Spain will face Argentina in the World Cup 2026 final after La Roja defeated France 2-0 in the semi-final in Arlington, Texas, and Argentina beat England in the second semi-final. England will now play France in the third-place play-off in Miami on Saturday.
Argentina's Quest for Back-to-Back Titles
Argentina are seeking to become only the third nation ever to win consecutive World Cups, following Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962).
When and Where is the World Cup Final?
The 2026 World Cup final will take place on Sunday, July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA. Due to FIFA sponsorship rules, the venue is referred to as New York/New Jersey Stadium during the tournament. The open-air ground has a capacity of 82,500, reduced to 80,663 for the World Cup, and is the home of the NFL's New York Giants and New York Jets.
What Time Does the Final Kick Off?
The game is due to kick off at 8pm BST in the UK, which is 3pm local time (ET).
MetLife Stadium's World Cup History
MetLife Stadium has hosted seven World Cup matches so far, including England's 2-0 win over Panama that secured first place in Group L. It was also the scene of Norway's shock last-16 win over Brazil and France's victory against Sweden in the round of 32. Other notable games included Ecuador's memorable 2-1 win over Germany during the group stage, plus Senegal's losses to France and Norway, and Brazil's opening draw with Morocco.
Half-Time Show and Closing Ceremony
The USA are taking a Super Bowl-type approach to the World Cup final, with a special half-time show lasting 11 minutes. Justin Bieber was recently confirmed to join Madonna, Shakira, BTS, Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, and the PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay in performing. Coldplay singer Chris Martin has put together the half-time show, which will raise money for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.
As usual, there will be a closing ceremony before kick-off at MetLife Stadium, with Tom Cruise, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams, and IShowSpeed all confirmed to be involved. Jennifer Hudson is set to perform the American national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner, before the final gets underway.
