Spain vs Argentina FIFA World Cup 2026 Final: Lineup, key players to watch out and other details

Defending champions Argentina will face Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final at MetLife Stadium on Monday (IST), bringing the curtain down on the biggest World Cup in the tournament's history. The title clash will be the 104th and final match of the expanded 48-team competition.

Spain's road to the final

Spain booked their place in the final with an impressive victory over France in the semi-finals. Luis de la Fuente's side dominated possession, nullified France's attacking threat and finished clinically to secure a 2-0 win.

La Roja topped Group H but did not enjoy a flawless start to the tournament. They were held to a goalless draw by surprise package Cabo Verde in their opening match before bouncing back with a 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia. Spain then edged Uruguay 1-0 to finish top of the group.


In the Round of 32, Spain comfortably defeated Austria 3-0. Their next two knockout matches proved more challenging, with Mikel Merino scoring late winners in both encounters. Spain first edged Portugal 1-0 before defeating Belgium 2-1, conceding their only goal of the tournament so far.

Argentina's dramatic title defence

Argentina began their title defence with three consecutive victories in the group stage, inspired by Lionel Messi, who has scored eight goals in the tournament and taken his overall FIFA World Cup tally to 21.

The knockout stages tested Lionel Scaloni's side far more severely. Argentina needed extra time to beat Cabo Verde 3-2 in the Round of 32 before producing one of the comebacks of the tournament against Egypt in the Round of 16. Trailing 2-0 until the 79th minute, the defending champions scored three unanswered goals to snatch a dramatic 3-2 victory.

The quarter-final against Switzerland also went the distance. With the score locked at 1-1, Argentina eventually broke through in extra time after Switzerland had been reduced to 10 men. Julian Alvarez scored the decisive goal before Lautaro Martinez sealed a 3-1 win.

Semi-final comeback against England

Argentina once again showed their resilience in the semi-finals against England. Anthony Gordon gave England the lead early in the second half, but Argentina responded through a stunning long-range strike from Enzo Fernandez before substitute Lautaro Martinez headed home the winner.

The comeback secured Argentina's place in a second successive FIFA World Cup final, four years after lifting the trophy in Qatar in 2022. Standing between Lionel Scaloni's side and a fourth World Cup title is a Spain team chasing only its second crown after its triumph in 2010.

Spain Predicted lineup
(4-2-3-1): Simon (goalkeeper); Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Ruiz; Yamal, Olmo, Baena; Oyarzabal

Argentina’s predicted lineup

(4-1-3-2): Martinez (goalkeeper); Molina, Romero, Lisandro, Tagliafico; Paredes; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Messi, Alvarez

Squads:

Spain -
Goalkeepers: Unai Simon, David Raya, Joan Garcia
Defenders: Pedro Porro, Marcos Llorente, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsi, Marc Pubill, Eric Garcia, Marc Cucurella, Alejandro Grimaldo
Midfielders: Rodrigo Hernandez, Martin Zubimendi, Pedri Gonzalez, Fabian Ruiz, Mikel Merino, Pablo Paez 'Gavi', Alex Baena
Forwards: Mikel Oyarzabal, Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, Borja Iglesias, Dani Olmo, Victor Munoz, Nico Williams, Yeremy Pin

Argentina-
Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez, Geronimo Rulli, Juan Musso
Defenders: Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Leonardo Balerdi, Nicolas Otamendi, Lisandro Martínez, Nicolas Tagliafico, Facundo Medina
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo De Paul, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Enzo Fernandez, Valentin Barco
Forwards: Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez, Lautaro Martinez, Thiago Almada, Nicolas Paz, Nicolas Gonzalez, Giuliano Simeone, Jose Manuel Lopez

Key Players to Watch in the Final

Several star players could prove decisive when Argentina and Spain meet in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final.

For Argentina, Lionel Messi remains the biggest threat. The captain has enjoyed a remarkable tournament, scoring eight goals and providing four assists. His creativity, finishing and ability to influence big matches make him the player Spain will be most eager to contain.

Lautaro Martinez has also been instrumental in Argentina's run to the final, scoring three goals and adding another attacking dimension in the penalty area.

Spain, meanwhile, will look to Mikel Oyarzabal to lead the attack. The forward has scored five goals during the tournament and has been the team's most consistent finisher. Young winger Lamine Yamal has impressed with his pace and creativity, while midfielder Rodri's composure and control could be crucial if Spain are to dominate possession.

What to expect from the final

Spain enter the final as slight favourites after an impressive defensive campaign, but Argentina's experience in knockout football and Messi's match-winning ability make the contest difficult to predict.

Many analysts expect a closely fought encounter, with Spain's defensive discipline likely to limit clear-cut chances and Argentina's resilience making them difficult to break down. Extra time or even a penalty shootout cannot be ruled out.

Regardless of the outcome, the final promises to showcase some of football's biggest stars on the sport's grandest stage.

Another World Cup triumph would further cement Messi's legacy as one of the greatest players in football history. For Spain, victory would mark a second FIFA World Cup title and underline the success of a new generation that has combined youthful talent with tactical discipline.

As two of football's traditional powerhouses battle for the biggest prize in the game, millions of fans around the world will be watching. By the end of the night at MetLife Stadium, either Argentina or Spain will be crowned FIFA World Cup 2026 champions.