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World Cup (World)
·
Spain
Spain
1st · 7 pts·WWWWW
vs
Argentina
Argentina
1st · 9 pts·WWWWL
The story

European Champions Face Defending Holders in World Cup Final

The world’s two top-ranked nations meet at MetLife Stadium with Spain chasing their second title and Argentina aiming to become only the third team in history to retain the World Cup.

Match news & current form

Spain enter the final in formidable form, having won five consecutive matches including a 2-0 semi-final victory over France. Luis de la Fuente’s side has been the tournament's defensive benchmark, conceding only once in seven games. They are looking to replicate their 2010 success and cement their status as the world's most stable team, currently boasting a three-and-a-half-year unbeaten run in regulation time.

Argentina arrive as defending champions after a 2-1 semi-final win over England. Lionel Scaloni’s men have shown a 'knack' for the big moments, though their path has been more volatile than Spain's, evidenced by recent 3-2 wins over Egypt and Cape Verde Islands. This match is widely expected to be the final international appearance for Lionel Messi, who is looking to bow out at the pinnacle of the game.

Head-to-head history

The historical record between these two heavyweights is perfectly balanced with six wins apiece and two draws from 14 meetings. While Spain famously hammered a Messi-less Argentina 6-1 in a 2018 friendly, their only previous World Cup encounter came 60 years ago in 1966, where Argentina triumphed 2-1 in the group stages.

Hot stats & streaks
  • Spain have not lost a match in 90 minutes of play for 3.5 years.
  • Argentina are attempting to become only the third nation to win back-to-back World Cups, joining Italy (1938) and Brazil (1962).
  • Lionel Messi has broken Miroslav Klose's all-time World Cup goals record during this tournament.
  • Spain have conceded just one goal in seven matches during the 2026 World Cup.
  • Lionel Messi has been named Man of the Match in six of his seven appearances at this tournament.
Key players & missing men

The spotlight falls on the generational clash between 39-year-old Lionel Messi, who has eight goals and four assists in the tournament, and 19-year-old Lamine Yamal. Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro enter with confidence after scoring the goals that saw off France. Both squads have a clean bill of health with no injuries or suspensions reported following the semi-finals.

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The scoring picture

Goals scored and conceded.

Per-game averages at this tournament — updates as the games are played.

Goals per game

Both teams across every game at this tournament.

SpainSpainArgentinaArgentina
1.75Goals scored / game2.38
0.13Goals conceded / game1.00
How reliable, this tournament

Every tournament game combined — Spain 8 games, Argentina 8 games.

SpainSpainArgentinaArgentina
88%Games with a clean sheet25%
13%Games they failed to score13%
Head-to-head

Past meetings.

Spain
1–0
Argentina
Spain
Argentina
Spain
6–1
Argentina
Form check

Their recent form.

Spain
Spain
On a strong winning run
Last 5
5W · 0D · 0L
SpainvArgentina
1–0
W
FrancevSpain
0–2
W
SpainvBelgium
2–1
W
PortugalvSpain
0–1
W
SpainvAustria
3–0
W
Argentina
Argentina
On a strong winning run
Last 5
4W · 0D · 1L
SpainvArgentina
1–0
L
EnglandvArgentina
1–2
W
ArgentinavSwitzerland
3–1
W
ArgentinavEgypt
3–2
W
ArgentinavCape Verde Islands
3–2
W
World Cup 2026

The road to the final.

Twelve groups into a 32-team knockout · 72 of 72 group games played · fills in as every result lands.

