{"id":1468932,"date":"2026-07-16T09:28:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T08:28:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=news&p=1468932"},"modified":"2026-07-16T09:32:32","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T08:32:32","slug":"spain-vs-argentina-team-news-predicted-lineups","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/world-cup\/spain-vs-argentina-team-news-predicted-lineups\/","title":{"rendered":"Spain vs Argentina team news and predicted lineups"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Spain<\/a> and Argentina<\/a> face off in the 2026 World Cup<\/a> Final on Sunday at 8pm (UK time).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

La Albiceleste<\/em> needed extra time to beat debutants Cape Verde<\/a> in the last-32, having twice given up a lead. They then had to come from two goals down to beat Egypt<\/a> 3-2 to secure their spot in the quarter-finals. That brought another extra-time victory, this time against 10-man Switzerland<\/a>. And Argentina trailed against England<\/a> late on, before eventually coming from behind to book a place in the final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spain, meanwhile, are looking to win their second World Cup trophy. It would put them level with Uruguay<\/a> and France<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a slow start, the European champions have grown as the tournament has gone on, and go into the final as favourites<\/a>. It has been a tough route to the final, with Spain knocking out Austria<\/a> and Portugal<\/a> to reach the quarter-finals. There, they beat Belgium<\/a> 2-1 — conceding their only goal of the tournament so far — before expertly managing a 2-0 victory over France in the semi-finals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n

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