2026 World Cup Final: first half ends 0-0 in the match between Argentina and Spain; this was the much-anticipated halftime show

Madonna kicks off the much-anticipated halftime show, featuring other artists such as Shakira, BTS, and Justin Bieber.
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Read more Video | Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal reunited 18 years after the famous photo: this was the greeting in the 2026 World Cup final

With the score at 0-0, the referee blew the whistle to end the first half of the match in which Argentina and Spain compete for the title of the best youth team in the world.

The Argentina and Spain teams start the first half of the match that will decide the new world champion.

King Felipe VI showed his optimism this Sunday ahead of the final in which Spain pursues its second World Cup against Argentina in a match he faces “with nerves and confidence in a team that enchants again as their elders did in 2010”.

In statements to RTVE, the Spanish monarch said he expects a “spectacular” final between two countries “that are brother countries and with two incredible teams,” so he foresees “a great show.” “Let’s hope it falls on our side,” he added.

For her part, Queen Letizia said she is excited “like all of Spain” about how the tournament is going “and how the Spanish team is playing.” “Now it’s just about winning and that, as I read this morning in an editorial, we can all recognize ourselves in that same joy.”

U.S. President Donald Trump arrived at the New York/New Jersey stadium, where the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain is being played, and said that although he has no favorites, “it’s hard to bet against Messi.”

“The president of Argentina is a good friend of mine, he has done a great job. But what I can say is that it’s hard to bet against (Lionel) Messi,” Trump said shortly before the match to ‘Fox Sports’.

“I’m not going to pick favorites. I just know I wouldn’t bet against Messi. He’s great,” added the president.

Trump occupies a central place in the VIP box alongside the FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, the King of Spain, Felipe VI, and the presidents of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canada, Mark Carney.

The players enter the tunnel onto the field and begin the protocol acts. Spain and Argentina are already on the field, and the anticipation is high to find out who will lift the trophy.

After artists Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams sang ‘Desire’ at the 2026 World Cup final.

Lionel Scaloni made three changes in the Argentina lineup for the 2026 World Cup final against Spain, this Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, with Gonzalo Montiel, Rodrigo De Paul, and Nicolás González entering the starting team.
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​The main novelty will be the presence of left winger González, recently with Atlético de Madrid, replacing central midfielder Leandro Paredes.
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​The other changes will be at right back and midfield.

Montiel will replace Nahuel Molina after his good performance coming on in the second half of the semifinal against England, while De Paul will regain his starting position after having played minutes off the bench in that match.

Post Malone, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams, and Tom Cruise: the closing ceremony of the football World Cup started this Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, to open the curtain for the final between Spain and Argentina.

This first act, which began an hour and a half before the match kickoff, promises to “celebrate the unforgettable journey through the three host countries and the tournament’s host cities.”

The pitch was covered with a flag representing New York’s main landmarks, including the Statue of Liberty.

Robbie Williams, Laura Pausini, and Nicole Scherzinger, performers of the official anthem “Desire,” and rapper Post Malone were among the big names at this ceremony.

Luis de la Fuente, coach of the Spanish national team, repeats the same starting eleven he used against Belgium, in the quarterfinals, and in the semifinal against France, for the world title match between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.

De la Fuente keeps Pedri González on the bench, replaced in the starting eleven by Fabián Ruiz, and starters include Lamine Yamal and Pedro Porro, who finished the match against France with some muscle issues.

Spain faces the 2026 World Cup final with the following starting eleven: Unai Simón; Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella; Rodrigo Hernández, Fabián Ruiz, Dani Olmo; Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal, Alex Baena.

Football passion has unleashed a wave of reservations and preparations in the main Spanish and Argentine corners of New York and New Jersey to celebrate the grand final of the 2026 World Cup between Spain and Argentina in style.

The match will be played on Sunday at MetLife Stadium (officially called New York/New Jersey Stadium during the tournament), and although only 82,500 spectators will be lucky enough to see the match in person, thousands of fans have traveled to New York to experience the final as close as possible.
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​In Manhattan, the Spanish sentiment will be divided between La Nacional, the iconic spot on 14th Street that opened its doors in 1925, and the Little Spain Market, founded by chef José Andrés in Hudson Yards.

Thousands of Argentine fans gathered this Saturday in Times Square on the eve of the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, chanting slogans like “He who doesn’t jump is Spanish” or the famous “Muchachos”.

