NEW YORK (Kashmir English): Two of world football’s most successful nations, Spain and Argentina will clash in the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Sunday with Spain seeking their second World Cup title and defending champions Argentina bidding for a fourth crown and a second consecutive triumph.
Sport rivalry between the two nations has been remarkably even over the decades.
If successful, Argentina would become the first country since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup and only the third team to win back-to-back titles after Italy (1934, 1938) and Brazil (1958, 1962).
Teams’ route to 2026 FIFA World Cup final
Spain played a goalless draw against tournament debutants Cape Verde in their opening Group H match before defeating Saudi Arabia 4-0.
They won top spot in the group with a 1-0 victory over Uruguay, eliminating the South Americans in the process.
Spain thrashed Austria 3:0 in the knockout stage. The Round of 16 proved far tighter, with their win over Portugal and bringing Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup career to an end.
Spain faced a tougher test in the quarterfinals against Belgium. Against France, Spain produced one of their most complete displays of the competition.
Oyarzabal converted an early penalty before Pedro Porro finished a flowing team move in the second half to secure a 2-0 victory. Spain’s disciplined defending and patient possession denied France any route back into the contest.
Spain reached the World Cup final unbeaten, and are now within one victory of lifting their second World Cup title.
Argentina’s road to the final
Argentina’s path to a second consecutive FIFA World Cup final has been marked by Messi’s brilliance, dramatic comebacks and hard-fought knockout victories.
The defending champions defeated Algeria 3:0 in their opening Group J game, as Messi scored a hat-trick to equal Miroslav Klose’s then-record of 16 World Cup goals.
Argentina secured top spot in the group with a 3-1 win over Jordan.
Argentina survived a major scare against tournament debutants Cape Verde in the knockout rounds.
The defending champions then produced one of the tournament’s most remarkable comebacks against Egypt in the Round of 16.
Trailing 2-0 with just 11 minutes remaining, Cristian Romero sparked the revival before Messi equalised and Enzo Fernandez headed home a stoppage-time winner to complete a dramatic 3-2 turnaround.
Argentina defeated Switzerland 3:1 in a tense quarterfinals contest. Alexis Mac Allister gave the Albiceleste an early lead, but after Switzerland forced extra time, Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez struck late to send Argentina into the last four.
In the semifinals, Argentina overcame England 2-1 with another late rally to book a second successive World Cup final.
They successfully defend the title in Qatar four years earlier.
Head-to-head record
Spain and Argentina have met 14 times in official and friendly matches, with both sides recording six victories each, while two matches have ended in draws.
As far as their FIFA World Cup meetings are concerned, Argentina and Spain have faced each other only once previously. That meeting came during the 1966 tournament in England, when Argentina claimed a 2-1 victory over Spain in the group stage.
