Spain vs Argentina confirmed teams and full line-up as Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal meet, TV channel, online streaming and stats
Spain and hosts Argentina named their starting teams for the 2026 World Cup finals in New Jersey on Sunday.
La Roja eliminated France in impressive fashion in the semi-finals, winning 2-0 thanks to goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro.
La Albiceleste were 1-0 down in the 84th minute of their last match against England but won 2-1 with the help of Enzo Fernandez’s long-range equaliser.
Lautaro Martinez headed in the winner in the 92nd minute, while eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi scored both goals.
Todo disposte en nuestro costumeria para la grand final. #VamosEspaña | #CopaMundialFIFA pic.twitter.com/22YRyW920X
— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) July 19, 2026
2026 World Cup final: Spain confirmed group against Argentina
Spain has not changed.
Spain starting XI: Unai Simon, Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella, Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Alex Baena, Mikel Oyarzabal
Spain instead: David Raya, Joan Garcia, Marc Pubill, Alex Grimaldo, Eric Garcia, Marcos Llorente, Mikel Merino, Gavi, Martin Zubimendi, Pedri, Ferran Torres, Yeremy Pino, Nico Williams, Victor Munoz, Borja Iglesias
2026 World Cup Final: Argentina to face Spain
Argentina made three changes, replacing Giuliano Simeone, Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina with Rodrigo De Paul, Nico Gonzalez and Gonzalo Montiel.
Argentina XI: Emiliano Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico, Gonzalo Montiel, Lisandro Martinez, Cristian Romero, Rodrigo De Paul, Nico Gonzalez, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Julian Alvarez, Lionel Messi
Argentina instead: Juan Musso, Geronimo Rulli, Marcos Senesi, Nicolas Otamendi, Facundo Medina, Nahuel Molina, Leandro Paredes, Valentin Barco, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Thiago Almada, Giuliano Simeone, Nico Paz, Jose Manuel Lopez, Lautaro Martinez
Where to watch Spain vs Argentina: TV channel, live streaming online
Kick-off is on Sunday at 20:00 BST (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT). In the UK, live TV broadcasts on BBC One and ITV1.
Multi-device streaming is available via the BBC iPlayer app and the BBC Sport website as well as the ITV website and the ITVX app.
Spain vs Argentina: Final statistics for the 2026 World Cup
- It is the first time that the Copa America champions face the European champions in the World Cup final.
- Argentina are the sixth champions to reach the World Cup final – the first two were wins (Italy in 1938 and Brazil in 1962), but the last three were defeats (Argentina in 1990, Brazil in 1998 and France in 2022).
- It is the first time that the two countries ranked first (Argentina) and second (Spain) in the FIFA rankings meet in any stage of the World Cup.
- Messi’s side will compete in their seventh World Cup final, with only Germany playing more (8)
- This captain will be the second player in the history of the World Cup to appear in three finals (2014, 2022 and 2026), along with Cafu from Brazil (1994, 1998, 2002).
- At 39 years and 25 days old, Messi would become the oldest foreign player to play in the finals (39 years, 25 days).
- They are three-time winners (1978, 1986, 2022) and three-time runners-up (1930, 1990, 2014)
- Having won all seven of their matches in the 2026 edition, Argentina would become the first team since Brazil in 2002 (they won 7/7) to have a 100% winning record in one edition.
- Spain’s six clean sheets are the most of any team in a single World Cup competition and they are unbeaten in their last 37 games in all competitions since a 1-0 loss to Colombia in March 2024.
- Should Spain avoid defeat, it will mark Europe’s longest unbeaten run
