New Jersey to host World Cup final between Spain and Argentina

By Noah Lavoie — 16 July 2026 — 3 min read

World Cup final set for Sunday

The FIFA World Cup final is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The match will feature Spain against Argentina, with kickoff slated for 3 p.m. ET. This marks the first time the final will be held on American soil since 1994. The stadium, home to the Giants and Jets, is expected to host 82,500 fans for the event.

The decision to schedule the final for the afternoon aims to accommodate prime-time viewing overseas, with the match starting at 9 p.m. in much of Europe and 8 p.m. in Britain. This tournament is notable for being the first World Cup hosted by three countries—the United States, Canada, and Mexico—and the first to expand its field to 48 teams across 16 cities.

Spain secured their spot in the final after a 2-0 victory over France in their semi-final match. This win sends Spain back to the World Cup final for the first time since 2010. Their defensive strength was evident, as they recorded their sixth clean sheet of the tournament against a French side that had been a strong attacking force.

Argentina advanced to the final after a comeback victory against England. This will be a second consecutive final appearance for Lionel Messi, who previously won in Qatar in 2022. For Spain’s young player, Lamine Yamal, this marks his first appearance in a World Cup final. The two players have not faced each other on the pitch before.

Road to the final

Spain‘s journey to the final included a dominant performance against France in the semi-final. The match saw Mikel Oyarzabal convert a penalty in the 22nd minute after Lamine Yamal was fouled in the box. Pedro Porro then added a second goal in the 58th minute, solidifying Spain’s control of the game. France’s loss ended their hopes of reaching a third consecutive World Cup final, despite having been unbeaten in their first six matches and scoring 16 goals in the tournament.

Lamine Yamal played a crucial role in Spain’s semi-final success, demonstrating his ability to create opportunities. His intelligent movement led to the penalty that opened the scoring for Spain. Although he has scored once in the tournament, his impact has extended beyond goals, showcasing maturity throughout his first World Cup appearance. The semi-final match took place just one day after Yamal’s 19th birthday.

Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, entered the semi-final as the highest-scoring team of the 2026 World Cup, having found the net 17 times. Messi currently leads the Golden Boot race with eight goals and four assists. Kylian Mbappe is second with eight goals and three assists, while Erling Haaland has seven goals. Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane each have six goals.

The match between England and Argentina in the semi-final was a highly anticipated contest. According to the Opta supercomputer, England had a slight advantage, advancing in 51.9 percent of projected simulations. Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham‘s six goals each marked a historical first for two players from the same nation in a single World Cup tournament.

Individual awards and closing ceremony

Beyond the final match, individual awards such as the Golden Ball for best player, Golden Glove for best goalkeeper, and Golden Boot for top goalscorer will also be decided. Lionel Messi is currently in contention for the Golden Boot, leading with eight goals.

The World Cup closing ceremony is set to take place 90 minutes before Sunday’s final. The event will feature a variety of performers, including Italian singer Laura Pausini, Tony winner and Pussycat Dolls member Nicole Scherzinger, and British singer Robbie Williams. Streamer IShowSpeed is also listed as a performer, and actor Tom Cruise is scheduled to make a special appearance.

The ceremony aims to celebrate the journey of the 48 teams through the 16 host cities across three countries. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that President Donald Trump will be present at the final to hand the trophy to the winning team, a practice that has historical precedents, such as Queen Elizabeth II in 1966.

Source: nytimes.com