East Rutherford to host World Cup final between Ar...

By Ishaan Kapoor — 16 July 2026 — 3 min read

World Cup final showdown

The World Cup final is scheduled for this Sunday, featuring a match between Argentina and Spain. The highly anticipated game will take place in East Rutherford, New Jersey, at MetLife Stadium. This event marks the conclusion of the first World Cup hosted across three nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and the first to feature 48 teams.

The final will kick off at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 19. This timing is strategically chosen to accommodate prime time viewing overseas, with a 9 p.m. start in much of Europe and 8 p.m. in Britain. An estimated 82,500 fans are expected to fill MetLife Stadium for what is considered the biggest game in the sport.

Teams’ journey to the final

Argentina, the defending champion, secured its spot in the final by defeating England 2-1 in a semifinal match on Wednesday. The team is aiming for its fourth World Cup title and seeks to become the first nation to win back-to-back championships since Brazil achieved the feat in 1958 and 1962. Argentina has shown a strong offensive performance throughout the tournament.

Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) reacts as he leaves the ground after their win in the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina in Atlanta, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman) Credit: apnews.com

Spain advanced to the final after beating France in their semifinal game on Tuesday. Spain is pursuing its second World Cup title, having previously won in 2010. The team has demonstrated a robust defensive strategy throughout the competition.

This final will feature a clash of styles: Argentina leads the tournament in goals scored, while Spain has allowed the fewest goals. Lionel Messi, who is the most prolific goal scorer in the tournament’s history, leads Argentina. Spain’s team features Lamine Yamal. A notable connection between the two players is a photograph taken in 2007, where Messi posed with Yamal as a baby during a UNICEF program. Both players later became left-footed stars for Spanish club Barcelona.

Match details and broadcast

The final will be broadcast in English on Fox and in Spanish on Telemundo. For those streaming, the game will be available via the FOX One app and Peacock for the Spanish broadcast. Additionally, subscribers to YouTube TV, Fubo, and Hulu + Live TV can also watch the match.

This will be the first World Cup final held on American soil since 1994, when Brazil triumphed over Italy on penalties at the Rose Bowl. The tournament has expanded to 48 teams, with games distributed across 16 cities in the three host countries.

According to reports, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed that President Donald Trump will be present at the final and will participate in handing the trophy to the winning team. This practice, while not unprecedented, marks a departure from Infantino’s recent tradition of presenting the trophy solo in 2018 and 2022.

Spain enters the final with a 37-match unbeaten streak across all competitions and friendlies, having won 28 of those matches with nine draws. Their last loss was to Colombia in March 2024. Argentina is unbeaten in its last 13 World Cup matches, with 11 victories and two draws since a loss to Saudi Arabia in the 2022 tournament’s group stage.

Early odds have installed Spain as the favorite at +120, with Argentina at +275, and a draw at +200, though these numbers could change before the match on Sunday, July 19.

NewsIndia