How can Argentina and Messi beat Spain and Yamal to defend World Cup?

Argentina arrive at the 2026 World Cup final as defending champions seeking to repeat their triumph from Lusail Stadium four years earlier. A successful defence would make them only the third team in history to accomplish the feat, following Brazil's achievement in 1962. However, despite the presence of Lionel Messi and their status as South American champions, Argentina are not favoured to win Sunday's match.

Spain enters the final as the pre-tournament favourites and European champions. The Spanish began the tournament as the world's number-one ranked team but lost that distinction during the campaign to France's attacking prowess. Spain's path to the final included a commanding 2-0 semifinal victory over France, in which Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and their supporting cast struggled to create meaningful opportunities.

Spain's route to the final was less convincing than their semifinal performance. They were held by debutants Cape Verde in their opening match and subsequently advanced past Uruguay, Portugal, and Belgium without delivering consistently strong displays. Coach Luis de la Fuente has emphasised unity within the squad, notably excluding all Real Madrid players from the 26-man roster while selecting eight Barcelona players who recently won the domestic title.

De la Fuente has stressed that squad selection prioritises Spanish players committed to representing their nation rather than their club affiliations. The Spanish midfield includes Fabian Ruiz, who plays for Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain. Spain's confidence appears restored following their dominant semifinal performance, though questions remain about whether their earlier inconsistency signals underlying weaknesses.