The two outstanding teams of the tournament will battle for football’s biggest prize on Sunday night, with Spain chasing a second World Cup title and Argentina aiming to retain the trophy while adding a fourth star to their shirt.
Just 90 minutes separate triumph from heartbreak as the finalists meet at MetLife Stadium in what promises to be one of the most compelling contests of the tournament.
Spain were the first side to secure their place in the final. Despite arriving among the favourites, Luis de la Fuente’s men endured a frustrating start, being held to a goalless draw by Cape Verde in the group stage.
They quickly found their rhythm, brushing aside Austria 3-0 before edging past Portugal through Mikel Merino’s late winner. Spain then negotiated a tense quarter-final against Belgium before producing one of their finest displays of the competition to beat France 2-0 in the semi-finals. Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro booked La Roja’s place in their first World Cup final since lifting the trophy in 2010.
Argentina have taken a different route to the final. The reigning champions cruised through the group stage with victories over Algeria, Austria and Jordan, but every knockout tie has tested Lionel Scaloni’s side.
They survived an extra-time thriller against Cape Verde before seeing off Egypt in another dramatic 3-2 encounter. Switzerland were then beaten 3-1 in the quarter-finals, setting up a heavyweight semi-final against England, where Argentina delivered arguably their best performance of the tournament to secure their place in the final.
The spotlight will inevitably fall on Lionel Messi. At 39, the Argentina captain continues to dictate the biggest matches and now stands one victory away from leading his country to back-to-back World Cup titles, a feat that would further cement his legendary status. With speculation continuing over his international future, Sunday’s final could represent the last World Cup appearance of one of football’s greatest players.
Spain, meanwhile, look to the future through teenage sensation Lamine Yamal. Although the young winger has produced flashes of brilliance rather than dominating every match, he remains the symbol of a new generation determined to restore La Roja to the summit of world football.
Spain’s strength has been built on organisation, composure and collective quality. Argentina, by contrast, have combined championship experience with the resilience to overcome every challenge placed in front of them.
Now, only one match remains.
On Sunday night at MetLife Stadium, two of international football’s finest sides will contest the World Cup title, with history waiting for either Spain or Argentina.
