Argentina and Spain conclude the longest edition in history

The 2026 FIFA World Cup finals will conclude at 10:00 p.m. local time on Sunday with a highly anticipated match between defending champions Argentina and Spain in New Jersey, attended by U.S. President Donald Trump and accompanied by a high-profile artistic show. After five weeks of competition and 104 matches held across three countries—Mexico, the United States, and Canada—the tournament, which for the first time features 48 national teams, will finally reveal its champion.

Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, aims to become the first nation to win back-to-back World Cup titles since Brazil in 1962, thereby extending their trophy count to four. Meanwhile, Spain, with its young star Lamine Yamal, seeks its second title, having won its first at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The final will be the only match in the tournament attended by Trump.

The announced artistic performance is being elevated to the level of an exceptional World Cup event. Tom Cruise, Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira, and the K-pop group BTS will participate, transforming the MetLife Stadium near New York, which has a capacity of 80,000 spectators, into a prestigious venue before and during the match, which kicks off at 7:00 p.m. GMT.

On the tactical front, Spain captain Rodri stated that he is preparing for a physical battle with Argentina and will attempt to ignore any potential provocations. In contrast, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni urged fans to enjoy watching Messi lead his team in another final at the age of 39, emphasizing that Messi has made history and is a legend.