FIFA World Cup final: Argentina, Spain set for epic showdown in New Jersey

NEW YORK: Only a few hours remain before the football world finds out who will wear the World Cup crown for the next four years.

The 39-day FIFA World Cup, hosted for the first time across three countries and featuring 48 teams, will come to an end on Sunday (Monday, July 20, in India) with a blockbuster final between defending champions Argentina and former champions Spain at the New Jersey Stadium in New York.

On one side is Argentina, a three-time World Cup winner led by Lionel Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time. After lifting the World Cup in Qatar four years ago, Messi returns for another shot at glory. Argentina's squad includes key players such as Leandro Paredes, Julián Álvarez, Nahuel Molina, Giuliano Simeone, Nicolás Tagliafico, Enzo Fernández, and Lautaro Martínez.

On the other side is Spain, playing in their first World Cup final since winning their only title 16 years ago. Captain Rodri (Rodrigo Hernández Cascante) leads the midfield with his calm passing and control of the game. Nineteen-year-old Lamine Yamal, already seen by many as the future of world football, will be Spain's biggest attacking threat. The team also features Marc Cucurella, Mikel Oyarzabal, Pau Cubarsí, and impact substitute Mikel Merino, who has delivered crucial goals throughout the tournament. With both teams in excellent form, the title race is expected to be a close contest.

The match kicks off at 3:00 PM EDT on Sunday, which is 12:30 AM IST on Monday, July 20. It will be broadcast live in India on Unite 8 Sports and ZEE5.

• This is the first time the reigning Euro Cup Champions and the Copa América champions are meeting in a FIFA World Cup final.
• Lionel Messi is playing in his third World Cup final.
• For the current Spanish squad, this is their first World Cup final.
• Argentina and Spain have met only once before in the FIFA World Cup. In the 1966 group stage, Argentina won 2-1.
• Argentina has become the first team since Italy (1934, 1938), Brazil (1958, 1962) and France (2018, 2022) to reach two consecutive World Cup finals. Italy and Brazil both went on to win back-to-back titles.
• This is Argentina's third World Cup final in the last 12 years. They finished runners-up in 2014 and won the title in 2022.
• Argentina has won the FIFA World Cup three times.
• Spain is playing in its first World Cup final since 2010.
• Spain has won the FIFA World Cup once.
• Both teams reached the final unbeaten in the tournament.