The top teams from Europe and South America will clash for the FIFA North American World Cup trophy. Spain and Argentina will meet in the tournament final on July 20 at 4 a.m. KST at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium.
This marks the first time the reigning champions of the UEFA European Championship and the CONMEBOL Copa America will face each other in a World Cup final. Spain won the 2024 Euro by defeating England, while Argentina triumphed over Colombia in the 2024 Copa America.
Spain, seeking its second World Cup title after 16 years since the 2010 South Africa tournament, boasts a formidable defense, having conceded only one goal in seven matches. Even Kylian Mbappe, who scored 10 goals in the tournament, could not find the net against Spain.
The Spanish national team is currently on a 37-match unbeaten streak (28 wins, 9 draws), having not lost since a 1-0 defeat to Colombia in March 2024. This ties them with Italy's record of 37 matches without a loss from 2018 to 2021. If Spain avoids defeat in regulation time during the final, they will set a new record for unbeaten matches.
All eyes will be on 19-year-old Lamine Yamal, who aims to become the first player to win both the Euro and World Cup in the same decade. After celebrating his birthday on July 13, Yamal played a crucial role in Spain's Euro 2024 victory with 1 goal and 4 assists in seven matches. Although he has only one goal in this World Cup, his impactful play has been notable.
Argentina, the reigning champions from the 2022 Qatar tournament, could become the third nation to win back-to-back World Cups, following Italy (1934, 1938) and Brazil (1958, 1962). A victory would also mark Argentina's fourth World Cup title and complete a historic four consecutive major tournament wins, including the Copa America in 2021 and 2024.
At the center of Argentina's efforts is Lionel Messi, who is vying for the World Cup Golden Ball (best player) and Golden Boot (top scorer) awards, along with a potential Ballon d'Or win in October. Messi's chances of winning the Golden Ball are high, having contributed significantly to Argentina's success in the knockout stage, including two assists in the semifinal against England. He has recorded 8 goals and 4 assists in the tournament.
No other player on the Spanish team has matched Messi's individual achievements. Historically, seven of the eleven Golden Ball winners have come from teams that did not win the tournament, suggesting that Messi's third Golden Ball win (following 2014 and 2022) is likely, regardless of Argentina's final outcome.
However, the race for the Golden Boot has become more competitive. Messi, who was leading in offensive points, lost his top position to Mbappe, who scored two goals and provided one assist in the third-place match, bringing his total to 10 goals and 4 assists. If Messi wants to claim the Golden Boot, he must score at least two goals and provide one assist in the final or match Mbappe's goal tally while considering playing time, as Messi has played 712 minutes compared to Mbappe's 769 minutes.
Messi's performance in the World Cup could also influence his chances of winning a ninth Ballon d'Or. According to a report from Football Planet, the award's organizer, France Football, stated that there is "no reason" Messi should not win, indicating that his achievements, even while playing in Major League Soccer (MLS), would not hinder his candidacy.
The all-time record between the two teams stands at 6 wins, 2 draws, and 6 losses, indicating a balanced matchup. Their last World Cup encounter was 60 years ago in 1966, when Argentina defeated Spain 2-1.
While the historical record is even, Spain holds a slight edge in this tournament's predictions. According to simulations by the sports statistics platform Opta, Spain has a 56.05% chance of winning, while Argentina stands at 43.95%. Spain's earlier semifinal match may have contributed to their additional rest days.
The likelihood of the match going into extra time is estimated at 29%.
Additionally, the tournament winner will receive a specially crafted "champion ring" from FIFA, marking the first time in World Cup history that the trophy and medals will be accompanied by this unique award. A total of 2026 rings will be produced, including 30 custom-made for the winning team, each with a unique number. The remaining 1996 rings will be available for purchase as official licensed merchandise worldwide.
After the final, the team captain and coach will receive the temporary champion rings first, followed by the actual champion rings, which will be custom-made for the 30 players.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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