Spain and Argentina face off in the 2026 World Cup Final on Sunday at 8pm (UK time).
Argentina are the defending champions and are looking to become just the third nation to retain the World Cup. Italy were the first to do so in 1934 and 1938, while Brazil followed suit in 1958 and 1962. They’ve had to fight hard for their spot in the final, despite topping their group with a perfect record.
La Albiceleste needed extra time to beat debutants Cape Verde in the last-32, having twice given up a lead. They then had to come from two goals down to beat Egypt 3-2 to secure their spot in the quarter-finals. That brought another extra-time victory, this time against 10-man Switzerland. And Argentina trailed against England late on, before eventually coming from behind to book a place in the final.
Spain, meanwhile, are looking to win their second World Cup trophy. It would put them level with Uruguay and France in World Cup history. And they’d match Uruguay for the best perfect record in finals, having only previously appeared in the showpiece when winning in 2010.
After a slow start, the European champions have grown as the tournament has gone on, and go into the final as favourites. It has been a tough route to the final, with Spain knocking out Austria and Portugal to reach the quarter-finals. There, they beat Belgium 2-1 — conceding their only goal of the tournament so far — before expertly managing a 2-0 victory over France in the semi-finals.
This will be the 15th meeting between these two sides, and they have been evenly matched. Both sides have won six games each alongside two draws. But they haven’t met in competitive football since a 2-1 win for Argentina in the 1966 World Cup.
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Spain vs Argentina team news
Spain team news
Luis de la Fuente is unlikely to make any changes to the team that started Spain’s win over France. He has largely kept with the same starting lineup across the tournament as a whole, only making the odd change. Those have often been at right-back and in the midfield, but players look to have nailed down their spots.
Pedro Porro made sure of the win against France in the semi-final, continuing his run at right-back. He had won the battle against Marcos Llorente earlier in the tournament, so is sure to start in the final. Porro will form part of an unchanged defensive unit, alongside Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella and Unai Simon.
The other big call came in the past two matches. De la Fuente opted to drop Pedri from the midfield, bringing Fabian Ruiz in alongside Rodri. The pair have done well as the double pivot, and could continue against Argentina, with Dani Olmo in the No.10 role. Lamine Yamal will start on the right, while Alex Baena has made the left-wing spot his with Nico Williams struggling for fitness across the tournament. Mikel Oyarzabal will lead the line.
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Argentina team news
Lionel Scaloni named another different starting XI against England, as he looked to combat the Three Lions. That plan should change against Spain, and Argentina are likely to look closer to the team that finished the semi-final. The big change should be a return to the starting lineup for Rodrigo De Paul, who changed the game after coming on. Guiliano Simeone didn’t have much attacking output and seemed to be in the team to disrupt England through his ferocity.
De Paul will form part of the flexible midfield alongside Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernandez, with Leandro Paredes in the holding role. Lionel Messi will, of course, start, but there’s a question around his partner. Julian Alvarez did not offer much in terms of atttack, while Lautaro Martinez came off the bench to score the winner. Scaloni may still with that formula, saving Martinez in case Argentina need another late showing.
Both Lisandro Martinez and Cristian Romero were booked against England but that will have no impact on their places in the starting lineup. They’ll continue to be flanked by Nahuel Molina and Nicolas Tagliafico, with the latter having won the battle at left-back over Facundo Medina.
Spain vs Argentina predicted lineups
Spain (4-2-3-1): Simon; Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Ruiz, Rodri; Yamal, Olmo, Baena; Oyarzabal.
Argentina (4-1-3-2): E Martinez; Molina, Romero, Li Martinez, Medina; Paredes; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Messi, Alvarez.
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