Argentina Stun England Again — The World Cup Final Is Spain vs Argentina · Sunday July 19

Argentina 2–1 England: The Story That Won't End

The first half was a street brawl. The second half was ballet with chainsaws. And in the end, the outcome was never really in doubt. As long as Leo Messi draws breath, Argentina will win. With two late, heart-stopping goals, Argentina caught and passed England in the World Cup semifinal, winning 2-1 in yet another miraculous, come-from-behind triumph.

How It Happened

55' — Gordon 0-1 · Anthony Gordon gave England the lead in the 55th minute after tapping home Morgan Rogers' cross in transition. England were in control. The Azteca performance was being recreated. Argentina looked rattled, outrun, outworked.

According to the Fox broadcast, Argentina had scored nine goals at this World Cup after the 75th minute, entering today. Nobody in that stadium believed it was over.

85' — Enzo Fernández 1-1 · Off a pass from Lionel Messi, Fernández took a left-bending shot from outside the top of the box that Jordan Pickford couldn't reach. Make that ten goals after the 75th minute. The curler was unstoppable. The stadium erupted.

90'+2 — Lautaro Martínez 2-1 · Lautaro Martínez headed home in the 92nd minute. Lionel Messi assisted both. Messi was once again the architect, this time crossing for Lautaro to head home and complete another dramatic World Cup turnaround for Scaloni's side.

Argentina have now trailed in every single knockout match of this tournament — Cape Verde, Egypt, Switzerland, England. Every single time, they won. Battered but still alive, Argentina now advances to face Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday.

Messi's Performance

Though Messi — tied with Kylian Mbappé for the lead in the Golden Boot race — didn't score today, he was a massive factor in both of his team's goals. Two assists. A performance that defied his 39 years. Believe it or not, Messi faced England for the first time in his career. In his first ever match against England, he delivered two assists to win a World Cup semifinal.

England's Heartbreak

After England lost to Argentina in the World Cup semifinals, Harry Kane told the Fox broadcast: "We had a lot of good moments in this tournament, a lot of good games, another semifinal. We talk about knocking on the door. We're close. We just need to find that missing piece in the final stage of the tournament."

The agony is perpetual, and the torment terminal. Once again, everything seemed to be going right for England in a tournament — precisely up until the moment it didn't. England go to the third-place match against France on Saturday. The white jersey — Bellingham's brace at the Azteca, four goals and three assists in the tournament — ends its journey one match short.

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THE WORLD CUP FINAL: 🇦🇷 Argentina vs 🇪🇸 Spain

Sunday July 19 · 3pm ET · MetLife Stadium · East Rutherford, New Jersey

That hasn't happened since Brazil won back-to-back titles in 1958 and 1962. Those Brazilian teams had a soccer legend named Pelé. This Argentine team has its own soccer legend, trying to match that feat, 64 years later.

Argentina — The Indestructible

Argentina are attempting to repeat as World Cup champions, a rare feat that hasn't happened in 70 years. They have three titles in total to Spain's one.

The facts about Argentina at this tournament defy logic. They have trailed in every knockout round. They have never been comfortable. They have survived cape Verde in extra time, Egypt's 0-2 deficit, Switzerland 1-1 in extra time, England 0-1 with five minutes left. And every single time, Messi was involved in the winning goal.

Messi has 8 tournament goals and 20 all-time World Cup goals — the record he set and broke in this tournament. Two assists against England. The most decorated player in football history, in his final match, chasing the only thing that has ever eluded him — back-to-back World Cup titles.

The blue and white stripes of Argentina 2026 will be on the pitch at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. Win, and they become the first team in 64 years to repeat as world champions.

Shop the Argentina 2026 World Cup Jersey — FINALISTS →

Spain — The Perfect Machine

Spain has not been beaten in two years — a 37-game streak: 28W - 9D - 0L. They have conceded just one goal in eight World Cup matches.

Spain beat France 2-0 with a performance so dominant that Mbappé barely touched the ball. They beat Belgium 2-1 with Merino's 88th-minute winner. They beat Portugal 1-0 with Merino's 91st-minute winner. They have not been behind in a single match at this tournament. Argentina have been behind in every knockout match.

Lamine Yamal is 19 years old. He drew the foul that led to Oyarzabal's penalty against France. He has been the player of the tournament alongside Bellingham. In Sunday's final, he faces Messi — a viral 2007 photo shows Lionel Messi bathing baby Lamine Yamal during a Barcelona charity photoshoot. The man who held him as a baby now faces him in a World Cup Final.

The red Spain jersey — one goal conceded, eight matches, the most complete defensive performance in modern World Cup history — faces the blue and white stripes on Sunday.

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The Storylines That Make This Final Historic

Messi's last match — Win or lose, this is Lionel Messi's final competitive match for Argentina. The greatest player who ever lived. His send-off at the biggest stage in the world.

Back-to-back champions — If Argentina win, they become the first team since Brazil 1958-62 to win back-to-back World Cups. A feat not achieved in 64 years.

The baby photo — Yamal vs Messi. The player who holds the record against the player who could break it. The 2007 charity photo that went viral the moment these two nations met.

Spain's unbeaten run — 37 games without defeat. One goal conceded in eight World Cup matches. Can Argentina, the team that has never trailed in a knockout match and always found a way, do it one more time?

The Golden Boot — Messi and Mbappé are level on 8 tournament goals and 20 all-time. Messi plays Sunday. If he scores, he takes the outright Golden Boot. If he doesn't, they share it.

Full Final Week Schedule

The Two Jerseys That Matter Now

There are only two jerseys left in the 2026 World Cup. Two kits. Two nations. One trophy.

The Argentina blue and white stripes — worn by Messi in his final tournament, through the greatest series of comebacks in World Cup knockout history, to a final that could make them the first back-to-back champions in 64 years.

The Spain red — worn through 37 games unbeaten, through two Merino late winners, through a 2-0 dismantling of France, to a final against the defending champions.

One jersey lifts the World Cup trophy on Sunday at MetLife Stadium. The other goes home having been part of the greatest World Cup in history.

Both are available now at JerseyFun. Order today — standard shipping will arrive before Sunday in most US locations.

Shop the Argentina 2026 World Cup Final Jersey → Shop the Spain 2026 World Cup Final Jersey →

Published: July 16, 2026. Third-place match: France vs England, Saturday July 18, 5pm ET, Miami. 2026 FIFA World Cup Final: Argentina vs Spain, Sunday July 19, 3pm ET, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey.