Live Match: Spain vs Argentina, FIFA World Cup Final: Lineups announced for the ultimate football clash

Extra-time second half comes to a close with Spain leading 1-0 against Argentina. La Furia Roja fully earned this championship title as the superior team on the pitch. They successfully kept Argentina under pressure before delivering the decisive blow in the 106th minute. Spain emerges as the worthy champions of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Messi is dropping deep into the midfield to create some opportunities. However, a foul inside the penalty box allows Spain to regain control. Only two minutes remain of the five added minutes of stoppage time.

A foul is committed by Spain's Eric García.

Nicolás Otamendi wins a free kick for Argentina in their defensive half of the pitch.

Pau Cubarsí earns a defensive-half free kick for Spain.

Foul committed by Argentina's Nicolás Tagliafico.

A missed opportunity for Argentina. Giuliano Simeone's right-footed strike from the middle of the box flies too high over the crossbar after a corner kick.

Corner kick to Argentina, conceded by Spain's Mikel Merino. Another corner taken by Messi creates panic in the penalty area, setting up an opportunity for Simeone, who unfortunately sends his shot over the crossbar.

Five minutes of injury time have been signaled by the fourth official.

Corner for Argentina, deflected out by Pau Cubarsí.

Marcos Senesi wins a free kick for Argentina on the right flank.

Argentina are seeing more of the ball in the final moments as they search for an equalizer from set-piece situations. They nearly created an opening but had to settle for a corner, which Messi will take.

Guided by a coach who honed his skills with the Spanish youth setups, this young core has made the legends who won Spain's first world title 16 years ago incredibly proud. Unlike Vicente del Bosque, who took charge of the victorious 2010 squad after major success with Real Madrid, De la Fuente was relatively unheralded when he succeeded Luis Enrique in 2022. However, following his triumphs in the 2023 UEFA Nations League and Euro 2024, he is now on the verge of cementing an immortal legacy in football history.

Play is temporarily halted due to an injury sustained by Spain's Mikel Merino.

A scoring chance is blocked. Lionel Messi's left-footed strike from distance is stopped, with the assist credited to Giuliano Simeone. On the other side of the pitch, Messi fires a powerful volley which is blocked by Merino, who looks stunned by the sheer power of the shot.

Corner awarded to Argentina, conceded by Eric García. Messi showcases his skill to earn a corner. He attempts to deliver a high cross from the left wing, but the delivery lacks threat and causes no trouble for Unai Simón.

Spain has no intention of playing defensively like England after taking a 1-0 advantage. They will aim to retain possession and feed their star midfielder Pedri to dictate the pace of the game.

Nico Williams commits a foul for Spain.

Offside called against Spain. Ferran Torres is ruled offside. Torres had a clear path to the goal and appeared to have scored his second of the match, but the referee ruled it out for offside.

Offside flagged against Spain. Nico Williams is caught in an offside position.

Alexis Mac Allister of Argentina earns a free kick in his team's defensive zone.

Nicolás Tagliafico of Argentina is awarded a free kick in his own half of the pitch.

A foul is committed by Spain's Pedro Porro.

The first half of extra time is underway with Spain and Argentina still locked at 0-0.

Spain enters the extra half with both the momentum and a player advantage. The defending champions, Argentina, are only surviving in the match due to the brilliant saves of Martinez, as their usual late-game brilliance seems to have diminished in this final. Breaking down Argentina's defence is one of the toughest challenges, as they came into this having won 14 consecutive matches to defend their title. On the other hand, European champions Spain are no strangers to navigating tough defensive lines and high-pressure situations, but they must find that decisive finishing touch to secure a victory.

normal time stats.png

Members of the historic 2010 World Cup-winning Spanish squad are present at the venue, with Casillas, Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, Ramos, Navas, and Xabi Alonso in attendance to witness the new generation attempt to match their legendary feat.

The second half comes to an end, with neither Spain nor Argentina able to break the deadlock.

