See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy HARRY BAMFORTH, LIVE SPORTS COVERAGE REPORTER Updated: 19:12 BST, 19 July 2026
Follow Daily Mail Sport's live coverage for the latest updates as Argentina attempt to defend their crown against European Champions Spain in the World Cup final at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. This is a match-up that has been 19 years in the making...Tonight we see Lamine Yamal take on the great Lionel Messi for the very first time on the pitch, something that has us all riddled with excitement. We all wanted to see this.It's the king of football against the potential heir to his throne.But what is crazy about this battle is that these two players have a lot of history that stretches beyond their similarities on the pitch.They both met back in 2007 when Yamal was just a baby... we have all seen the photo, surely. Yamal was a baby, and Messi was at the start of what has gone on to be the greatest footballing career we have ever seen.I bet Messi never imagined he would go from bathing a random baby to that baby playing against him in a World Cup final.Quite the story.Can Spain produce another dominant display?Chris Sutton, former England striker, on BBC Sport:I have seen enough of Argentina in this World Cup to think they have been slightly fortunate to get this far. I still fancy Spain strongly to beat them. They have not been behind in any of their seven games at this tournament so far and if you look at the way they beat France in their semi-final, they absolutely dismantled them.When I looked at their team beforehand, I thought they would struggle in the full-back areas against France's wizardry. I was wrong. Not only did they nullify France's fantastic attack, they absolutely played them off the park. It was a near-perfect performance and I suppose the only question is can they do it again?Argentina Team News - THREE changesOh, interesting.Lionel Scaloni has decided to ring the changes, making three for what is a huge final.Gonzalo Montiel, Rodrigo De Paul and Nico Gonzalez all come into the side, with Nahuel Molina, Giuliano Simeone and Leandro Paredes all getting benched.Eight of the team that started the 2022 final are starting tonight...Argentina starting XI: Martinez; Tagliafico, Martinez, Romero, Montiel; Gonzalez, Fernandez, Mac Allister, De Paul; Alvarez, Messi.Spain Team News - UNCHANGEDWhy change a winning formula?Luis de la Fuente has decided to stick with the same 11 starters that got Spain that remarkable win over France.That means that Lamine Yamal will be on teh right, and Pedro Porro continues behind him after his brilliant goal in the semi-final.Nico Williams stays on the bench, as does Pedri.'More excitement about the show than the football'Oliver Holt at the MetLife Stadium:We're enduring the Closing Ceremony at the moment. In the last couple of hours, they have been getting more excited about the Half-Time Show than the football itself. They'll squeeze the match in somewhere, hopefully.A first-ever half-time showI think it's time we elaborate more on the World Cup final half-time show that I mentioned.It's the first time in World Cup history we are going to see one.There is an expected interval of more than 20 minutes at half-time due to what will be an 11-minute show, which breaches the laws of the game.The likes of Madonna, Shakira, and Justin Bieber are performing in the Super Bowl-style half-time show, similar to the one we saw at the Club World Cup last year.You can read more on what the show will be like below:Closing ceremony in full swingOh yeah, I can't believe I forgot to mention this.The closing ceremony has gotten started, with the likes of social media star iShowSpeed and Post Malone already having performed.It's the beginning of what is going to be a concert-like day at this World Cup final. Very different from the others.Don't forget, there is going to be a half-time show...'Argentina will struggle after the England match'Mikael Silvestre, former France international, speaking to Grosvenor Sport:I think whoever won that first semi-final, whether it was France or Spain, was going to go on and take the World Cup trophy home. Facing Spain is going to be an even tougher job too because they have one day of extra rest after six games already played at this tournament. That’s difficult, and then you look at how Argentina and England played against each other. Mentally and physically, that’s a tough ask to then go into the final and face a Spain team with the extra day of rest, who will keep possession of the ball and make you run a lot. It all makes a difference.Yamal and Co arriveThe Spanish contingent have arrived at the MetLife.Lamine Yamal and his team-mates have had a quick look at the pitch ahead of what is the biggest game of their lives.You wouldn't guess the magnitude of this final, looking at Yamal; he looks so relaxed.A good sign if you are Spanish.World Cup food wars FINAL: Spain vs ArgentinaThere is not just one final between Spain and Argentina today...If you guys have been following these blogs throughout the tournament, you will know that we have had a series called World Cup food wars.Now it's time for our final head-to-head, and well, it's a very close battle. Both foods are so, so good.But for me, I think I would rather have the Empanadas. 1-0 Argentina.De la Fuente: 'It's a privilege to be here' Luis de la Fuente, Spain boss, speaking yesterday:I think tomorrow is going to be an incredible show. We have two super teams that have a lot in common, especially in terms of having big personalities and highly talented players. Both sides, naturally, will try and play to our strengths but I think that both Argentina and Spain will be plotting a gameplan where brilliance, talent and good play shines through above anything else.I think it’s a privilege just to be in this final. I’m not one for lofty statements - what’s important to me is to be in a good position to win. I would be happy to reach the World Cup final each year and lose. That shows you how important the World Cup is. And we have the chance to fight to win it and that’s what we’ll do.On Lionel Messi:I met Lionel Messi when he was playing in youth football. It was a Copa del Rey match between Sevilla and Barcelona. I had heard a lot about a boy who was called Messi.So, naturally, we decided to man-mark him at first. In the 70th minute we were drawing 0-0 and when the player who was man-marking him was shown a card I took him off. In the next 15 minutes, Messi scored four times. Does that mean we’re going to man-mark him? No. But will we be paying a lot of attention to him? Yes. But no more than they will be paying attention to our players.Unbeatable SpainMore on Spain... they simply don't lose.After dominating the French, they extended their unbeaten run to 37 games without defeat in all competitions (W28 D9). Yep, you're reading that right. A crazy run.In fact, it's the longest ever unbeaten streak by a European nation in history (Italy also had a 37-match unbeaten streak between October 2018 and September 2021).I can't lie, it's tough to see them losing this final. I know this Argentina side are winners, but so are this Spain team. And the thing is, they are the much better team, too.What a job Luis de la Fuente has done. Can they make it 38?Key Updates
