One side are known for a cool head, elite passing and calm possession-ball, while the other side live life on the edge
Take a minute here and try to be Spain. You’re set to make only your second-ever World Cup final appearance. The last time the country did was in 2010 in South Africa, and they won. That golden generation became world champions after winning the Euros, and here you are, European champions and on the threshold of greatness, having swatted aside the supposedly best team at the tournament. Now all that stands between you and glory is one game.
In some sense, this is the World Cup final that no one asked for but perhaps everyone needs. Here are a really good Spain team with great positional ability, movement, and tactical genius, perpetually in control, always passing, always suffocating the opponent, like a boa constrictor wrapped around a hapless prey.
Spain have conceded just one goal at this tournament, scoring 13. They are difficult to get through, hard to get at. Goalkeeper Unai Simon is basically out there enjoying a warm stateside summer vacation.
This way for the @FIFAWorldCup Final 🔜
One day to go 🏆 pic.twitter.com/Ar7GMQj6Dg
— FIFA (@FIFAcom) July 18, 2026
But on the other hand, if anyone has what it takes to push this Spain team, break their imperial stranglehold on the pitch, it is Argentina. This is a team who make a contest as open as possible, a two-way affair, a wild motorcycle ride. The close shaves have led observers to tag Argentina as ‘lucky’. But far from it. This is just a team who love to live life on the edge. What’s winning without having a bit of fun? Like a video game fighting character who cuts down your avatar while laughing maniacally.
This pattern was evident enough in 2022, when Argentina went 2-0 up against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals, still two goals ahead with seven minutes to go in normal time, before throwing away the lead and then winning in penalties. In the final, everyone remembers that Kylian Mbappe hat-trick, but it came after Argentina threw away a two-goal lead and then yet another lead in extra time.
But this is also a team who can start poorly and then switch gears after falling behind, as Egypt and England found out much to their ire. Basically, facing each other at the Metlife Stadium are two almost contrasting teams. Spain give you a cool head, elite passing, calm possession-ball, clever tactics and patterns. Argentina give you an unpredictability, thrill, the footballing version of the good-looking hothead with long hair and a charming smile, who rides in on a motorcycle and whisks away the prettiest girl in the room.
Introducing your referee for the @FIFAWorldCup 2026 Final….🥁
Congratulations, Slavko Vinčić! 👏 pic.twitter.com/OMLJ3oA31p
— FIFA (@FIFAcom) July 17, 2026
It is near impossible to say which way it will go. In a way, the game matches the venue itself. New York is an impressive location, fit for a World Cup final, but over the past few days it has been engulfed in smoke from wildfires in Canada, turning the famous skyline a dark, foreboding grey with an apocalyptic feel.
Will the smoke have cleared out by the time the final kicks off at 3pm ET (8pm BST)? The word from the weather experts is that conditions will improve but like everything else, it hangs in the air. Nevertheless, the match itself promises to be exciting.
