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Spain v Argentina team news: La Roja unchanged, Molina benched

19 July 2026 319 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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This is it: the 104th and final 2026 FIFA World Cup match.

Spain and Argentina have each negotiated three group games and four knockout rounds to get here, and surprisingly meet for the first time at the World Cup in 60 years.

The New York New Jersey Stadium hosts this evening’s final, and the action gets underway at 20:00 BST.

TEAM NEWS

Spain are unchanged as Luis de la Fuente names the same starting XI that produced victories in the quarter-finals and semi-finals.

Pedri has to settle for a place among the substitutes again, then.

Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni make three alterations.

Rodrigo De Paul, Nico Gonzalez and Gonzalo Montiel come in, as Giuliano Simeone, Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina drop to the bench.

LINE-UPS

Spain XI: Simon, Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella, Rodri, Ruiz, Yamal, Olmo, Baena, Oyarzabal.

Subs: Raya, Pubill, Grimaldo, E Garcia, Llorente, Merino, Torres, Gavi, Pino, J Garcia, Williams, Zubimendi, Pedri, Munoz, Iglesias.

Argentina XI: E Martinez, Montiel, Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Tagliafico, Enzo, De Paul, Mac Allister, Gonzalez, Messi, Alvarez.

Subs: Musso, Senesi, Molina, Barco, Lo Celso, Rulli, Palacios, Paredes, Almada, Simeone, Paz, Otamendi, Lopez, Lautaro Martinez, Medina.

319 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. THE Wild Rover
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Things you love to see

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  2. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Not gonna lie I’d have fancied England in that final as well

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    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Just not good enough.

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  3. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Well if there is one lesson for everyone, defending for 120 mins and hoping for penalties will never work.

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    1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Worked for Brazil in 94 haha

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      1. CoracAld2831
        • 5 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        That final was pretty even at least.

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      2. jacob1989
        • 4 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        Brazil were more attacking than italy then. Romario missed 2 big chances.

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  4. JBG
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Fully deserved

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  5. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Wonder if Messi has one more World Cup in him, been best player at the tournament by a country mile, even if he did get marked out the game in the final.
    So so impressive considering he plays in a weaker league.

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    1. THE Wild Rover
      • 16 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      No chance

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      1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        He’d be what 43? If I’m honest watching him play he looks like he’s 32 with his agility etc

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    2. PartyTime
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Hahaha... I would love Messi taking on O'Reilly & Spence again

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      1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        Probably still boss them

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      2. Three Pints of Schlager
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        They are both still dizzy.

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    3. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Would not be against it.

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    4. Zalk
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      I guess he could always make it a hattrick in WC final losses.

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  6. Three Pints of Schlager
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    This final was stolen from the Simpsons.

    Boring!

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    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Wasn't thst Mexico v Portugal though?

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      1. CoracAld2831
        • 5 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        *that

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      2. Three Pints of Schlager
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        Does it matter?

        They are all kind of Spanish. 😉

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  7. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Spain only conceded 1 goal in the whole tournament. Very impressive.

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    1. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Yes, England conceded 12 goals the joint most in the WC, but also scored the joint most.(20)

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    2. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Can anyone guess who scored it!

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      1. CoracAld2831
        • 5 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        De Ketelaere?

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        1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
          • 9 Years
          1 month, 18 days ago

          Well done!

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  8. Three Pints of Schlager
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Also, please can we (please) finally reveal the new FPL season prices.

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    1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Game should be out tomorrow looking at release in previous seasons

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      1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        (Including World Cup/Euro seasons)

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      2. Three Pints of Schlager
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        Oh please yes yes yes...

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    2. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      I'd.say at the end of the week, possibly Friday.

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    3. RedLightning
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      I'll be surprised if they don't start revealing prices tomorrow, with the launch sometime later in the week - possibly as early as Tuesday.

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  9. Tripswich
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Yamal is most certainly not, anything special.

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    1. moz_1983
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      To be fair, he's still only 19 and reached 100 goal involvements faster than Messi or Ronaldo (when he was 18).

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    2. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      He's young and just back after injury.

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  10. Hosea Matthews
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 month, 18 days ago

    What an advert for football that was.

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    1. Three Pints of Schlager
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      You mean soccer not football.

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    2. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      That was Saturday.

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  11. Zimo
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Right that's that. Onto more important things. When's the game launching? 😛

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  12. Zalk
    • 15 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Football won today! Argentina couldn't foul and luck themselves through another game.

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  13. THE Wild Rover
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Trump is getting really fat.

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    1. THE Wild Rover
      • 16 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      I hope somerefuses to shake his hand. They won’t

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      1. THE Wild Rover
        • 16 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        *someone refuses

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    2. SM001
      • 10 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Easier for the sniper in the stadium.

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  14. Brosstan
    • 12 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Llorente should get a lengthy ban. Trash person.

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    1. Brosstan
      • 12 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Complete brain fart.. I meant Paredes.. Time to go to bed.

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      1. moz_1983
        • 14 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        I loved watching them having a complete meltdown for exactly the same crap they pulled midweek. Awful winners, awful losers.

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  15. Don Be Zeelly
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Infantino trying to get it through to Trump they have to get offstage. Deaf ears.

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  16. OverTinker
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Tottenham are the first ever Premier League club to have a World Cup winner in three consecutive tournaments!

    Which Spurs player is winning it in 2030?

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    1. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Who cares?

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    2. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 13 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Can they add it to their trophy cabinet?

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      1. GreennRed
        • 14 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        Only if they play 'entertaining' football.

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    3. Nomadic Spurs
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Let's win the Premier League first.

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  17. McGurn
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 17 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Watched it late so just seen 4 hours after you all did. The most despicable team ever lost in the worst final in the most despicable world cup ever. An horrific day day for for football but image if FIFA won. Get in Spain. Woop woop!

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    1. ebb2sparky
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 17 days ago

      You sound surprised. Had you not seen Argentina play before?

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  18. McGurn
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 17 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Please please someone protect the ref. He was superb. I fear for him xx

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  19. Nomadic Spurs
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Now launch the Fantasy Premier League site for 2026/27. The pre-season friendlies have started and our scouts are out and about.

    Bring it on. Time to forget about Argentina and Harry Kane.

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  20. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 17 days ago

    It will probably be a few more days.

    I predict a Thursday/Friday launch.

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