Spain V Argentina
The 2026 FIFA World Cup concludes at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey with Spain meeting Argentina, marking the first time in history that the reigning European champions face the current Copa América champions in the final.
Match News and Current Form
Spain have conceded just once and are yet to fall behind during this tournament, becoming the first side to keep six clean sheets at one World Cup, with defensive solidity and clinical finishing underlining their path to the final, a point evidenced perfectly in Tuesday’s 2-0 semi-final win over France. A surprise 0-0 draw against Cape Verde in their opening game raised doubts over how Spain would fare in this tournament, but six successive victories since have emphatically answered those questions. Dumping out European quartet Austria, Portugal, Belgium and France in the last four knockout rounds, Spain now stand on the brink of history as they’re unbeaten in 37 matches (W27, D10 - regulation time only), and extending that with a victory here would not only secure the longest-ever unbeaten run by a European nation, but also see them triumph in a sixth major final from seven attempts.
Argentina produced yet another late rally in their semi-final, coming from behind to beat England 2-1 on Wednesday and reach their seventh World Cup final (W3, L3) - only Germany (eight) have appeared in more. The South American nation have either needed extra-time or to come from behind after the 75th minute to advance in all four knockout games so far, but that likely won’t be of too much concern to an Argentina side who’ve now won 14 successive games - a joint-record among South American nations. With such a strong run behind them, it’s little surprise to see them in a third final in four World Cups as they close in on becoming only the second nation in history to secure back-to-back successes in this tournament, but to do so they’ll have to overcome the negative omen that each of the last three defending champions to play in the World Cup final ended up on the losing side.
Head-to-Head History
The overall H2H stakes are level at six wins apiece with two draws, although Argentina won their only previous World Cup meeting 2-1 in 1966. Spain ran out comfortable 6-1 winners in the most recent H2H in a 2018 friendly, one of three wins they’ve managed from four H2Hs this century (L1).
Hot Stats and Streaks
The half-time result was replicated at full-time in 15 of Spain’s last 17 matches.
Three of Spain’s last four fixtures saw a goal scored after the 85th minute.
Argentina have netted eight goals from the 85th minute onwards in this tournament - a World Cup record.
Twelve of Argentina’s last 13 games saw scoring in both halves.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring for Spain against France to take his tournament tally to five. Four of those goals arrived between the 20th and 40th minute, but it was his late strike which proved to be the winning goal in Spain’s Euro 2024 campaign. Lautaro Martínez has come off the bench to contribute to a goal in Argentina’s last three matches, and he also netted the decisive goal in the 2024 Copa América final against Colombia - no player in World Cup history has ever scored/assisted in four successive substitute appearances.
Neither side have reported any major injury concerns in the build-up to the final.
Betting Analysis
Argentina have flattered to deceive en route to this final, so backing Spain to lift the trophy might be the safest option.
Author: John Pennington
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