An all-time clash between two heavyweights in world football awaits - but who will take the grandest prize in international football? We used EA Sports FC 26 to try and predict the action23:22, 17 Jul 2026After all the English heartbreak on Wednesday night, the stage is set and the contenders confirmed for the 2026 World Cup final. For the first time in the tournament’s history, the reigning European and South American champions will do battle for the ultimate prize.‌Having punched their ticket to the final at the cost of England, reigning world champions Argentina are licking their lips at the thought of winning back-to-back trophies. But a stubborn, tactically flexible Spain side stand in their way, eyeing a second star to stitch onto their kits.‌Lionel Messi’s magic, even at 39 years old, has lit up this tournament. But if any nation is well equipped to stop him, it’s a Spain team that just shut out Kylian Mbappe and free-scoring favourites France.‌Could it be time for Messi to pass the torch onto his Barcelona heir, the Spanish teenager Lamine Yamal? Or will the great man lead Argentina to a fourth World Cup title?We took to EA Sports FC 26’s latest mode, The World’s Game, to try and predict the outcome of this mouth-watering World Cup final.World Cup Final simulated starting line-ups on EA Sports FC 26After the exploits of both sides in the semi-finals, there’s little reward for Argentina’s stoppage time hero. Lautaro Martinez starts the final on the bench, according to our simulation, as Lionel Scaloni’s digital avatar gave Julian Alvarez the nod alongside Messi.‌For Spain, Fabian Ruiz retained his place alongside Rodri in a midfield designed to utterly stifle the evergreen Messi, much like the European champions did to Kylian Mbappe’s French side.Spain simulated starting XI : Unai Simon; Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella; Rodri, Fabian Ruiz; Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Alex Baena; Mikel Oyarzabal.Argentina simulated starting XI : Emiliano Martinez; Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez.‌World Cup final simulated by EA FC 26Perhaps unsurprisingly, the match proved to be a cagey affair for the first 40 minutes. But Spain had managed to keep Messi and his teammates quiet, restricting them to absolutely zero attempts on goal for the entire first half.Meanwhile, Spain had created two decent chances, before the breakthrough came on the 41st minute. And who else but the teenage winger ready to cement his place among the world’s greatest?Yamal’s quiet run at the back post placed him in perfect position to finish a brilliant pass from Alex Baena, thumping home beyond Emi Martinez in the Argentina goal. And so Spain led 1-0 at the break, creating three shots to the holders’ zero.‌The Argentine midfield had spent the half working tirelessly to find a way through, but were ultimately unable to create a chance. Mac Allister, Fernandez and De Paul all battled to prevent Spain from playing through the park and largely succeeded.But Rodri and Ruiz did their job to the letter, snuffing out any hint of an attack before it broke the midfield line. Olmo and Baena were also impressive in attack, particularly in the build up to the goal.‌There wasn’t much played of the second half before another goal. This time, one of the all-time great World Cup final goals - and from perhaps a less likely source than fans might expect.Baena stood over the ball after Yamal was fouled on the edge of the box, and he duly dispatched the free-kick on 51 minutes straight into the top-left corner. Spain were 2-0 up and flying.‌But Argentina’s response was swift. This time, Mac Allister found a way through the rigid Spain midfield as he returned a pass to Julian Alvarez.The Atletico Madrid striker made sure to revive his country’s hopes with a low finish into the corner just three minutes after they went 2-0 down. Could it spark yet another Argentina comeback?‌Despite more of the ball and some close shaves, Argentina couldn’t find another. Spain ensured they didn’t open up again - and in fact came close to a third when Baena blazed his shot wide of the post after 66 minutes.The European champions shut up shop for the final third of the match, ensuring Messi and his side would head home from New Jersey empty handed.World Cup final result simulated by EA FC 26Spain 2 - 1 Argentina‌As one legacy appears to draw to a close - the aging Messi possibly eyeing up a permanent retirement from international football - another could begin should this simulation reflect reality. Yamal’s future is extremely bright and a goal on the grandest stage of all, four years before Spain co-host the tournament themselves.Taking the famous trophy back to Spain for a second time would secure this cohort’s place in football history. Following in the famous footsteps of the 2010-2012 Golden Generation in becoming both world and European champions at the same time is no mean feat.And, there is the welcome bonus that this simulation follows the official EA Sports one. The studio claims to have correctly predicted the last four World Cup winners.Article continues belowBut this summer’s World Cup has been chiefly about an age-defying Lionel Messi refusing to accept when he, or his nation, are done. The virtual Messi was kept quiet in our simulation, but the real-life football icon is much less likely to go without a fight.