Defending champions Argentina face European winners Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final at the MetLife Stadium, New York, on Monday, 20 July, with kick-off set for 12:30 AM IST. The showpiece clash — the 104th match of the tournament — pits two of world football's most decorated nations against each other in what promises to be a historic night.

Spain's Road to the Final

Luis de la Fuente's Spain reached the final by outclassing favourites France in the semi-finals, controlling possession and stifling the French attack from start to finish. That victory was the high point of a campaign that began with a stumble — Cabo Verde held La Roja to a goalless draw in their opening group match — before Spain found their rhythm, putting four past Saudi Arabia and closing the group stage with a 1-0 win over Uruguay to top Group H.

The knockout phase tested Spain's nerve. A comfortable 3-0 win over Austria in the Round of 32 gave way to two consecutive late-drama victories, both decided by Mikel Merino. His goal in the Round of 16 edged out Portugal (1-0), and another last-gasp strike saw off Belgium (2-1) in the quarter-finals — the only match in which Spain conceded throughout the tournament.

Argentina's Dramatic Journey

Lionel Scaloni's Argentina swept through the group stage with three straight wins, powered by an extraordinary Lionel Messi, who has now scored eight goals in this tournament and 21 across his entire World Cup career. The knockout rounds, however, were anything but straightforward.

The Albiceleste needed extra time to edge Cabo Verde 3-2 in the Round of 32. The Round of 16 produced one of the tournament's most dramatic moments: Egypt led 2-0 heading into the 79th minute, only for Argentina to mount a stunning comeback and win 3-2. In the quarter-finals, Switzerland pushed them to extra time once more before Julian Alvarez broke the deadlock with a brilliant goal, with Lautaro Martinez adding a third to seal a hard-fought win.

The semi-final against England followed a similar script. Anthony Gordon put England ahead early in the second half, and the clock appeared to be running down on Argentina — until Enzo Fernandez struck from range and substitute Martinez headed in at the back post to complete another comeback. The win sends Argentina back to the World Cup final four years after their Qatar 2022 triumph, again with European opposition standing in their way.

How to Watch Argentina vs Spain Live in India

Live streaming of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final in India will be available on the Zee5 platform and app, with a subscription required. Live telecast will be broadcast on Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD, Unite8 Sports 2, and Unite8 Sports 2 HD TV channels.

Match Details and Full Squads

Date: Monday, 20 July 2026 | Kick-off: 12:30 AM IST | Venue: MetLife Stadium, New York | Referee: Slavko Vincic

Spain Squad — Goalkeepers: Unai Simon, David Raya, Joan Garcia. Defenders: Pedro Porro, Marcos Llorente, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsi, Marc Pubill, Eric Garcia, Marc Cucurella, Alejandro Grimaldo. Midfielders: Rodrigo Hernandez, Martin Zubimendi, Pedri Gonzalez, Fabian Ruiz, Mikel Merino, Pablo Paez 'Gavi', Alex Baena. Forwards: Mikel Oyarzabal, Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, Borja Iglesias, Dani Olmo, Victor Munoz, Nico Williams, Yeremy Pin.

Argentina Squad — Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez, Geronimo Rulli, Juan Musso. Defenders: Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Leonardo Balerdi, Nicolas Otamendi, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico, Facundo Medina. Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo De Paul, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Enzo Fernandez, Valentin Barco. Forwards: Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez, Lautaro Martinez, Thiago Almada, Nicolas Paz, Nicolas Gonzalez, Giuliano Simeone, Jose Manuel Lopez.

With Messi chasing a second World Cup winner's medal and Spain seeking back-to-back European and global glory, the MetLife Stadium final on 20 July is set to be one of the most-watched football matches in history.