World Cup Final Preview: Messi vs Yamal for ultimate glory

The 2026 World Cup started with 48 teams, but after 39 days and 103 matches only two remain, with Spain and Argentina set to clash in the final at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday.

Spain are bidding to add the world title to the European crown they picked up two years ago, while Argentina are aiming to become the first side since Brazil in 1962 to successfully retain the trophy. Check out my World Cup Final Preview below.

Sports Welcome Offer

New customers only. Register, deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get £30 in Sports Free Bets & £20 in Bet Builder Free Bets within 24 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. T&Cs Apply.

Sports Welcome Offer

New customers only. Register, deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get £30 in Sports Free Bets & £20 in Bet Builder Free Bets within 24 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. T&Cs Apply.

Contrasting styles in East Rutherford

This promises to be a game of contrasting styles with Spain focusing on a possession-based approach that has allowed them to control matches and limit opportunities for their opponents.

As a result, Luis de la Fuente's side have only conceded once at the tournament - Charles De Ketelaere's equaliser for Belgium in the quarter-finals - and they are 7/5 to keep a clean sheet on Sunday.

World Cup Odds

Spain certainly showcased their game management in their semi-final victory over France, restricting Kylian Mbappe and co to three shots on target and an xG of just 0.3, but Argentina are the competition's leading scorers with 19 goals.

There has certainly been plenty of excitement during the knockout stages for Argentina, who were taken to extra time by both Cape Verde and Switzerland and had to come from behind to beat Egypt in the round of 16 and of course England in the semi-finals.

Both teams have scored in each of Argentina's last five games and it is 5/6 for that trend to continue in East Rutherford, where an average of more than three goals per game has been scored at this World Cup.

Spain vs Argentina Odds

Messi vs Yamal

Photos of Lionel Messi with Lamine Yamal as a baby have been doing the rounds in the build-up to this game and it is testament to both players that they are so influential to their teams at such contrasting stages of their careers.

At 39, Messi is playing at his sixth World Cup and is hoping to lift the trophy for the second time. The Inter Miami star has 12 goal involvements at the tournament and set up both goals in Argentina's come-from-behind success over England in the semi-finals.

With the Golden Ball and Golden Boot still within reach for Messi, it would be no surprise to see him have a decisive say in the final and he is 4/5 to score or assist.

Yamal has not had such an influential World Cup for Spain, with his only goal involvement coming in the group-stage annihilation of Saudi Arabia.

The 19-year-old did come into the tournament still feeling the effects of a hamstring injury and has been wrapped up in cotton wool in the build-up to the final, where he is 11/8 to score or set up a goal.

Both teams are on impressive runs

Unsurprisingly given they are the World Cup finalists, both these sides have been very difficult to beat of late.

Excluding penalty shootouts, Spain are unbeaten in 37 matches since suffering a friendly defeat to Colombia in March 2024, while they have lost only two of 48 games under De la Fuente.

Argentina, meanwhile, are on a 14-match winning run - albeit two of those were sealed in extra time - and they have not lost a World Cup game since their shock group-stage defeat to Saudi Arabia in 2022.

Spain are 5/4 to win the final in 90 minutes and 8/13 to lift the trophy, with Argentina 12/5 to emerge victorious without the need for extra time and 5/4 to defend their crown.