Argentina and Spain will battle for the 2026 World Cup title on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The match kicks off at 4 p.m. Argentina time, capping a tournament full of surprises and drama.
Argentina’s path to the final was far from smooth. After a perfect group stage with wins over Algeria, Austria, and Jordan, the Albiceleste scraped past Cape Verde 3-2 in extra time, came from 2-0 down to beat Egypt 3-2, and overcame a tough Switzerland side 3-1 in the quarterfinals. The semifinal against England saw Argentina trailing before Enzo Fernández (85′) and Lautaro Martínez (92′) secured a historic comeback win.
“When we’re against the odds, they play their best,” said head coach Lionel Scaloni. “When that happens, and the rival hesitates, they smell blood and go all in.”
Spain’s journey was similarly rocky. A 0-0 draw with Cape Verde in the group stage raised questions, but La Roja rebounded with wins over Saudi Arabia and Uruguay. They then defeated Austria 3-0 in the round of 32, edged Portugal 1-0 thanks to a Mikel Merino goal in stoppage time, beat Belgium 2-1 on another late Merino strike, and dismantled France 2-0 in the semifinals.
Both teams have shown resilience and quality, setting up a final that promises high stakes and world-class football.
Article and image source: buenosairesherald.com
