Spain and Argentina set for World Cup final in New Jersey
The 2026 final is scheduled for Sunday at MetLife Stadium, with FIFA confirming Donald Trump will attend and a first halftime show planned.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
2 min read
Spain and Argentina will meet Sunday in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, a matchup between Europe’s top-ranked side and South America’s leading team, Al Jazeera reported. The game will decide whether Spain win a second world title or Argentina claim a fourth.
The final is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. local time, or 19:00 GMT, according to Al Jazeera.
The stadium, normally home to the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets, is being called New York-New Jersey Stadium for the tournament. Al Jazeera reported that the venue can seat as many as 82,500 people for football and previously staged the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final and both semifinals.
Trump expected at the final
FIFA has confirmed that US President Donald Trump will attend the match, according to Al Jazeera. The report said Trump is expected to present the trophy to the winning team.
The final will also feature a change to the tournament’s usual format. Al Jazeera reported that the World Cup final will include a Super Bowl-style halftime show for the first time.
The halftime performance is expected to last about 11 minutes, while the break could be stretched to as long as 30 minutes, according to Al Jazeera. The reported lineup includes Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira, BTS, Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay.
A separate closing ceremony is scheduled to begin 90 minutes before kickoff, Al Jazeera reported. Tom Cruise, Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger are among the entertainers expected to appear.
Opta gives Spain the edge
Opta’s supercomputer rates Spain as the more likely winner in regular time, assigning them a 45.1 percent chance, according to Al Jazeera. Argentina’s chance of winning inside 90 minutes is listed at 29.4 percent.
Opta puts the likelihood of extra time, and possibly penalties, at 25.4 percent, the report said. The teams have not met since a March 27, 2018, friendly at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid, where Spain beat Argentina 6-1, according to Al Jazeera.
The next men’s World Cup is due to be staged by Morocco, Spain and Portugal, Al Jazeera reported. The final host city has not been chosen, with Madrid described in the report as the frontrunner.
Al Jazeera also reported that centenary matches tied to the tournament’s 100th anniversary will be played in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay. Uruguay hosted the first World Cup in 1930.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.