FIFA World Cup Final 2026

July 19, MetLife Stadium,
New York / New Jersey

HEAD-TO-HEAD 
All-time meetings
Spain 6
Argentina 6
D2

Goals scored
19
18

Continental champions of Europe and South America
meet in FIFA World Cup for first time since 1966.
Teams had been due to face each other in Finalissima in March –
hosted by Qatar – but showpiece was cancelled due to Iran conflict

Spain

Coach
Luis de la Fuente
Captain: Rodri Hernández

WORLD CUP RECORD
Appearances: 17
W37 D18 L19
Best finish: Winner (2010)
2022 performance: Last 16

2026: Topped Group H
despite humbling opening draw
with surprise package Cabo Verde.
Late strikes edged Portugal and
Belgium before impressive win
over France sealed final berth

Argentina

Coach
Lionel Scaloni
Captain: Lionel Messi

WORLD CUP RECORD
Appearances: 19
W54 D17 L24
Best: Winner (1978, 1986, 2022)
2022 performance: Winner

2026: Topped Group J with
Messi at imperious best. Dramatic
comebacks and extra-time triumphs
in knock-out stage – most notably
against Egypt – epitomised
team’s fighting spirit

ROAD TO FINAL

D	Cabo Verde	0-0	Match 1	W	Algeria	3-0
W	S. Arabia	4-0	Match 2	W	Austria	2-0
W	Uruguay		1-0	Match 3	W	Jordan	3-1
W	Austria		3-0	Last 32	W	Cabo Verde	3-2
W	Portugal		1-0	Last 16	W	Egypt	3-2
W	Belgium		2-1	QF	W	Switzerland	3-1
W	France		2-0	SF	W	England	2-1

HISTORIC FEAT
Argentina aiming
to become first
nation to retain
World Cup
since Brazil
in 1962

CARBON COPY
Spain are unbeaten in
their last 37 matches,
hoping to emulate
2010 FIFA World
Cup title after
European success

Lionel Messi
Argentinian master

Lamine Yamal
Spanish apprentice

TEAM STATISTICS

Passes completed			4156	4324
Linebreaks completed		1146	934
Corners				45	37
Pressing applied			1641	1609
Distance covered (km)		800.0	813.0
Total shots / Shots on target	120/42	113/46

Goals
for / against
13
01

Yellow /
red cards
06
00

Fouls
committed
80

Goals
for / against
19 07

Yellow /
red cards
09
00

Fouls
committed
88

PLAYER STATISTICS
Goal contributions

Goals (Assists)

Messi
5 (4)

Oyarzabal
5 (1)

La.Martínez
3 (1)

Fernandez
2 (0)

Merino
2 (0)

Porro
2 (0)

Attacking returns

Shots on
target
Total

Messi
19 (34)

Oyarzabal
11 (22)

Yamal
10 (23)

Álvarez
5 (11)

Playmakers

Passes completed (Accuracy)

Rodri
694 (93%)

Laporte
568 (94%)

Cubarsi
566 (97%)

Paredes
521 (95%)

ROLL CALL OF CHAMPIONS
Eight separate nations have lifted World Cup, all from football powerhouses of Europe and South America

1930	Uruguay	Host: Uruguay
1934	Italy	Italy
1938	Italy	France
1950	Uruguay	Brazil
1954	West Germany	Switzerland
1958	Brazil	Sweden
1962	Brazil	Chile
1966	England	England
1970	Brazil	Mexico
1974	West Germany	W. Germany
1978	Argentina	Argentina
1982	Italy	Spain
1986	Argentina	Mexico
1990	West Germany	Italy
1994	Brazil	United States
1998	France	France
2002	Brazil	S. Korea/Japan
2006	Italy	Germany
2010	Spain	South Africa
2014	Germany	Brazil
2018	France	Russia
2022	Argentina	Qatar

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Unai Simón
Porro
Cubarsi
Laporte
Cucurella

Ruiz
Rodri
Baena
Yamal
Oyarzabal
Olmo

E.Martínez
Tagliafico
Li.Martínez
Romero
Molina
Álvarez
Mac Allister
Fernández
Simeone
Messi
Paredes

adidas Trionda
Final ball 2026
Gold and black edition
introduced for final four
matches of World Cup

Pre-tournament,
Spain were favourites
with 16.1% chance of
winning title, while
Argentina were
given 10.4% chance
of retaining trophy



Source: FIFA
Pictures: Getty Images
*After extra time
© GRAPHIC NEWS