A great effort is kept out. Lamine Yamal of Spain unleashes a left-footed strike from outside the area, but Emiliano Martínez of Argentina makes a fine save in the upper right corner. It was an outstanding free kick, but Martinez rose to the challenge, tipping Yamal's curling effort over for a corner, which eventually came to nothing. The regular 90 minutes of play conclude with both sides deadlocked.

Ferran Torres of Spain is fouled in the attacking territory, earning a free kick for his side. Cucurella made a crucial interception before passing forward to Ferran, resulting in a free kick in a dangerous area that could determine the outcome of the match. Can Spain capitalise on this opportunity to deliver the final blow?

A foul is committed by Argentina's Leandro Paredes. Paredes executes another poorly-timed tackle outside the penalty box, bringing down Torres to hand Spain a promising set-piece opportunity.

The brief stoppage is over and the match is ready to get back underway.

Cristian Romero of Argentina receives a yellow card from the referee.

Play is temporarily halted following an injury to Spain's Pau Cubarsí.

Argentina's Enzo Fernández receives his second yellow card of the match following a harsh tackle, leading to a red card.

A foul is committed by Argentina's Enzo Fernández.

Pau Cubarsí of Spain draws a foul to win a free kick in the attacking half.

A scoring opportunity is denied. Nico Williams of Spain hits a right-footed shot from the right portion of the penalty area, but Emiliano Martínez of Argentina stops it comfortably at the top center of the goal. The chance was created by a pass from Pedro Porro.

Aymeric Laporte of Spain commits a foul.

Argentina's Lionel Messi is brought down, winning a free kick for his team in the attacking half.

Pedro Porro of Spain commits a foul.

Argentina's Julián Alvarez earns a free kick inside his team's defensive territory.

Argentina's Leandro Paredes receives a yellow card from the referee.

Rodri of Spain is fouled, winning a free kick in the opponent's half.

Leandro Paredes of Argentina is penalised for a foul.

Álex Baena of Spain commits a foul.

Gonzalo Montiel of Argentina is fouled on the right flank, securing a free kick.

Rodrigo De Paul of Argentina secures a free kick in his own defensive zone.

Álex Baena of Spain is penalised for committing a foul.

Argentina earn a corner kick, conceded by Spain's Aymeric Laporte. This marks the opening corner for Argentina, set up by Montiel's hard work down the flank. However, Messi's cross directed toward the near post fails to find a teammate and results in a goal kick.

A right-footed strike from outside the penalty area by Spain's Álex Baena is stopped in the bottom right corner by Emiliano Martínez. This was Spain's initial attempt of the second half. Baena cut inside from the right wing to find plenty of space near the edge of the box, but his shot lacked power and was comfortably gathered by Martinez.

Action resumes for the second half with Spain and Argentina locked at 0-0. Both teams are back on the pitch to decide the final. Spain's coach de La Fuente likely made few adjustments, though he might have urged Oyarzabal to create more of an impact inside the opposition box. On the other hand, Argentina need to step up their performance. This is reflected in manager Scaloni's early change, bringing on Leandro Paredes for Nico González in a bid to gain more control in central midfield.

Argentina make a change as Leandro Paredes comes on to replace Nico González.

Following a somewhat extended interval entertainment performance, the players are finally set to return to the pitch for the highly anticipated second half.

On the other hand, the expected goals (xG) metric registered by the Argentine team during the initial 45 minutes stands at absolute zero.

Here is a look at the statistics from the first half of play.

The first half comes to an end with the scoreline reading Spain 0, Argentina 0. Spain can view this positively, as they created the best openings and maintained an attacking posture, despite not being clinical enough in front of goal. For Argentina, they have successfully weathered the storm to keep the score level. The South Americans will be waiting for their moment to pounce in the second half, much like they did in their previous encounter against England. It is setting up to be an intense tactical battle after the interval.

If Spain continues to create numerous attacking opportunities without any success, expect de la Fuente to introduce Mikel Merino. The Arsenal midfielder has a natural instinct for timing his runs into the penalty area, something that Oyarzabal has not managed to demonstrate effectively so far. Merino coming off the bench and Messi delivering crosses from the right wing have been signature late-game tactics for both sides during this tournament, and both have yielded results; however, only one will triumph today.

