Who is in the World Cup final? Here are the teams, odds, spread for 2026 FIFA championship

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After six weeks of action, the World Cup final is mercifully before us. As expected, the matchup will feature two of international soccer's truest sides that have enjoyed markedly different journeys to reach the sport's pinnacle.

Spain and Argentina will lock horns in the tournament's crescendo, an apt finale to an eye-catching — and contentious — tournament like few others in recent history.

The contest will feature an ensemble cast of standouts, from Lamine Yamal and Rodri to Lionel Messi and Emi Martinez. Given the stakes of the duel, you'd expect nothing less.

With that, here's what you need to know about the two sides left standing in this year's World Cup.

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Who is in the World Cup final?

Spain vs. Argentina

Spain will meet Argentina in the World Cup final, offering a platform for the mercurial Yamal to meet his footballing idol, Lionel Messi.

La Roja cruised to the tournament final in style, conceding one goal in seven matches. Luis de la Fuente's side held the high-octane attacks of Portugal, Belgium and France to precious little, all while receiving timely interventions from the likes of Mikel Oyarzabal and Mikel Merino.

La Albiceleste, meanwhile, got all it could handle from African sides Cape Verde and Egypt before downing Switzerland and England in the quarters and semifinals, respectively. Messi has continued to produce vintage displays at the tender age of 39, tallying a tournament-high eight goals. He'll look to keep his scoring run going against the world's stoutest defense.

The Argentines have looked precarious at times during their run to the final, surrendering leads against the Sharks while falling behind against the Pharaohs and Three Lions. Still, Lionel Scaloni's side has kept its head, authoring up dominant outings in the latter stages of its knockout stage matches to give itself a chance at becoming just the third nation to ever win consecutive World Cups.

When & where is World Cup final?

Date: Sunday, July 18
Kickoff time: 3 p.m. ET
TV network: Fox
Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.

The 2026 World Cup final will be played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It was a somewhat controversial site for this year's tournament finale; after all, Estadio Azteca has hosted the World Cup final on two prior occasions, making it appear the more appropriate choice to house the spectacle.

MetLife Stadium has drawn ire from some who have traipsed along its surface in recent weeks, with France midfielder Adrien Rabiot calling the pasture "quite hard and quite rigid" after Les Bleus downed Senegal there earlier in the tournament.

That hasn't stopped the powers that be who manage this year's World Cup to make the controversial colosseum the home of sport's grandest spectacle. Only time will tell if that's an inspired choice.

World Cup final odds, line, spread

Opening spread: Spain -0.5
Moneyline: Spain (-170), Argentina (+135)
Over/under: 2.5

Spain opened as -0.5 favorites to beat Argentina in the World Cup final, according to Caesars Sportsbook. The game's over/under was set at 2.5.

How many times have Spain been to the World Cup final?

Spain is making its second appearance in a World Cup final. La Roja heads into the big game sporting a glistening 1-0 record in such contests. Spain bested the Netherlands in extra time during the 2010 iteration of the match, collecting its first-ever world title in the process.

More broadly, Spain has proven a consistent threat in international tournaments. The Spaniards have more European Championships than any other side, posting a glittering 4-1 record in Euros finals. When Spain reaches the latter stages of an international tournament, it tends to finish the job.

How many times have Argentina been to the World Cup final?

Argentina is making its seventh-ever appearance in a World Cup final, the joint-second most in tournament history. The Argentines are 3-3 in such matches thus far, hoisting titles in the 1976, 1986 and 2022 iterations of the tournament.

Argentina last lost a World Cup final in 2014, falling 1-0 to Germany courtesy of an extra-time winner by Mario Gotze.

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