Spain vs Argentina: Preview and Prediction
2026 FIFA World Cup Final: Argentina vs Spain Preview, H2H Record, Team News, Predicted Starting XIs, and Prediction
Author: Mohak Arora, Parimatch Sport expert
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is about to come to a grand finish as two of the best teams of the tournament, Spain and Argentina, will go at loggerheads to crown the champions of the world at a packed stadium in New York on the evening of July 19.
The battle between the two hispanic nations stands out for more than one reason as the master vs pupil battle will take place in the form of Lionel Messi vs Lamine Yamal as the former Barcelona star will take on the future of Barcelona.
With only a few minutes to go in the second semi-final, it seemed like we would have a Spain vs England final, a rematch of the 2024 UEFA Euro final, a battle between familiar rivals, but Lionel Messi’s Argentina staged a historic comeback to knock the Three Lions out of the tournament.
La Roja are still being touted as the favorites heading into the contest, with the new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso backing his country to go all the way and match Spain’s heroics of winning two Euros and a World Cup between 2008 and 2012.
Alonso’s comments came ahead of the semi-final against France, and the Rodri-led team didn’t disappoint its backers as they kept their sixth clean sheet of the tournament in an excellent defensive performance along with goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro.
Current Form
Spain endured a goalless start to the current World Cup campaign as the gritty Cape Verde side held them to a 0-0 draw, followed by a 4-0 thumping of Saudi Arabia as Spanish attackers opened the floodgates, followed by a slender 1-0 win over Uruguay in the last group fixture.
In the Round of 32, Spain kept their fourth consecutive clean sheet as they swept Austria aside 3-0 courtesy of Oyarzabal’s second brace of the ongoing tournament. The Round of 16 fixture against Portugal seemed to be heading towards extra time as Roberto Martinez’s men were shocked immediately by a Mikel Merino goal in injury time.
La Roja then faced Belgium in the quarter-final, where Fabian Ruiz gave the 2010 edition champions the lead, but Charles De Ketelaere equalized before the half-time whistle. The match was once again headed towards extra time, but Merino once again emerged from the bench to help Spain make it to the semis, where they swept aside France 2-0.
Unlike Spain, Lionel Scaloni’s men cruised through the group stage with wins against Algeria (3-0), Austria (2-0), and Jordan (3-1). After troubling Spain in their tournament opener, Cape Verde yet again were out for a giant killing as they equalized twice against Argentina and dragged the match to extra time, but an own goal in the 111th minute deflated the debutants’ challenge.
In the Round of 16, Mohammed Salah’s Egypt were leading 2-0 against La Albiceleste, but three goals within a space of 13 minutes helped Messi & co march on to the quarter-finals, where Argentina won 3-1 against Switzerland courtesy of goals from Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez in extra time.
Head to Head Record
Argentina and Spain have met each other 14 times on the international stage with both teams emerging as the winner six times each while two matches ended in a draw. Spain has recent history on their side as the European side won 6-1 in their most recent fixture, an international friendly in 2018.
Argentina has the upper hand in World Cup history as they have won the solitary meeting between the two sides, back in the 1966 FIFA World Cup.
Key Players
Fabian Ruiz celebrates his goal against Belgium
Fabian Ruiz (Spain): To counter Argentina’s multiple-time Balon d’Or winner, Spain will need their own Balon d’Or winner, Rodri, to dominate the midfield as such tight matches are often won in the middle of the park. Midfield battles are rarely won alone as the double pivot of Rodri and Fabian Ruiz would be in charge of dismantling a star-studded midfield featuring the likes of Enzo Fernandes and Alexis Mac Allister.
The Paris St. Germain midfeilder has put in several impressive performances in the ongoing World Cup campaign and the star midfielder would be hoping to come out on top yet again on Sunday evening.
Lionel Messi (Argentina): Talking about Sunday evening in New York, it could be a crowning day for the Argentina captain as the Inter Miami star would be hoping to script his name in the record books for the second time in World Cup history.
With both Kylian Mbappe and Messi tied on 8 goals each in the current tournament, Messi would be hoping to take the lead outright in the final as he aims to win the individual honor after losing to Mbappe in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot race.
Predicted Starting XIs
Spain (4-2-3-1): Unai Simón; Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella; Rodri, Fabian Ruiz; Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres; Mikel Oyarzabal
Argentina (4-3-3): Emiliano Martinez; Seriton Fernandes, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Jay Gupta; Rodrigo de Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandes; Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez, Julian Alvarez
Prediction
Spain is the favorite heading into the grand contest as Luis de la Fuente’s men are the most disciplined side in the tournament and possess multiple outlets in front of goal. The fact that La Roja have conceded only one goal so far would be a big warning for Lionel Messi & co. as they have struggled to break down teams on multiple occasions in their World Cup campaign so far.
But, La Albiceleste has always risen to the occasion when needed the most, as they always seem to have an extra gear which they activate when needed the most, mostly in the dying embers of the game. The defending champions would be hoping to lift the trophy yet again, which could cement Messi’s legacy as one of the greatest footballers for a long time to come.