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Under strict security measures, the doors opened and Argentines are entering MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Gradually, fans are filling the stands.

Argentine singer María Becerra will be in charge of singing her country’s anthem in the 2026 World Cup final against Spain.

The popular artist, 26 years old, conducted sound checks this Sunday at MetLife Stadium, in New Jersey, where the final between Argentina and Spain will be played before 82,500 spectators.

On Saturday afternoon, Becerra had posted a photo on her Instagram profile showing her on a private jet with a 2026 World Cup ball and an Argentine national team jersey with the number 10, that of captain Leo Messi.

Several provinces and municipalities in Argentina have arranged special security operations on the streets in anticipation of the massive gatherings expected this Sunday throughout the country after the 2026 World Cup final against Spain.

According to official sources reported to EFE, in the Argentine capital City Police forces will be deployed, police helicopters will conduct overflights, and real-time monitoring will be done with cameras from the Urban Monitoring Center and drones.

There will also be traffic closures in the city center and barricades around the Obelisk, the epicenter of all major popular demonstrations in Buenos Aires.

In Buenos Aires province, the most populous in Argentina, police reinforcement will be especially present in the cities of La Plata and Mar del Plata.

The state of New Jersey has requested from FIFA part of the profits derived from the sale of souvenirs from the World Cup final played today between Argentina and Spain at MetLife Stadium, including what it obtains from the sale of the turf.

FIFA recently announced that it will sell pieces of the final’s turf at prices ranging from $450 to $3,000, which has upset New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill and some state legislators, who have even called for a ban on this merchandising of match souvenirs.

The Council of Europe, a multilateral organization grouping 46 European countries, asked FIFA this Sunday to “open a dialogue” on how to protect football “from political, financial, and betting pressures.”

“Political influence is already exerted even on the pitch itself. A sanction was suspended during the competition after a head of state called the FIFA president. When rules are circumvented due to pressures, any result can be questioned”, noted the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Swiss Alain Berset, in a statement.

The statements refer to the call that U.S. President Donald Trump made to FIFA President Gianni Infantino to annul the suspension of a match due to a red card to the U.S. team star, Folarin Balogun, after his expulsion in the round of 16 against Bosnia. The sanction was temporarily lifted, and Balogun participated in the round of 8 defeat against Belgium (1-4), amid general outrage.

The announced farewell of Frenchman Didier Deschamps, world champion as a player in 1998 and as a coach in 2018, raises to 15 the number of coaches who, for various reasons, will not continue leading the teams they started the World Cup of the United States, Mexico, and Canada with.
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​Deschamps said goodbye this Saturday in tears but “very proud,” after 14 years leading ‘Les Bleus,’ despite the defeat against England (4-6) in the third-place match of the 2026 World Cup, in which his team staged an epic comeback from 0-4 at halftime.

The list of coaches who will not continue leading their national teams is as follows:

• Sabri Lamouchi (Tunisia)
• Steve Clarke (Scotland)
• Miroslav Koubek (Czech Republic)
• Hong Myung-bo (South Korea)
• Marcelo Bielsa (Uruguay)
• Sebastián Beccacece (Ecuador)
• Ronald Koeman (Netherlands)
• Julian Nagelsmann (Germany)
• Javier Aguirre (Mexico)
• Carlos Queiroz (Ghana)
• Roberto Martínez (Portugal)
• Jamal Sellami (Jordan)
• Zlatko Dalic (Croatia).
• Pape Thiaw (Senegal)
• Didier Deschamps (France).

Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, said that her attendance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final in New York “is important in diplomatic terms,” as the leaders of the three countries (United States, Mexico, and Canada) that co-hosted the tournament will be present.

In a video posted on the social network X, Sheinbaum recalled that on Friday she received an invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump, and emphasized that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will also attend.

“I considered it important in diplomatic terms that the three countries that hosted this World Cup are present, and it is also a sign of good coordination, good collaboration with the United States government,” Sheinbaum pointed out.

England and France (in the second half) honored the third-place match of the 2026 World Cup this July 18, with an afternoon full of goals.

What seemed like a historic thrashing by the English ended in a beautiful second half, sealing the highest-scoring game of this tournament edition: 6-4 for the English.

Read more Spain vs Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final: lineup, goals, and follow the minute-by-minute of the match with Lionel Messi against Lamine Yamal