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World Cup final live score: Spain vs. Argentina updates, results, highlights from 2026 FIFA championship

World Cup final live score: Spain vs. Argentina updates, results, highlights from 2026 FIFA championship

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After just over a month of World Cup soccer, the tournament is finally coming to a close. While it is sad to see another tournament come and go, fans will be treated to the stellar matchup of Lamine Yamal’s Spain against eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi and his Argentina.

Messi’s vast trophy cabinet has the chance to grow to storied heights. Two World Cup trophies, along with becoming the first back-to-back winner since Brazil in 1958 and 1962, would put the Argentine in rare company with 21 other players to do the World Cup double. His age has had no penalty in how the “Little Boy From Rosario” leads his South American side. At 39 years old, Messi sits atop the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot rankings with eight goals and four assists prior to Sunday’s final, and has already mathematically guaranteed the award win.

While Lamine Yamal has not had the dominant tournament many fans thought he would, he will be able to change that significantly with a good showing against the defending world champions. Spain’s squad, which features the 19-year-old, consistent goal-scoring from Mikel Oyarzabal, and the tournament’s best defense, allowing just one goal, has given La Roja its best shot of winning a World Cup since their lone win in 2010. It would also give Lamine Yamal the title of one of the youngest World Cup winners ever.

The Sporting News is tracking live scoring updates and highlights for Spain vs. Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Follow for complete results from the final match in East Rutherford.

STREAM: Watch the 2026 World Cup live with fubo

Spain vs. Argentina score

Location: East Rutherford
Referee: Slavko Vincic

Starting lineups:

Spain (4-2-3-1, right to left): 23. U. Simon (GK) — 12. P. Porro, 22. P. Cubarsi, 14. A. Laporte, 24. M. Cucurella — 16. Rodri, 8. F. Ruiz — 19. Lamine Yamal, 10. D. Olmo, 15. A. Baena — 21. M. Oyarzabal

Argentina (4-4-2, right to left): 23. E. Martinez (GK) — 26. N. Molina, 13. C. Romero, 6. Li. Martinez, 3. N. Tagliafico — 7. R. De Paul, 20. A. Mac Allister, 24. E. Fernandez, 15. N. Gonzalez — 10. L. Messi, 9. J. Alvarez

2026 WORLD CUP HQ: Latest World Cup news | Full World Cup schedule | Updated World Cup bracket

World Cup final live updates, highlights from Spain vs. Argentina

(All times ET)

Prematch

1:55 p.m. – Lineups have officially released for today’s match. Here are the starting 11s for both Spain and Argentina:

  • Spain (4-2-3-1, right to left): 23. U. Simon (GK) — 12. P. Porro, 22. P. Cubarsi, 14. A. Laporte, 24. M. Cucurella — 16. Rodri, 8. F. Ruiz — 19. Lamine Yamal, 10. D. Olmo, 15. A. Baena — 21. M. Oyarzabal

  • Argentina (4-4-2, right to left): 23. E. Martinez (GK) — 26. N. Molina, 13. C. Romero, 6. Li. Martinez, 3. N. Tagliafico — 7. R. De Paul, 20. A. Mac Allister, 24. E. Fernandez, 15. N. Gonzalez — 10. L. Messi, 9. J. Alvarez

1:52 p.m. – iShowSpeed, Post Malone, and Swae Lee just concluded their performances at the World Cup closing ceremony. We are inching closer and closer to game time.

1:45 p.m. – The city of Barcelona is all ready to watch La Roja take on Argentina today. Their past legend, Messi, will be taking on FC Barcelona’s current star boy, Lamine Yamal.

1:40 p.m. – Both teams have officially arrived at MetLife Stadium with just over an hour until kickoff in East Rutherford.

1:30 p.m. – The last time Messi played against Spain was a couple of months after La Roja’s first World Cup win in 2010. Argentina powered through and emerged victorious 4-1 thanks to goals from Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Carlos Tevez, and Sergio Aguero.

1:10 p.m. – Both teams are officially en route to MetLife Stadium. Lamine Yamal received a raucous applause before heading onto his team bus from the hotel, while Lionel Messi and his squad look ready for business.

12:56 p.m. – President Trump and Fox’s Jenny Taft conversed about this year’s World Cup and what it meant for the United States. Today, Trump will become the first sitting U.S. president to attend a World Cup final.

12:42 p.m. – According to Fox’s broadcast, doors to MetLife Stadium have already opened up. Fans have begun the gradual process of trickling into the stadium as excitement grows for today’s match.

12:30 p.m. – Just a leap over the Hudson River, droves of Argentina fans have taken over Times Square. La Albiceleste are vying to become just the third team in World Cup history to win back-to-back tournaments (Italy: 1934, 1938; Brazil: 1958, 1962).

12:05 p.m. – With three hours until kickoff, many members of the press have cited the frenzy that is outside of MetLife Stadium. The media line was crazy over two hours ago, and it hasn’t gotten any better closer to gametime.

11:40 a.m. – Fans from both Spain and Argentina have congregated in NYC to celebrate this World Cup final.

11:10 a.m. –  This will be just Spain’s second match in an outdoor stadium, as it previously played a match in Guadalajara as well. Otherwise, all of Spain’s matches were in domed stadiums.

10:40 a.m. – Within the final is the Golden Boot race, as Messi needs two goals to catch Kylian Mpabbe.

10:00 a.m. – Five hours before kickoff, fans are already lined up outside of MetLife Stadium trying to get in.

9:35 a.m. – There was heavy rain and thunderstorms in the area on Saturday, which impacted how both teams trained. Spain cancelled its session while Argentina tried to get one in.

9:05 a.m. – The night before the match, Messi wrote a letter to Argentinian fans expressing his gratitude.

MORE WORLD CUP NEWS:

What time does the World Cup final start?

  • Date: Sun., July 19
  • Kickoff: 3 p.m. ET, noon PT

Sunday’s World Cup final match between Spain and Argentina is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. ET (noon PT) from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

Fox’s coverage of the match includes a special 4-hour pregame show starting at 11 a.m. ET. 

The World Cup closing ceremony, which takes place before the final kicks off, starts at 1:30 p.m. ET. It is headlined by a performance from Post Malone, along with celebrity appearances from Tom Cruise and more.

Jennifer Hudson will sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” before the playing of the national anthems for Spain and Argentina before kickoff.

What channel is the World Cup final on today?

  • English: Fox
  • Spanish: Telemundo

Sunday’s match between Spain and Argentina will air nationally on Fox (for English-speaking viewers) and Telemundo (for Spanish-speaking viewers) in the United States.

John Strong and Stu Holden will call the game for Fox along with Jenny Taft and Tom Rinaldo reporting from the sidelines.

The Spanish-language broadcast on Telemundo features the legendary Andres Cantor and Luis Omar Tapia.

  Time TV Channel Streaming
USA 15:00 ET Fox, Telemundo fubo, Peacock
Canada 15:00 ET TSN 1, RDS (French) TSN site/app,
RDS app
UK 20:00 BST BBC One BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website
Australia 07:00 AEST SBS SBS On Demand
India 01:30 IST Sports 18 Voot, JioTV

MORE WORLD CUP NEWS:

World Cup final live streams

The World Cup final can be live streamed through fubo, feature both the English-language Fox broadcast and the Spanish-language broadcast on Telemundo.

What time is the World Cup final halftime show?

  • Start time: 4-4:30 p.m. ET (approximate time)

Expect the first-ever World Cup final halftime show to start between 4-4:30 p.m. ET featuring performances from BTS, Shakira, Madonna and Justin Bieber in a shared set.

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