World Cup Daily—Day 39: The World Cup Final Is Here

Spain and Argentina will fight it out for a place in history.

⚽ World Cup Daily: Day 39 The World Cup trophy is on the line. | Maddie Meyer/FIFA/Getty Images Well, here we are. It’s time for the World Cup final. We started with 48 teams, but we’re now down to just two. Spain and Argentina head to MetLife Stadium ready to battle it out for a place in the history books. It promises to be a game for the ages. From Spain’s classy dominance to the unstoppable Argentinian passion, the 2026 World Cup final is going to be a good one—not least because of how tough it is to predict. For Spain, it’s all about trying to stop Lionel Messi on what looks destined to be his final World Cup appearance. Inter Miami’s superstar is on the hunt for the Golden Boot but may have to raise his already lofty standards even higher to stop Kylian Mbappé from claiming the prize. Mbappé boosted his chances with two goals in Saturday’s utterly ludicrous third-place playoff. His France side ultimately fell 6–4 to England in one of the World Cup’s all-time great games, which hopefully sets the tone for an equally entertaining final today that will feature as many celebrities as players. Strap in, folks. We’re in for some fun. WORLD CUP NEWS    Recommended by  England secured third place. | Buda Mendes/Getty Images YESTERDAY’S SCORE France 4–6 England VISIT OUR WORLD CUP FAN ZONE  The final two teams left standing. | FIFA/Getty Images TODAY'S MATCH Spain vs. Argentina - New Jersey, 3 p.m. ET - Fox SEE FULL SCHEDULE AND STANDINGS  ⚽ Biggest World Cup Stories Visionhaus/Getty Images Sports Illustrated Experts Predict 2026 World Cup Final READ MORE Jamie Squire/Getty Images ‘For Sure’—Mbappe Drops Messi Prediction for World Cup Final READ MORE Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images The Clubs with the Most Players in the World Cup Final READ MORE Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images, Sebastian Frej/Getty Images, Emma Ottosen/ISI Photos/Getty Images The Highs, Lows and Laughs of Covering the 2026 World Cup Co-Hosts READ MORE ⚽ Away from the World Cup Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC/Getty Images Chelsea Strike Record-Shattering ‘Agreement’ for Rogers READ MORE Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto/Getty Images; Alex Caparros/UEFA/Getty Images ‘Our Answer’—Atletico Madrid Ends Alvarez Transfer Saga—Or Did They? READ MORE Get the print edition of Sports Illustrated delivered to your door. Click to subscribe! 📽 World Cup Today: SI FC Show Join the SI FC crew in New York City as they discuss the biggest World Cup talking points.  ⚽ The Great 48 The 2026 World Cup will be bigger than ever, thanks to an expanded field that will bring 48 teams (split into a dozen groups of four) to the festivities. With the help of an artist connected to each nation who was asked to capture the spirit of the game in their homeland, we’ve got what you need to know about all of the competitors. CHECK OUT ALL 48 WORLD CUP COVERS Join SI The Post-Up A weekly spotlight on the biggest stories and in-depth reporting of women’s basketball—from compelling athlete features to sharp commentary on the latest news and scores. CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE 💬 Chat with us ... Join the conversation. Share your thoughts, story ideas and feedback with us at newsletters@si.com We may receive compensation for some links to products and services included in this email. Sports Publishing Solutions Inc. 625 Broadway, 10th floor New York, NY. 10012 You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to the SI FC newsletter. You can unsubscribe here . Privacy Policy – Terms & Conditions © 2026 Sports Publishing Solutions Inc. All rights reserved. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC. All betting and gambling content included in the SI FC newsletter is intended for individuals 21+ (18+ in DC, KY, NH, RI, and WY). Betting and gambling content, including picks and predictions, are based on individual commentators' opinions and we do not guarantee any success or profits. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER or texting 800GAM. Click this link to view the newsletter in your browser.