Mikel Oyarzabal of Spain commits a foul, conceding a free kick.

The fourth official has signaled a minimum of 4 minutes of added time at the end of the first half.

Argentina makes their first substitution of the match, as veteran defender Lisandro Martínez is forced off with an injury and is replaced by fellow veteran Nicolás Otamendi. With Lisandro sidelined, the highly experienced Otamendi, who has 138 caps for Argentina, takes his place in the defensive line.

Spain is still struggling to convert their dominance inside the box. A well-constructed move resulted in a dangerous cross, but it went begging with no one available to apply the finishing touch.

Marc Cucurella attempts a left-footed strike from outside the penalty area, which goes narrowly wide of the right post. The chance was created via a pass from Fabián Ruiz. While the composed Cucurella could not keep his shot on target, Spain continues to create opportunities to finish the half on a strong note.

Lisandro Martínez of Argentina receives a yellow card following a dangerous tackle.

Spain's goalkeeper Simon remains highly focused, advancing out of his area just in time to clear a chipped pass aimed towards Lionel Messi.

Lisandro Martínez commits a foul, conceding a free kick to Spain.

Mikel Oyarzabal takes a left-footed shot from outside the box, which is saved in the bottom right corner by Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez. The opportunity was set up by Fabián Ruiz. It was a golden chance for Oyarzabal at the edge of the area, but his effort was comfortably gathered by Martinez.

Unlike the right wing, where the creative responsibilities fall mostly on Yamal while Porro plays a more defensive role (though this could shift as Porro has scored twice in the tournament), the left flank features a fluid partnership between Cucurella and Baena. When the newly signed Real Madrid fullback stays wide, winger Baena moves inside, and vice versa.

Julián Alvarez of Argentina is penalized for a foul.

Rodri wins a free kick for Spain in his own defensive half.

Nicolás Tagliafico of Argentina commits a foul, giving away a free kick.

Rodri wins a free kick for Spain in the defensive half.

Spain is flagged for offside as Marc Cucurella is caught beyond the last defender.

Pedro Porro wins a free kick for Spain in their defensive half.

Julián Alvarez of Argentina commits a foul on Pedro Porro.

A snapshot from the FIFA World Cup 2026 final as Spain took on Argentina. The match was held at East Rutherford's New York/New Jersey Stadium in New Jersey, USA, on July 19, 2026. Argentine captain Lionel Messi goes toe-to-toe with Spain's Alex Baena. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon.

Spanish player Rodri commits an infringement.

Alexis Mac Allister earns a free-kick out wide on the wing. These set-piece opportunities have previously allowed Messi to showcase his playmaker abilities during this tournament. However, this particular opportunity is easily cleared away, allowing Spain to regain control of the ball.

The 18-year-old central defender Pau Cubarsi has maintained an impressive passing accuracy throughout this tournament, yet his underhit backpass toward his keeper was nearly intercepted by Julian Alvarez. Spain is taking significant risks, keeping up a high and efficient press but occasionally giving away possession in dangerous zones.

Lamine Yamal of Spain draws a foul to win a free kick inside his team's half.

Argentine defender Nicolas Tagliafico commits a foul.

The referee awards a free-kick against Argentina due to a handball from Alexis Mac Allister.

The brief stoppage has concluded, and both teams are prepared to restart the play.

An archive image representing the history of the FIFA World Cup.

Play is temporarily suspended as the players head to the sidelines for a hydration break.

Once more, the Argentine team appears comfortable launching hopeful long balls over the top to bypass the advanced Spanish defense, though these attempts have yielded no positive results.

Argentina's Lionel Messi is fouled and earns a free kick within his own half.

Spain is awarded a corner kick after Rodrigo De Paul defuses the threat behind the goal line.

Argentina has been caught offside, with Nico Gonzalez straying beyond the last defender. After waiting nearly twenty minutes, Lionel Messi finally got hold of the ball with plenty of room to operate in Spanish territory, but his forward delivery only found an offside runner.

Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal is flagged for being in an offside position.

A foul is committed by Spanish midfielder Dani Olmo.

Lamine Yamal showcases his brilliant control by easily plucking a long ball out of the air on the wing. However, Martinez successfully intercepted his subsequent cross.

Match official Slavko Vincic has decided on a relaxed approach during the opening phases, opting against showing yellow cards early and allowing play to continue whenever an advantage arises.

Argentina's Enzo Fernández earns a free kick within his own half.

Dani Olmo of Spain wins a defensive free kick inside his team's half.

Nicolás Tagliafico of Argentina is penalized for a foul.

Spain have controlled nearly 65 percent of the possession so far. This dominance has been productive, resulting in several dangerous attacking moves. Spain's goalkeeper Simon showed great alertness early on, coming off his line to clear an Argentine attack that looked threatening. He must maintain this high level of awareness to support Spain's high-pressing style.

Álex Baena of Spain is penalised for a foul.

Lionel Messi of Argentina wins a free kick in the opposition's half. This was Messi's first major contribution of the final, earning a long-range free kick near the center circle. However, the opportunity ended without trouble for Spain as it resulted in a goal kick.

Dani Olmo of Spain is awarded a free kick inside his defensive half. Mac Allister demonstrated a riskier method to stop the opposition's play, bringing down Olmo with a heavy challenge. Fortunately for him, the referee opted not to show a card.

The match is highlighting Spain's core footballing philosophy and the associated vulnerabilities, focusing on high ball possession, intense counter-pressing, an advanced defensive line, and complex short passing sequences.

Lamine Yamal of Spain concedes a free-kick after committing a foul.

Argentina's Nicolás Tagliafico successfully earns a free-kick deep inside his own defensive territory.

A goal attempt is blocked. Lamine Yamal's left-footed strike from the right corner of the penalty area is intercepted comfortably in the middle of the goal line by goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez. The opportunity was set up by Dani Olmo. Olmo, showcasing his signature skill, nudged a pass toward Yamal. He then retrieved an off-target pass to flick it back to Yamal, though the final shot lacked power. Shortly after, Rodri regained possession through aggressive counter-pressing, setting up an even trickier opportunity for Yamal.

Gonzalo Montiel of Argentina commits a foul.

Álex Baena of Spain is awarded a free-kick in his team's defensive sector.

Pedro Porro of Spain commits a foul, conceding a free-kick.

Nico González of Argentina earns a free-kick in his team's defensive half.

Argentina is anticipated to persist with its central offensive strategy. One-third of their offensive maneuvers are directed down the center, representing the highest proportion for any team in this World Cup tournament, where most teams prefer flank-based attacks. This contrast is especially stark compared to a side like Spain, which heavily relies on Yamal's ability to take on defenders out wide.

The match is underway as the referee blows the whistle for the first half.

Meanwhile, Argentina boasts a roster of hard-working players who handle the gruelling work to support Lionel Messi. Julian Alvarez, Messi's attacking partner, is a prime example; his relentless running creates distractions, creates individual duels, and provides passing options in congested areas. He is also capable of unleashing powerful long-range strikes, much like his goal during the quarter-final clash with Switzerland. The squad has remained largely unchanged since the 2022 World Cup, and this sustained team chemistry serves as the biggest asset for the Albiceleste.

Spain's key strength lies in its midfield department. Rodri serves as the dominant anchor, effectively breaking down rival moves while initiating offensive plays. Alongside him, the tireless Fabian Ruiz and Dani Olmo, who excels at exploiting pockets of space between opposition defensive lines, complete this vital unit.

Thirty-eight days after the tournament commenced with 48 nations at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico, the final two competitors step onto the pitch at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Both sides have successfully navigated the challenges of a thrilling campaign marked by intense effort, sacrifices, heartbreak, and triumph.

Although Spain emphasizes collective team effort, they possess incredible individual stars. A standout is 19-year-old Lamine Yamal, who is widely regarded as Lionel Messi's successor at FC Barcelona, showcasing a similar mastery in dribbling and playmaking abilities. However, his finishing skills are still developing compared to Messi during his golden years. Despite recovering from a hamstring strain just prior to the World Cup and not playing at his peak potential, Yamal remains the most dangerous individual offensive weapon in La Roja's squad.

