After 103 games and 38 days, the 2026 World Cup Final is here.
And neutrals couldn’t have written the script any better, with FIFA’s top-two ranked teams facing each other in New Jersey on Sunday night.
The reigning world champions and No.1 ranked team, Argentina, against the No.2 team and current European champions, Spain.
Finals like this don’t come around often.
SPAIN 6/5 ARGENTINA 12/5 DRAW 2/1 (8pm BBC & ITV)
Spain (Ranked 2) form:
(xG 1.63) Spain 2-0 France (Ranked 3)
(xG 1.96) Spain 2-1 Belgium (Ranked 8)
(xG 1.68) Spain 1-0 Portugal (Ranked 7)
(xG 2.80) Spain 3-0 Austria (Ranked 23)
(xG 0.86) Spain 1-0 Uruguay (Ranked 19)
(xG 2.30) Spain 4-0 Saudi Arabia (Ranked 58)
(xG 2.10) Spain 0-0 Cape Verde (Ranked 64)
Shots: 114 Shots on target: 44 HT/FT goals: 7-6 Corners: 45 Cards: 6
Goals scored minutes: 10, 21, 22, 24, 30, 36, 42, 49, 58, 66, 88, 89, 90
Top scorers: Mikel Oyarzabal (5 goals)
Argentina (Ranked 1) form:
(xG 1.59) Argentina 2-1 England (Ranked 4)
(xG 2.84) Argentina 1-1 Switzerland (Ranked 14) (3-1 aet)
(xG 1.94) Argentina 3-2 Egypt (Ranked 24)
(xG 2.26) Argentina 1-1 Cape Verde (Ranked 64) (3-2 aet)
(xG 2.13) Argentina 3-1 Jordan (Ranked 73)
(xG 2.36) Argentina 2-0 Austria (Ranked 23)
(xG 1.26) Argentina 3-0 Algeria (Ranked 29)
Shots: 95 Shots on target: 38 HT/FT goals: 6-9 Corners: 37 Cards: 9
Goals scored minutes: 10, 17, 19, 29, 31, 38, 60, 76, 79, 80, 83, 85, 90, 90 (92, 111, 112, 120)
Top scorers: Lionel Messi (8 goals), Lautaro Martinez (3)
Argentina have just been elevated to No.1 in the world following the semi-finals, with Spain hot on their heels at No.2 - and that’s something Spain will want to amend before flying home.
The two haven't faced each other for eight years, and there hasn't been much between them throughout the years.
Head-to-heads:
Spain 6 wins Argentina 6 wins 2 draws
Most recent meetings:
2018: Spain 6-1 Argentina (Friendly)
2010: Argentina 4-1 Spain (Friendly)
2009: Spain 2-1 Argentina (Friendly)
2006: Spain 2-1 Argentina (Friendly)
1999: Spain 0-2 Argentina (Friendly)
1995: Spain 2-1 Argentina (Friendly)
Amazingly, the pair only met once in a major tournament way back in 1966, and there really isn't much between them in the overall count with six wins apiece.
Punters looking for correct-score clues along with the number of goals from past finals should check out the following list.
Past World Cup Final scores (since 1978):
0-0, 0-0, 0-0
1-0
1-1, 1-1
2-0
3-0
2-2
3-1
3-2
4-2
Unlike the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and third-place play-offs, there was a real mix of scorelines and goals scored in finals.
It appeared as though things were quietening down with a run of tight 1-1, 0-0 and 0-0 affairs in 2006, 2010, and 2014, but the last two finals sparked into life with full-time scorelines of 4-2 and 2-2.
One recent thread of consistency is that four of the last five World Cup finals went to extra-time, bringing a possible draw into play at 2/1 with BoyleSports.
The Final Stats:
- Apart from two 0-0’s, Spain scored the first goal in their last 15 matches
- Spain scored during the first-half in 7 of their last 9 games
- Spain conceded just 1 goals at this tournament - Argentina conceded 7
- Spain remain undefeated in 37 matches
- Argentina scored the most goals in the tournament (19)
- Argentina remain unbeaten in 13 World Cup games
- Argentina haven’t kept a clean sheet in five games
- Lionel Messi had only 1 shot on target in his last two games
Spain vs Argentina betting summary:
For me, the shape of the final is one of the easiest games of the tournament to sum up - Spain to win a game that produces around 2-3 goals.
Expect more of the same from the European champions, who will to dictate the game from early on, while trying to get in front before half-time - something they have mastered in recent years.
Spain will also want to prove they are the No.1 team in the world. This is their time.
Since the knockouts, Argentina were hit with 14 shots on target against them - Spain allowed just 7, and this is where the game will be won.
Argentina were let of jail by England in the semi-final - let's not go there - but won’t be afforded that luxury by a Spain team who are more organized at the back than anything Messi’s men have faced in the competition.
Spain have already won 1-0 twice at this year’s World Cup when doing enough to see off both Uruguay and Portugal, and a repeat at 6/1 looks well priced.
Spain vs Argentina tips: SPAIN TO WIN, UNDER 3.5 GOALS at 7/4. SPAIN TO WIN 1-0 at 6/1.
Look out for David's 2030 World Cup ante-post preview next week.
Read David’s ante-post selections here.
DAVID MYERS'S WORLD CUP DAILY BETS (scale 1-5 points):
WORLD CUP FINAL:
SPAIN VS ARGENTINA
3pts SPAIN TO WIN, UNDER 3.5 GOALS (7/4 BoyleSports)
1pt SPAIN TO WIN 1-0 (6/1 BoyleSports)
