2026 FIFA World Cup Final Preview: One Step from Glory

The 23rd FIFA World Cup has reached its crescendo. And now, just two teams remain in contention to claim international soccer’s ultimate prize this Sunday at New York New Jersey Stadium: Spain and Argentina.

For Spain, it is a return to the FIFA World Cup Final 16 years after securing their first Jules Rimet trophy in 2010 in South Africa, when they beat the Netherlands 1-0 in extra time. For Argentina, it is a chance to join Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962) as the only back-to-back champions in World Cup history.

It has been an historic World Cup, featuring 102 matches across three countries in North America and now only two games remain: the Bronze Final, pitting semifinal losers France against England in Miami on July 18, and the Final, which will kick off at 3 p.m. ET and be broadcast on Fox.

Anticipation is already building for a mouthwatering final act. Here is everything you need to know about this weekend’s Final:

Road to the Final: Spain

Captained by Manchester City Midfielder Rodri, Spain will be looking to claim its second Men’s FIFA World Cup title, having won it previously in 2010.

FIFA World Ranking: 3

2026 Base Camp: Chattanooga, Tennessee

2026 FIFA World Cup Results: 6-1-0

• June 15: 0-0 draw vs. Cape Verde at Atlanta Stadium
• June 21: 4-0 win vs. Saudi Arabia at Atlanta Stadium
• June 26: 1-0 win vs. Uruguay in Guadalajara, Mexico
• July 2: 3-0 win vs. Austria at Los Angeles Stadium (Round of 32)
• July 6: 1-0 win vs. Portugal at Dallas Stadium (Round of 16)
• July 10: 2-1 win vs. Belgium at Los Angeles Stadium (Quarterfinals)
• July 14: 2-0 win vs. France at Dallas Stadium (Semifinals)

Approximate Miles Traveled: 15,000

Road to the Final: Argentina

Headlined by nine-time Ballon D’Or winner Lionel Messi, Argentina will go in search of its fourth Men’s FIFA World Cup title, after three previous triumphs in 1978, 1986 and 2022.

FIFA World Ranking: 2

2026 Base Camp: Kansas City, Kansas

2026 FIFA World Cup Record: 7-0

• June 16: 3-0 win vs. Algeria at Kansas City Stadium
• June 22: 2-0 win vs. Austria at Dallas Stadium
• June 27: 3-1 win vs. Jordan at Dallas Stadium
• July 3: 3-2 win vs. Cape Verde (after extra time) at Miami Stadium (Round of 32)
• July 7: 3-2 win vs. Egypt at Atlanta Stadium (Round of 16)
• July 11: 3-1 win vs. Switzerland (after extra time) at Kansas City Stadium (Quarterfinals)
• July 15: 2-1 win vs. England at Atlanta Stadium (Semifinals)

Approximate Miles Traveled: 7,000

Stadium

New York New Jersey Stadium, otherwise known as MetLife Stadium outside of the FIFA World Cup due to sponsorship regulations, will host the World Cup Final one year after it had something of a test run by hosting the FIFA Club World Cup Final between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.

The 82,500-capacity stadium itself is located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, roughly 10 miles from midtown Manhattan. It has already hosted seven matches at this year’s tournament, including five group-stage matches and two games in the Round-of-32 and Round-of-16.

Opened in 2010 at an approximate cost of $1.6 billion, MetLife Stadium was the most expensive stadium in the United States at the time. It replaced Giants Stadium, the former home of the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets and continues to house those two teams.

In February 2024, the stadium was selected to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final, beating out contenders that included AT&T Stadium in Dallas and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, which hosted the two semifinals of this year’s tournament.
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In addition, the venue has previously hosted Super Bowl XLVIII at the end of the 2013 season and WrestleMania, as well as music and entertainment concerts.

Skyrocketing Ticket Prices

A lot of talk at this FIFA World Cup has centered around ticket prices for games, and the World Cup Final will inevitably be one of the most expensive matches at the tournament.

Prices have fluctuated wildly between the Final Draw being conducted last December and the Spain-vs.-Argentina match-up being set this week. On FIFA’s official website, tickets were previously set at a range between $2,000 and $7,000, but the average price remaining now is around $6,000 and premium sections have shot up to around $33,000.

Those prices represent a significant increase from Qatar four years ago, when the most expensive official ticket was priced at approximately $1,600.

A small batch of tickets was released at the price of $60 after the initial round of sales, which was also a reaction to the widespread outcry from fans over the accelerating cost of tickets. However, these cheaper tickets, which were available for other games across the tournament, are estimated to account for under 0.5 percent of each stadium’s total seating inventory.

The picture is even more stark on resale and exchange platforms. According to recent data from the SeatPick resale market, the average cost of a ticket for the Final is priced at $13,700 and some premium seats have even reached prices approaching $200,000.

On other third-party platforms like StubHub, tickets for the Final remain available but at elevated costs ranging from $6,000 to $33,000, as Argentinian and Spanish fans look to secure their last-minute seats.

Closing Ceremony Details

The 2026 FIFA World Cup Closing Ceremony, which will take place in the hours before kickoff, will be headlined by American singer and rapper Post Malone. It will also feature performances from Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams and IShowSpeed, as well as a secretive appearance by Tom Cruise.
Furthermore, Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award winner Jennifer Hudson will deliver a rendition of the United States national anthem ahead of the Final.

Produced in creative partnership with Balich Wonder Studio, the Closing Ceremony will “celebrate the passion, emotion and global spirit that have defined the 23rd FIFA World Cup.”

Fans were advised to arrive up to four hours before kick-off, with the Closing Ceremony scheduled to begin at 1:30 local time, 90 minutes before the official start of the Final.

First Final Halftime Show

Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira and BTS are co-headliners for the first FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026.

Burna Boy, who released the hit ‘Dai Dai’ with Shakira, will also appear during the 11-minute broadcast, alongside Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel and PS 22 Chorus featuring Coldplay.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Halftime Show will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative aiming to raise $100 million to expand access to quality education and football opportunities for children worldwide. Over $50 million had already been raised by July 8, with $1 from the sale of every ticket for 2026 FIFA World Cup matches being donated to the Fund, which will support social projects around the world.

Finally, characters from children’s TV programs Sesame Street and The Muppets will be part of the show.

Half-time breaks are traditionally scheduled to last 15 minutes, as they have throughout the entire tournament to date. However, the break for the Final, taking the Half-Time Show into account, will likely last around 30 minutes.

World Cup Final Trophy Presentation Ceremony

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed in an interview with Fox News that U.S. President Donald Trump will take part in the trophy presentation ceremony at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. Infantino clarified that Trump would present the trophy with him after the game.

Last summer, Trump also presented the trophy at the final of the FIFA Club World Cup at the same stadium.

The U.S. President has so far been absent from all matches at the tournament, while Infantino has been traveling via a private plane to take him to two or three matches per day, according to reports.