from distance but Martinez prepared enough to parry it away.
66' Lamine Yamal after lovely wing play crosses it into the box but Ferran Torres' headers not powerful enough to beat Martinez at the sticks.
62' Dani Olmo tries from distance, Martinez mishandles the ball and it ends up a corner kick for Spain
59' Spain win a freekick in a very promising position.
53' A beautiful string of passes by Spain finds Fabian Ruiz who brings it back to Oyarzabal but Argentina's Montiel intercepts it, denying the Spanish forward of a crucial final touch on the ball.
51' Argentina's Paredes cautioned
46' Spain's Baena is handed a great chance after a misplaced pass from Paredes but his curled effort from outside the box is calmly collected by Martinez.
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HALFTIME SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
Part of the halftime show. (AFP)
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45' + 4' HALFTIME! 0-0
42' Cucurella tries from distance with a powerful left foot drive that skims past the Martinez's left hand post.
40' Lisandro Martinez for Agentina cautioned.
38' A beautiful sequence by the Spanish team finishes with a powerful shot from Oyarzabal but Martinez is able to get a hold of it and put out the danger.
34' Cucurella receives it behind the defense, his low cross is cleared before any danger is made but linesman rules he was offside at the beginning of the sequence.
32' Mac Allister wins a freekick in a promising position for Argentina.
28' Argentina almost pounce on a poorly weighed pass by Cubarsi but Unai Simon clears away the danger.
22' Corner for Spain
16' De Paul lobs in a nice ball from the freekick but Gonzalez run doesn't come early enough as the ball floats over the line for a goalkick for Spain
14' Foul for Spain after a tackle by Mac Allister on Dani Olmo.
11' Argentina have been relegated to mostly defensive duties in these first 10 minutes as the Spanish team controls the offensive tempo of the game and dominates posession.
7' Spain looking more threatening and eager so far
4' CLOSE! Lamine Yamal fed in by Dani Olmo but his shot loses is parried by Martinez. Spain close!
2' Foul commited by Spain's Fabian Ruiz turns over posession to Argentina.
1' Kickoff
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The world champion will be crowned in a matter of hours. Who will win?
The defending Champions & the challengers. #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/NzuPaVmxM2
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 19, 2026
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(AFP)
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Here is how the two teams will line-up
Argentina:
The chosen ones to play in the grand final...¡???????????????????? ????????????????????????????????????! ???????????????????? pic.twitter.com/tGne6hhidx
— Selección Argentina in English (@AFASeleccionEN) July 19, 2026
Spain:
Solo quedan 40 minutos.#VamosEspaña | #CopaMundialFIFA pic.twitter.com/wr3VFPN70T
— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) July 19, 2026
