Following a tournament that featured more than 100 soccer matches, the 2026 FIFA World Cup reaches its climax this Sunday. Spain and Argentina are set to face off in the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m. ET. Viewers can tune in to the broadcast on FOX and Telemundo.
The tournament, which began on June 11 with co-host Mexico playing South Africa in Mexico City, concludes after a rigorous knockout phase. The United States team opened their campaign with a 4-1 victory over Paraguay on June 12. As the competition narrowed, the semifinal stage saw Spain secure a 2-0 win over France in Dallas on July 14, while Argentina rallied to defeat rival England 2-1 in Atlanta the following day.
This final represents a historic matchup between four former champions. It is the first time since 1990 that all four semifinalists have previously won the World Cup. Argentina, the 2022 champions in Qatar, also claimed titles in 1978 and 1986. France has two titles from 1998 and 2018, while England and Spain each hold one victory, earned in 1966 and 2010, respectively.
Beyond the athletic competition, the July 19 final will feature a major halftime show headlined by Shakira, BTS, Madonna, and Justin Bieber. Additional musical performances will be provided by Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, and the PS22 Chorus.
The match also serves as the final opportunity for players to secure the Golden Boot award. France's Kylian Mbappé enters the final with 10 goals, followed closely by Argentina's Lionel Messi with eight. Other notable performers included Norway's Erling Haaland with seven goals before his team's quarterfinal exit, England's Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane with six each, France's Ousmane Dembélé with five, and Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal, who recorded his fifth goal during the semifinal against France. Messi and Mbappé remain among the highest scorers in the history of the FIFA World Cup.
