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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. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Rooney calling this nonsense out for what it is. 'I thought it was crap'! Best thing he's said all tournament. Nice one Wazza!

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  2. DARE TO BISCAN
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Finally, a good bit of punditry from Rooney

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

    I'm never paying my TV license again.

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    1. DARE TO BISCAN
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 18 days ago

      Was actually considering this. Not sure what BBC/terrestrial TV I would watch, once this match is over.

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

        You need a license to stream or record anything live - including Sky.

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

          Not sure anyone ever gets caught though

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        2. DARE TO BISCAN
          • 8 Years
          1 month, 18 days ago

          Don't watch any live services, other than when visiting other people. Or BBC radio. Look at BBC sport football website every now and then - can live without.
          Mostly YouTube, Amazon prime, Spotify.

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

    Such a soft shot

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  5. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Mbappe captain looking good

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  6. Thanos
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Wow Rodri :-O

    Play acting should get a RC. That was embarrassing.

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  7. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    This is pish, not sure it’s even football…

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

    Oh fck off! Would've been so lovely.

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

    Feeling a Messi winner…

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  10. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Imagine being one of the mugs that paid $50k for a ticket for this…

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

      I’d be getting a refund asap lol

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

        I want my money back and I’ve paid nothing…

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  11. DARE TO BISCAN
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Sunk cost fallacy, to continue watching? Gonna water the garden instead x

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

    Quite bizarre subs by argentina. Defensive and like for like

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

    The worst final is said to be 1990 Germany vs Argentina. I was 6 then. Surely this is worse. Till now

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  14. Goro Majima
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Oyazarbal blanks for me yet again. Dodged all his goals somehow.

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

    Argentina playing rougher and rougher... Genuinely hate how they play.

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

      Really? I hate how spain plays. Boring

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

        True.. But at least they are trying to attack and actually kick the ball and not players.

        Tbf I've found Spain boring throughout WC, but Argentina are boring and disgusting to watch.

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

          All of argentina knockout games were incredibly dramatic.

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

            Wonder why....

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  16. EmreCan Hustle
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Argentina will start playing when Spain least expect it.

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

      2030?

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

    Romero cs banked!

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

      Yeah but you have to use a FT in GW1 to take him out

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

    Ref Vincic has been very competent out there.

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

    Such a bad, bad match this.

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

    Are Spain fcking it up infront of goal on purpose? Wtf is this?

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

    80th minute, and still not a single attempt on goal for Argentina

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

    Argentina should have had at least 3 more yellow cards, 2 of them borderline red. But that would lessen the chance of FIFAs golden boy winning another WC.

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

      Simeone is scum. Runs in the family.

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

        Looks like a terrible person…

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

    92nd minute winner by merino coming up

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

      I’d settle for that, but my dream is for Spain to win on pens, with Messi missing the crucial kick.

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

        Ha, ha…

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  24. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    gotta be the easiest 8 saves ever

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  25. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Messi’s heat map will be a blank sheet of paper…

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

      He’s been lurking in the centre circle most of the game

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      1. Freshy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        1 month, 18 days ago

        In hockey we call that the floater position
        It is a position that carries great shame

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

          Excellent…

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

    Spains shooting is the worst

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

      Better than the Argies - they haven’t had any.

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

        They will probably score with the first

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

        Watch them have one shot, on target, and in the goal

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

    Hahaha Enzo

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  28. EmreCan Hustle
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 18 days ago

    Enzo red!

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

    Finally!!

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

    Red card!! He’s off!

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