Round of 3216/16
Round of 168/8
Quarter-finals4/4
Semi-finals2/2
Final1/1
GermanyGermany1 (3)
ParaguayParaguay1 (4)
Pens
FranceFrance3
SwedenSweden0
FT
South AfricaSouth Africa0
CanadaCanada1
FT
NetherlandsNetherlands1 (2)
MoroccoMorocco1 (3)
Pens
PortugalPortugal2
CroatiaCroatia1
FT
SpainSpain3
AustriaAustria0
FT
USAUSA2
Bosnia & HerzegovinaBosnia & Herzegovina0
FT
BelgiumBelgium3
SenegalSenegal2
AET
BrazilBrazil2
JapanJapan1
FT
Ivory CoastIvory Coast1
NorwayNorway2
FT
MexicoMexico2
EcuadorEcuador0
FT
EnglandEngland2
Congo DRCongo DR1
FT
ArgentinaArgentina3
Cape Verde IslandsCape Verde Islands2
AET
AustraliaAustralia1 (2)
EgyptEgypt1 (4)
Pens
SwitzerlandSwitzerland2
AlgeriaAlgeria0
FT
ColombiaColombia1
GhanaGhana0
FT
ParaguayParaguay0
FranceFrance1
FT
CanadaCanada0
MoroccoMorocco3
FT
PortugalPortugal0
SpainSpain1
FT
USAUSA1
BelgiumBelgium4
FT
BrazilBrazil1
NorwayNorway2
FT
MexicoMexico2
EnglandEngland3
FT
ArgentinaArgentina3
EgyptEgypt2
FT
SwitzerlandSwitzerland0 (4)
ColombiaColombia0 (3)
Pens
FranceFrance2
MoroccoMorocco0
FT
SpainSpain2
BelgiumBelgium1
FT
NorwayNorway1
EnglandEngland2
AET
ArgentinaArgentina3
SwitzerlandSwitzerland1
AET
FranceFrance0
SpainSpain2
FT
EnglandEngland1
ArgentinaArgentina2
FT
SpainSpain1
ArgentinaArgentina0
AET
Champions: Spain
Third place
FranceFrance4
EnglandEngland6
FT
Round of 3216/16
GermanyGermany1 (3)
ParaguayParaguay1 (4)
Pens
FranceFrance3
SwedenSweden0
FT
South AfricaSouth Africa0
CanadaCanada1
FT
NetherlandsNetherlands1 (2)
MoroccoMorocco1 (3)
Pens
PortugalPortugal2
CroatiaCroatia1
FT
SpainSpain3
AustriaAustria0
FT
USAUSA2
Bosnia & HerzegovinaBosnia & Herzegovina0
FT
BelgiumBelgium3
SenegalSenegal2
AET
BrazilBrazil2
JapanJapan1
FT
Ivory CoastIvory Coast1
NorwayNorway2
FT
MexicoMexico2
EcuadorEcuador0
FT
EnglandEngland2
Congo DRCongo DR1
FT
ArgentinaArgentina3
Cape Verde IslandsCape Verde Islands2
AET
AustraliaAustralia1 (2)
EgyptEgypt1 (4)
Pens
SwitzerlandSwitzerland2
AlgeriaAlgeria0
FT
ColombiaColombia1
GhanaGhana0
FT
Round of 168/8
ParaguayParaguay0
FranceFrance1
FT
CanadaCanada0
MoroccoMorocco3
FT
PortugalPortugal0
SpainSpain1
FT
USAUSA1
BelgiumBelgium4
FT
BrazilBrazil1
NorwayNorway2
FT
MexicoMexico2
EnglandEngland3
FT
ArgentinaArgentina3
EgyptEgypt2
FT
SwitzerlandSwitzerland0 (4)
ColombiaColombia0 (3)
Pens
Quarter-finals4/4
FranceFrance2
MoroccoMorocco0
FT
SpainSpain2
BelgiumBelgium1
FT
NorwayNorway1
EnglandEngland2
AET
ArgentinaArgentina3
SwitzerlandSwitzerland1
AET
Semi-finals2/2
FranceFrance0
SpainSpain2
FT
EnglandEngland1
ArgentinaArgentina2
FT
Final1/1
SpainSpain1
ArgentinaArgentina0
AET
Third place1/1
FranceFrance4
EnglandEngland6
FT