The Opta supercomputer has predicted Spain as the favorite to win the World Cup final against Argentina on Sunday, giving La Roja a 45.1% chance of victory in regulation time. The match will take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Supercomputer Odds and Betting Favorites
According to the algorithm, Argentina has only a 29.4% chance of winning within 90 minutes, while there is a 25.4% probability the match will go into extra time or be decided by penalties. Bookmakers have also installed Spain as slight favorites to lift the trophy.
Spain's Path to the Final
Spain secured their place in the final after a 2-0 victory over pre-tournament favorites France in the semi-finals. Manchester City midfielder Rodri expressed pride in his team's performance, stating, "I'm very proud of my team and what it represents for us. Now it's time to rest because we probably have the most important match of our lives on Sunday." He added, "We all needed each other. I had a lot of help in the midfield to control such a physical and aggressive team on second balls - I would say it was a very complete match."
Argentina's Dramatic Semi-Final Win
Argentina, the defending champions, edged past England 2-1 in their semi-final, staging a late comeback. Lionel Messi, who inspired the victory, is expected to feature in the final. Should he play, the 39-year-old will become only the second player after Brazil's Cafu to appear in three World Cup finals, having played in 2014 and 2022.
Messi's Historic Opportunity
A win for Argentina would make Messi the first captain to successfully defend the World Cup since Brazil in 1962, following their triumph over France in Qatar four years ago. Reflecting on the semi-final win, Messi said, "It was a special match against England, we couldn't lose. While this group doesn't owe anything to anyone, you know how Argentinians are, we always demand more." He continued, "I think if we had lost today, people would have come out and said some nonsense, and we didn't give them the chance. We knew that we were better than them in terms of football."
Messi added, "Everything we experienced was incredible, from the very beginning, as we said. Although it was a football match, when we started to enter the field and during the anthem, we experienced special feelings, and the group felt that. It wasn't just another victory; it was an important victory that the Argentine people wanted, and we wanted it too, and it put us in another World Cup final. It's crazy to play two World Cup finals in a row. This group is incredible."
