World Cup: All to know before Sunday’s Spain vs Argentina blockbuster final

From Donald Trump’s attendance to the match winner, the short guide before football’s global showpiece in New Jersey.

The FIFA World Cup ۲۰۲۶ final will take place on Sunday, pitting Europe’s top-ranked team, Spain, against South America’s No ۱ outfit, Argentina.

Spain will look to add a second world title to their collection, while Argentina want to collect a fourth trophy.

Here is everything to know about the title clash:

When is the ۲۰۲۶ World Cup final?

The World Cup final between Spain and Argentina will be held on Sunday, July ۱۹.

When did Spain and Argentina last face off?

Spain and Argentina last played each other in an international friendly on March ۲۷, ۲۰۱۸, at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid. Spain won the match ۶-۱.

What time does the World Cup final kick off?

The match starts at ۳pm local time in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which is ۱۹:۰۰ GMT. 

Where is the final being held?

The World Cup final will be played at MetLife Stadium, home to two National Football League (NFL) teams: the New York Giants and the New York Jets. For the World Cup, the venue has temporarily been rebadged as New York-New Jersey Stadium.

This huge multipurpose stadium holds up to ۸۲,۵۰۰ spectators for football fixtures. The venue also hosted the ۲۰۲۵ FIFA Club World Cup final and both semifinals.

Will US President Donald Trump attend the final?

FIFA has already confirmed Donald Trump’s attendance at the ۲۰۲۶ World Cup final.

The US president is expected to present the trophy to the winning side.

Will there be a halftime show?

For the first time in the event’s history, the World Cup final will have a Super Bowl-style halftime show.

Entertainment stars such as Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira, BTS, Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel and the PS۲۲ Chorus featuring Coldplay will perform.

The performance itself is expected to run for about ۱۱ minutes, with the halftime break potentially extended to up to ۳۰ minutes.

Separately, the final kickoff will also be preceded by a closing ceremony starting ۹۰ minutes earlier. Entertainers such as Tom Cruise, Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger are expected to feature.

What is the prediction for Spain vs Argentina?

Opta’s supercomputer has calculated a ۴۵.۱ percent probability of Spain winning the final in regulation time, while Argentina are assessed a ۲۹.۴ percent chance of victory.

The probability of going to extra time – or potentially penalties – is ۲۵.۴ percent.

Where is the ۲۰۳۰ World Cup taking place?

The next tournament will take place across Morocco, Spain and Portugal. A venue city for the final has yet to be established, with Madrid the frontrunner.

As part of the tournament’s ۱۰۰th-anniversary celebrations, a centenary match will be played in Uruguay – which hosted the first tournament in ۱۹۳۰ – Argentina and Paraguay.