Spain vs. Argentina Top Storylines, Odds, Live Stream for World Cup 2026 Bracket Final
Spain and Argentina face off on Sunday in what has the potential to go down as one of the best men's World Cup finals we've seen in a long time.
Argentina won an epic against France four years ago in Qatar.
Lionel Messi and Co. haven't had the easiest knockout round, but they've found a way to stay alive in every game.
Argentina has had a flair for the dramatic, while Spain has had a more methodical approach
La Roja are off coming off a shutout of Kylian Mbappe and France in which Les Bleus had little to no concrete chances.
Spain's defense has a far more difficult challenge on its hands on Sunday against a Messi-led Argentina attack that can be overwhelming to play against at times.
Offensively, Spain will rely on its wonder kid Lamine Yamal, who is expected to be the team's most important player not just on Sunday, but for the next decade plus.
Match Info and Odds
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Date: Sunday, July 19
Start Time: 3 pm ET
TV: Fox
Live Stream: Fox One and FoxSports.com
To Lift the Cup: Spain (-148; bet $148 to win $100); Argentina (+128; bet $100 to win $128)
90-Minute Money Line: Spain (+125); Argentina (+260); Draw (+200)
How Will Lionel Messi Break Down Spain Defense?
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Spain stymied attacks featuring Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe in the knockout round.
La Roja conceded once in the knockout round in the quarterfinals against Belgium.
France, Portugal and Austria did not get a goal past Unai Simon in the Spain net.
The Spanish defensive setup is as organized as you'll see. That presents a huge challenge for Lionel Messi in his quest to win two World Cups in a row.
Messi has to be meticulous with his decision-making in the final third. That might mean turning into the provider, like he did during Argentina's comeback win against England.
Spain's defenders will be disciplined in their defending of Messi, so it will take a moment of magic for the Argentinian superstar to score.
The supporting cast, like Enzo Fernandez, Alexis MacAlliser, Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez, need to step again to latch on to the crosses and passes that Messi delivers.
Messi is more than capable of winning the game on his own in most circumstances, but in this case, he might at least one or two of his teammates to help finish off the opportunities he creates.
Will Lamine Yamal Rise to the Occasion For Spain?
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Lamine Yamal has been anointed as the next superstar of men's soccer.
The Spanish winger experienced a mercurial rise over the last two years at Barcelona.
Sunday marks the first time Lamine Yamal has the opportunity to take over a World Cup final.
The 19-year-old only has one goal in the tournament, but he's affected play on the right with his dribbling and passing ability.
Lamine Yamal has to be salivating at the chance to run at an Argentina defense that hasn't held a clean sheet in any of its four knockout-round games.
The assumption is Spain will have chances against a more susceptible defense. Its young winger could steal the show, or he could create for others, like striker Mikel Oyarzabal.
All eyes will be on Lamine Yamal because of his star power. He has the opportunity go head-to-head with Messi in a final, like Mbappe did four years ago.
Or he could even outduel the Argentinian legend and begin to write his own legacy on the international stage.
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