The World Cup Final is the most prestigious match in football and arguably the greatest sporting event on the planet.
Billions have tuned in over the years to see who will lift the Jules Rimet trophy and the more modern World Cup trophy. With two footballing superpowers battling it out in the finals, it’ll be no different this time around.
Holders Argentina were able to overcome England on Wednesday in a blockbuster clash in Atlanta. That victory sets up a final against European champions Spain who beat 2018 winners France in their own semi-final on Tuesday.
Whoever makes it, the 2026 World Cup Final will be an unmissable occasion, so read on for everything you need to know.
World Cup Final date, kick-off time and venue
The 2026 World Cup Final will take place on Sunday, 19th July, with the match scheduled to kick off at 8pm UK time (3pm local time).
MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey will host the match, with a capacity crowd once again expected to fill the 82,566-seater arena.
The venue was selected to hold the final back in 2024 and is no stranger to big events, hosting the New York Giants and New York Jets in the NFL.
MetLife Stadium has also held numerous football matches down the years. This includes a Copa America semi-final between Argentina and Canada in 2024, and Chelsea’s 3-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the 2025 Club World Cup final.
How to watch the World Cup Final
The 2026 World Cup final will be broadcast on both BBC One and ITV1, with coverage on both channels beginning at 7pm (UK time). Fans will also be able to stream the match for free on BBC iPlayer and ITVX.
The Squawka and Squawka Live X channels will provide your ideal second screen, keeping you up to date with the latest stats and stories as the match unfolds.
Road to the Final: how the teams got there
We’re down to just two teams as Spain and Argentina prepare to contest the 2026 World Cup finals. Here is how each nation got there:
Spain
Spain made the worst possible start to the 2026 World Cup as they were held to a 0-0 draw in Atlanta by tournament debutants Cape Verde. However, since then, they’ve been almost flawless. La Roja grasped top spot in Group H with 4-0 and 1-0 wins over Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, respectively, before easing past Austria 3-0 in the first knockout round. Tough battles against fellow European giants Portugal and Belgium have followed, but Luis de la Fuente passed those tests, winning 1-0 and 2-1, respectively — the latter the first goal they’ve conceded in the entire tournament.
Argentina
The defending champions navigated the group stage with relative ease, beating Algeria, Austria and Jordan with eight goals scored and just one conceded. However, they’ve really had to go to the well to get through the knockout rounds so far. Argentina twice gave up the lead against minnows Cape Verde and had to go to extra time to land a 3-2 win in the last 32. Egypt then gave them a scare, going 2-0 up in the 67th minute before a late collapse saw Argentina win 3-2 once more. La Albiceleste again needed extra time against Switzerland in the quarter-finals, but Breel Embolo’s red card proved too much for the Rossocrociati to land a shock, with Argentina eventually winning 3-1.
World Cup Final: latest odds and who’s favourite
The betting markets are now focused on just two teams, with Spain and Argentina set to battle it out for the 2026 World Cup crown on Sunday.
Spain head into the final as slight favourites after an impressive run through the knockout stages, eliminating Portugal, Belgium and France on their way to New Jersey. Luis de la Fuente’s side have combined defensive resilience with attacking flair throughout the tournament, with Lamine Yamal emerging as one of the stars of the competition.
Argentina, meanwhile, are bidding to retain the World Cup after overcoming Egypt, Switzerland and England to reach another final. Led by Lionel Messi and boasting plenty of big-game experience, La Albiceleste will be confident of lifting the trophy once again despite heading into the match as marginal underdogs.
With very little separating the two finalists in the betting, Sunday’s showpiece is expected to be one of the closest World Cup finals in recent memory.
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