The championship trophy has been presented, waiting for its upcoming victors. Former World Cup winners Andres Iniesta and Mario Kempes carried out the highly prized trophy, as New Jersey prepares to crown the next global champions.

While the match promises to be a close battle, both sides approach the game with contrasting tactics. Argentina is a tightly-knit squad that performs exceptionally well under intense pressure, designed to highlight the brilliance of their legendary captain, Lionel Messi. Messi has performed phenomenally, registering eight goals and contributing four assists. According to FIFA statistics, he has been involved in 33% of his team's scoring opportunities, which is the highest individual contribution in the entire tournament. Conversely, Spain functions as a unified collective. Their philosophy is centered around two core ideals: keeping the ball when in control and aggressively counter-pressing to win it back when they do not have it. Their possession percentage of 63.9% places them third in the World Cup, and FIFA data shows they spend 12.2% of their off-the-ball periods engaged in counter-pressing, more than any other team in the tournament.

Seeking to replicate their golden era from 2008 to 2012, Spain has deployed a 4-1-2-3 lineup: Unai Simon starts as the goalkeeper, while the defensive line is composed of Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Aimeric Laporte, and Marc Cucurella. Rodri occupies the central defensive midfield role, positioned just behind Dani Olmo and Fabian Ruiz. The attacking trident consists of Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal, and Alex Baena.

The reigning titleholders Argentina are deploying a classic flat 4-4-2 system: Emiliano Martinez guards the net, while the defensive line consists of Nicolas Tagliafico, Lisandro Martinez, Cristian Romero, and Gonzalo Montiel. The midfield line features Nicolas Gonzalez, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, and Rodrigo de Paul, who makes his return to the starting eleven. Up front, Julian Alvarez joins Leo Messi to lead the attack.

Beyond being undefeated in the ongoing World Cup, Argentina comes into this clash riding a remarkable 14-match winning run in all tournaments. This dominant streak began after their previous setback, a narrow 1-0 defeat against Ecuador during the World Cup qualification stage. argentina journey.jpeg

The ultimate football crown is on the line as two current continental titleholders go head-to-head: Argentina, embodying the vibrant spirit and passion of South American football, and Spain, representing the structured discipline and controlled tempo of European tactics. Supporters who missed out on the highly anticipated 'Finalissima' matchup between the legendary Leo Messi and his young successor Lamine Yamal will finally see them clash. Today's battle could cement Leo's unmatched legacy or signal the passing of the torch to a new era, though Messi will surely fight till the very end even at this legendary phase of his career.

This FIFA World Cup 2026 final presents an emotional showdown on the sidelines, pitting master de la Fuente against his former student Scaloni.

Achieving World Cup glory can be done in diverse ways. Throughout this month, Spain has aimed to dominate matches and play strictly according to their tactical blueprint, whereas Argentina has demonstrated a resilient ability to grind out wins even when things do not go according to plan on the pitch. As Spain and Argentina collide in the spectacular 2026 FIFA World Cup final, they bring together unique paths of progression and an incredible array of world-class talents.

Warm greetings and welcome to our live commentary of the World Cup Final. This ultimate clash features what are undeniably the two most dominant sides in the competition. Argentina heads into this match with a perfect record of seven victories, whereas Spain settled for a draw in their opening fixture against the unfancied Cape Verde before storming through all their subsequent matches with consecutive wins.

The starting squads have been revealed, and the athletes have taken to the field for their pre-match warm-ups. Spain: Unai Simon; Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, ‌Marc Cucurella; Rodri (captain), Fabian Ruiz, Dani Olmo; Lamine Yamal, Alex Baena, Mikel Oyarzabal. Argentina: Emiliano ⁠Martinez; Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Lisandro ⁠Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernandez, ‌Alexis Mac Allister, Nicolas Gonzalez; Lionel Messi (captain), Julian Alvarez.