Spain vs. Argentina: 2026 World Cup Final Preview

Charlie Zschau Updated: 6 hours ago

Spain will battle Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final on Sunday, July 19th.

Start Time, Date, Location
Key Statistics
Head-to-Head History
Where to Watch

Sixty years after their first World Cup meeting, Spain and Argentina are set to face off once again on the world's biggest stage.

Spain shut down the tournament favorites France on Tuesday to book their ticket ticket to Sunday's final in New York City, with Argentina joining them on Wednesday after yet another late comeback against England.

The two nations have taken vastly different paths to reach this year's final. Spain has dominated the entire tournament, not trailing for a single minute in any of their seven games. Spain drew their first match of the group stage against Cape Verde, and conceded one goal in a 2-1 victory over Belgium in the quarterfinals. Those are the only blemishes on what has been a near perfect tournament so far for La Roja.

In the semifinals, Luis de la Fuente's squad neutralized the tournament's most lethal attack, France, effectively shutting down star player Kylian Mbappé and leaving wingers Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise looking anonymous.

Argentina, meanwhile, has experienced the opposite trajectory. After a perfect group stage with three wins, their path through the knockout rounds has been filled with difficulty.

Argentina were pushed to extra time against Cape Verde, trailed by two goals against Egypt with 10 minutes to play, and were sent to extra time again by Switzerland.

In the semifinals against England, Argentina were again trailing in the 85th minute, but late goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez (both assisted by Lionel Messi) turned the game upside down, and secured Argentina a fourth consecutive hard fought victory, and third come-from-behind win in four games.

Argentina is now just one win away from becoming the third nation to ever win back-to-back World Cups, and first since Brazil in 1962. Whichever team wins will become the first team to win two World Cups in the 21st century.

Regardless of how they got here, both teams are now poised to write the final chapter of this World Cup story.

Spain vs. Argentina Start Time, Date & Location

Spain will face Argentina in the 2026 World Cup Final on Sunday, July 19th at the New York New Jersey Stadium.

Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 PM ET (2:00 PM CT / 1:00 PM MT / 12:00 PM PT).

Spain vs. Argentina Key Statistics

With a clean sheet against France, Spain became the first team in World Cup history to keep six clean sheets in a single edition of the tournament.
Lionel Messi has contributed to 12 goals (8 goals 4 assists) at this World Cup, tying Spain's entire team total.
Lionel Messi has scored or assisted in 11 consecutive World Cup appearances, a record.
Spain have won eight consecutive knockout matches at major tournaments, a European record.
Argentina have won 14 consecutive World Cup matches, their longest winning run in World Cup history.
Argentina have come from behind to win three of their four knockout matches in the 2026 World Cup.
Mikel Oyarzabal has scored five goals in the 2026 World Cup, equaling Spain's single-tournament record.

Spain vs. Argentina Head-to-Head Record

Spain and Argentina will meet for just the second time in the World Cup. Argentina won the first and only meeting between the two side in the group stage of the 1966 World Cup in England.

All-Time Head-to-Head Record:

Spain Wins	6
Draws	2
Argentina Wins	6

Last five matches:

3/27/2018	Spain 6-1 Argentina
9/7/2010	Argentina 4-1 Spain
11/14/2009	Spain 2-1 Argentina
10/11/2006	Spain 2-1 Argentina
11/17/1999	Argentina 2-0 Spain