World Cup 2026: Final start time and tournament results in full

The stage is set for a World Cup final that promises to be as dramatic as any in history. Argentina, the holders, will defend their crown against Spain in a blockbuster decider at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday, with kick-off at 8pm BST. The clash between the reigning world champions and the Euro 2024 winners arrives after a knockout phase that delivered knockout moments, tactical twists, and a third-place thriller.

How the finalists reached the showpiece

Spain booked their place in the final by overcoming France 2-1 in Dallas, a result that sent the reigning European champions into the decider. The victory capped a run that included a stoppage-time winner against Germany in the quarter-finals, a match where substitute strategy reshaped the tournament.

Argentina’s path was no less dramatic. They came from behind to eliminate England in stoppage time, a match that saw Thomas Tuchel’s substitute approach backfire spectacularly. The holders’ resilience under pressure set up a final that will see Lionel Scaloni’s side face a Spanish side brimming with technical quality and tournament experience.

The third-place play-off between France and England produced a wild 6-4 victory for the Three Lions, a match that offered a final glimpse of attacking flair before the main event. The result capped a tournament that began in Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium, a venue steeped in World Cup lore.

The stage and the stakes

The final will be played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, a venue that will host its first World Cup final. The stadium joins a list of iconic venues that have shaped the tournament’s history, from Azteca’s Maradona-era memories to the 1970 and 1986 finals staged in the same city.

Mexico and Canada will each host 13 games, while the United States will stage 78, including all matches from the quarter-finals onwards. The expanded format has reshaped the tournament’s geography, with the final serving as the climax of a month-long journey across North America.

For Argentina, the chance to become the first back-to-back champions since Brazil in 1962 is at stake. Spain, meanwhile, aim to add global glory to the continental crown they claimed at Euro 2024. The final is more than a match; it’s a collision of eras, styles, and ambitions.

What comes next

The tournament’s knockout bracket is now complete, with every result etched into the record. The final will cap a run that began in Azteca and ends in New Jersey, a journey that has tested the limits of teams and players alike.

Beyond the final, the World Cup’s legacy will extend into club football, with players returning to their domestic leagues carrying the weight of international glory. The tournament’s expanded format has also reshaped the calendar, leaving clubs and federations to navigate the fallout.

For now, the focus is on the final. Argentina and Spain will step onto the pitch knowing that one team will leave as champions, the other as runners-up. The stage is set, the stakes are clear, and the moment is theirs to seize.

The World Cup’s next chapter begins on Sunday at 8pm BST. The finalists are ready. The world is watching.