Spain vs Argentina: Who will become world champions? Prediction - July 19, 2026
On Sunday, July 19, we will witness the most anticipated and biggest match of the four-year cycle—the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, with Spain taking on Argentina. Kick-off is scheduled for 21:00 CET, and here's my betting pick for the match.
Spain vs Argentina: Match preview
Spain enjoyed an impressive qualifying campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They dropped points in only one match, drawing 2-2 with Türkiye, and conceded just two goals throughout the qualifiers. At the 2026 World Cup, La Roja have continued to perform at an outstanding level, excelling both in attack and defence. Spain collected seven points during the group stage without conceding a single goal.
Their first goal conceded at the tournament came in the World Cup quarter-finals against Belgium, but they still progressed. In the semi-finals, Spain comfortably swept aside France with a 2-0 victory. This is La Roja's second appearance in a FIFA World Cup final. They defeated the Netherlands 1-0 in the 2010 final, and now they will look to overcome another opponent to lift the trophy once again.
Argentina also came through qualification in impressive fashion, winning the CONMEBOL qualifying group. During the World Cup group stage, the Argentines collected the maximum nine points by winning all three matches. However, they encountered problems once the knockout stage began. Argentina first defeated Cape Verde in extra time thanks to an own goal. They then produced a remarkable comeback against Egypt, recovering from a 2-0 deficit in the 75th minute as Lionel Messi's side scored three goals to advance.
In the quarter-finals, they defeated Switzerland 3-1 after extra time, while another dramatic comeback followed in the semi-finals. Argentina scored in the 85th minute and in stoppage time at 90+2 to book their place in a second consecutive World Cup final. This marks Argentina's third World Cup final appearance across the last four tournaments. They have won one, lost one, and now they are aiming to claim another title.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Spain have conceded just one goal throughout the entire World Cup.
- Argentina have scored at least two goals in every match of the tournament.
- Argentina have reached the World Cup final for the second consecutive edition.
- Spain have reached the FIFA World Cup final for only the second time in their history.
- The last meeting between these teams came in 2018, when La Roja thrashed Argentina 6-1.
Probable lineups
- Spain: Simon; Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Ruiz; Yamal, Olmo, Baena; Oyarzabal
- Argentina: E. Martinez; Montiel, Romero, L. Martinez, Tagliafico; De Paul, Paredes, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Messi, Alvarez
Prediction
A FIFA World Cup final is always an incredibly compelling occasion, and I expect another outstanding contest. My recommendation is to back both teams to score in this match.
