When the 2026 FIFA World Cup last kicks off Sunday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Spain and Argentina will compete because the final two groups standing in a event between 48 nations from throughout the globe.
It was the most important FIFA World Cup in historical past, with the extremely anticipated males’s last capping a 39-day whirlwind that noticed greater than six million followers attend matches in three totally different host international locations, together with, for the primary time in a long time, the USA. The ultimate takes place as skies start to clear over the Northeast, after a number of hazy days of wildfire smoke traveled southward from Canada.
Argentina is the defending champion and angling to turn into the primary nation to safe two consecutive World Cup wins since Brazil’s back-to-back victories through the tournaments in 1958 and 1962. However Spain is barely favored to take house the title this yr. In the event that they do, it might be the nation’s second World Cup title.
AP Photograph/Yuki Iwamura
Sunday’s match comes 60 years after groups representing the 2 finalists met through the 1966 World Cup, when Argentina defeated Spain in a 2-1 match through the event’s group stage.
That is solely the second time Spain has competed within the finals, with the primary being the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, which was additionally the nation’s inaugural World Cup win. Argentina has reached the finals seven instances, beforehand profitable three of them.
Regardless of Spain’s small edge heading into Sunday’s match, after the workforce’s distinctive midfield efficiency all through the event to date and report goalkeeping, permitting only one objective of their first seven matches, Argentina has additionally been enjoying to win. Its star participant, Lionel Messi, is extensively thought-about the G.O.A.T., or Biggest of All Time, and each he and his teammates have completed dramatic last-minute comebacks because the World Cup started.
AP Photograph/Frank Franklin II 
A who’s who of attendees
As gamers and crowds gear up for the ultimate at 3 p.m. ET, there will probably be a pre-match closing ceremony held at 1:30, that includes musical visitors Submit Malone and Robbie Williams, with Jennifer Hudson performing the nationwide anthem. Actor Tom Cruise can also be anticipated to seem on the ceremony, whereas Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, BTS and others are slated to carry out within the 11-minute halftime present.
International figures together with President Trump, Spain’s Royal Household and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will probably be within the stands.
Mr. Trump arrived on the stadium shortly earlier than 2:30 p.m., after a flyover within the helicopter Marine One. He was then noticed in his field with First Woman Melania Trump, FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of State Sean Duffy. He was additionally joined by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who Mr. Trump invited amid commerce nations between the 2 nations.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul advised “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Sunday that she’s assured within the safety measures in place for the event, in mild of its record of distinguished visitors.
“We have now been making ready for this for, actually, over a yr,” mentioned Hochul, noting that federal, state and native regulation enforcement has coordinated carefully on greater than “1,000 workout routines, table-topping all of the situations” that might come up.
“I really feel very assured in our safety, and we’re so pleased to welcome the eyes of the world,” the governor added. “Your entire planet goes to be watching what is going on proper right here within the New York Metropolis space. So it is thrilling, very thrilling time for us.”
The ultimate match will air on FOX and Telemundo.
