The World Cup Ends Today With a Blockbuster Final That Has Everything

The Biggest Game on Earth Kicks Off Today

It all comes down to this. After an extraordinary five weeks and more than 100 matches, the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup culminates today, Sunday, July 19, with Spain facing Argentina in the final. The match will be played at the New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium), the largest venue for the 2026 World Cup. The final will begin before an audience of over 82,500 fans , and organizers estimate as many as 1.5 billion people worldwide will tune in to watch the match.

Argentina are chasing their fourth World Cup title, while Spain is looking for their second trophy since 2010. Argentina, the defending World Cup champions, mounted a dramatic late-game comeback to defeat England 2-1 in the semifinals, with Lionel Messi providing a pair of assists late in the game for Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez. Spain, on the other hand, have been almost flawless, conceding just a single goal in their seven matches so far, sweeping past France in the semifinals. Sunday's showpiece is likely to be the final World Cup curtain call for Argentina's Lionel Messi, widely considered the greatest player of all time.

Trump, Tickets, and the Politics of the Beautiful Game

The White House confirmed that President Donald Trump will attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain at the New York-New Jersey stadium. This marks Trump's first appearance at the tournament — he had not attended any earlier matches since the competition began. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Trump will join him in handing the World Cup trophy to the winners after the final. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also said she would attend after an invitation from the American president.

Since returning to office, Trump has made sports a central part of his public image, and Infantino has repeatedly appeared alongside him — FIFA even opened office space in Trump Tower in New York City. Trump's travel bans kept some fans and officials out of the tournament, there was fury over soaring ticket prices, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were present at games as the Trump administration continued its anti-immigration crackdown. Before the tournament began, Trump had joined soccer fans in calling out the soaring ticket prices for USMNT matches. Some tickets reportedly reached eye-watering prices, leaving fans questioning whether the event was being priced out of reach for ordinary supporters. Today, resale tickets for the final start at $9,244, with an average ticket price of $13,919.

How the Host Nations Fared

The 2026 FIFA World Cup final is set with reigning champions Argentina looking for back-to-back titles against 2010 winners Spain — but the three tournament co-hosts were each knocked out in the Round of 16, after Canada lost to Morocco, Mexico fell to England, and the USMNT was eliminated by Belgium. Despite the early exits, the tournament delivered on its historic promise. The tournament was hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches over 39 days. It was the first World Cup to take place with 48 teams, expanded from 32 in 2022.

Trump on Friday hailed the World Cup as "the most successful sporting event, maybe in the history of the world" as he held a reception in New York with FIFA chief Gianni Infantino. Infantino also reached for hyperbole, saying the event had "exceeded all expectations" and proclaimed, "The American dream, Mr President, came to reality. We united the world."

A Closing Ceremony to Match the Occasion

A galaxy of A-list stars will be performing at MetLife Stadium, from Tom Cruise in the pre-game closing ceremony to Madonna and Shakira in the halftime show — the first halftime show in World Cup history. The closing ceremony will also feature Post Malone, Robbie Williams, and IShowSpeed, while award-winning artist Jennifer Hudson will deliver a special pre-final rendition of the U.S. national anthem. Whether you're watching from a packed bar in New York or on a screen halfway around the world, today's final between two of football's all-time giants — with Messi's legacy hanging in the balance — promises to be a moment that transcends sport entirely.