European Union Commissioner for Youth, Culture and Sport Glenn Micallef has predicted Spain will defeat defending champions Argentina in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final. Speaking to Euronews ahead of Sunday’s title clash at the New York New Jersey Stadium, Micallef said he had backed Spain even before the tournament began and remains convinced they will lift the trophy.
“I said it half a year ago. I said it before the World Cup started, and I’ll stick to my guns on this one. I think the Spanish team has been a strong team,” Micallef said. He noted that initial doubts after Spain’s opening draw with Cape Verde were misplaced, drawing parallels to their 2010 campaign when they lost their first match to Switzerland before winning the tournament.
Spain have justified that faith with an impressive run, winning six consecutive matches since the draw. They have conceded just one goal in the tournament and reached the final after a 2-0 victory over France in the semi-finals. Micallef admitted he had hoped for an all-European final and praised England’s campaign, highlighting Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, and Elliot Anderson.
Micallef also reflected on football’s unifying power, citing an image of children in Gaza watching a match. “For 90 minutes, you can forget about everything that’s going on around you and just focus on it,” he said. He hailed the rise of African and South American teams but maintained that Europe remains the benchmark in world football.
Spain enter the final chasing their second men’s World Cup title after 2010, while Argentina aim to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to defend the crown. The European champions are unbeaten in 37 consecutive matches.
Article and image source: brazilsun.com
