GUIDE · THE FINAL
World Cup 2026 final: Spain vs Argentina at MetLife Stadium
PUBLISHED JUL 16 · 2026 DATA REFRESHED AT EACH BUILD
By the PlaySpinWheel editorial team
The 2026 World Cup final is Spain vs Argentina, played on Sunday, July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Kickoff is 3 pm Eastern, which is 19:00 UTC, and it is the 104th and last match of the tournament.
Spain, the 2010 champions, meet Argentina, the defending champions, and both arrive unbeaten after five weeks and seven games each. This guide has the date, time and venue, how both teams reached the final, what is at stake, and a free wheel to make your own call.
When is the World Cup 2026 final?
The World Cup 2026 final is on Sunday, July 19, 2026, kicking off at 3 pm Eastern Time, which is 19:00 UTC and 8 pm in the UK. It is the 104th and final match of the tournament, closing 39 days that began with Mexico against South Africa at Estadio Azteca on June 11. Use the match time converter to put the kickoff on your own clock, wherever in the world you are watching.
Where is the World Cup 2026 final being played?
At MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, just outside New York City. At 82,500 seats it is the largest-capacity venue of the tournament in the United States, and July 19 is the first men's World Cup final ever staged in the New York area. The MetLife Stadium guide has the full venue picture; here are the headline facts:
MetLife Stadium
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES · 82,500 SEATS
- Hosts the 2026 World Cup final on July 19, the first men's final in the New York area.
- The largest-capacity venue in the United States for the tournament, at 82,500 (Mexico's Estadio Azteca is larger overall).
- Shared home of the NFL's Giants and Jets.
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FINAL JUL 19 AT METLIFE · THEN THE STORY IS COMPLETE
Who is in the World Cup 2026 final?
Spain and Argentina. Spain won Group H without conceding a goal and then knocked out Portugal, Belgium and, in the semi-final, two-time champions France 2-0. Argentina took a maximum nine points from Group J and beat Cape Verde, Egypt, Switzerland and England to reach a third final in four World Cups. Neither team has lost a match at this tournament.
| STAGE | SPAIN | ARGENTINA |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Won Group H, 7 pts, unbeaten | Won Group J, 9 pts, unbeaten |
| Round of 32 | Beat Austria | Beat Cape Verde |
| Round of 16 | Beat Portugal 1-0 | Beat Egypt 3-2 |
| Quarter-final | Beat Belgium 2-1 | Beat Switzerland 3-1 after extra time |
| Semi-final | Beat France 2-0 | Beat England 2-1 |
Spain and Argentina in World Cup finals
This is the eighth World Cup final either nation has reached, and only their second meeting ever at a World Cup: the first was a 1966 group game, which Argentina won 2-1, so they have never met in a knockout match, let alone a final. Argentina bring by far the deeper final pedigree, seven previous finals to Spain's one:
| YEAR | FINALIST | FINAL RESULT | OUTCOME |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | Argentina | Uruguay 4-2 Argentina | Runner-up |
| 1978 | Argentina | Argentina 3-1 Netherlands (a.e.t.) | Champions |
| 1986 | Argentina | Argentina 3-2 West Germany | Champions |
| 1990 | Argentina | West Germany 1-0 Argentina | Runner-up |
| 2010 | Spain | Spain 1-0 Netherlands (a.e.t.) | Champions |
| 2014 | Argentina | Germany 1-0 Argentina (a.e.t.) | Runner-up |
| 2022 | Argentina | Argentina 3-3 France (4-2 pens) | Champions |
What is at stake in the World Cup 2026 final?
Something historic either way. A Spain win would be a second star, 16 years after their first and only title in South Africa in 2010, and their first final since. An Argentina win would be a fourth title, drawing them level with Germany and Italy and one behind Brazil's five, and the first back-to-back World Cup since Brazil in 1958 and 1962.
| FINALIST | WHAT VICTORY WOULD MEAN |
|---|---|
| Spain | A second World Cup title, and a first final appearance since winning it in 2010 |
| Argentina | A fourth title, level with Germany and Italy, and the first back-to-back World Cup since Brazil in 1962 |
What happens if the World Cup 2026 final is a draw?
A World Cup final cannot end level. If the score is tied after 90 minutes it goes to 30 minutes of extra time, split into two 15-minute halves, and if it is still level after that the trophy is decided by a penalty shoot-out. That is exactly how the last final ended: Argentina and France drew 3-3 in Qatar in 2022 before Argentina won the shoot-out 4-2.
POSTER PACK · 2 PDFS · UPDATES INCLUDEDTake the whole crazy tournament home on two posters.See the postersHow can I follow the World Cup 2026 final?
Convert the 19:00 UTC kickoff to your own time zone with the match time converter, then open the Spain vs Argentina match page for the venue, date and both team links. To make your own call before a ball is kicked, spin the free Spain vs Argentina wheel or read the full Spain vs Argentina prediction. And do not forget the third-place match, France vs England, the day before on July 18.
Equal chances, one spin, one world champion:
Spin the final →Fair questions
- When and where is the World Cup 2026 final?
- On Sunday, July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, kicking off at 3 pm Eastern Time, which is 19:00 UTC. It is the 104th and last match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- What time does the World Cup 2026 final kick off?
- Kickoff is 19:00 UTC: 3 pm in New York (Eastern), 12 noon on the US West Coast (Pacific), 8 pm in the UK, and 9 pm in most of western Europe. The match time converter puts it in any time zone automatically from your device clock.
- Who is playing in the World Cup 2026 final?
- Spain and Argentina. Spain beat France 2-0 in the semi-finals and Argentina beat England 2-1, and both teams reached the final unbeaten. Spain are the 2010 champions; Argentina are the defending champions and won in 2022.
- Which stadium hosts the World Cup 2026 final?
- MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the shared home of the NFL's Giants and Jets. At 82,500 it is the largest-capacity US venue at the tournament, and this is the first men's World Cup final held in the New York area.
- What happens if the World Cup 2026 final ends in a draw?
- It goes to 30 minutes of extra time, and then to a penalty shoot-out if the score is still level. The 2022 final was decided that way, Argentina beating France 4-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw.
- How many World Cups have Spain and Argentina won?
- Spain have won one, in 2010, beating the Netherlands. Argentina have won three, in 1978, 1986 and 2022, and are the holders. An Argentina win in 2026 would be a fourth title and the first back-to-back World Cup since Brazil in 1962; a Spain win would be their second.
- Where can I get a printable World Cup 2026 poster?
- The PlaySpinWheel poster pack is two print-ready PDFs for $5 on Gumroad: a complete-tournament poster with all 12 final group tables, and a knockout poster with the full bracket to the final at MetLife on July 19. The final-edition update lands right after the match and is included.