Dugout Discussion
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 day, 13 hours 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!

  2. DARE TO BISCAN
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 13 hours ago

    Finally, a good bit of punditry from Rooney

  3. SM001
    • 10 Years
    1 day, 13 hours ago

    I'm never paying my TV license again.

    1. DARE TO BISCAN
      • 7 Years
      1 day, 13 hours ago

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

      1. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        1 day, 13 hours ago

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

        1. The Bandit
          • 15 Years
          1 day, 13 hours ago

          Not sure anyone ever gets caught though

        2. DARE TO BISCAN
          • 7 Years
          1 day, 13 hours 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.

  4. JBG
    • 8 Years
    1 day, 13 hours ago

    Such a soft shot

  5. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    1 day, 13 hours ago

    Mbappe captain looking good

  6. Thanos
    • 4 Years
    1 day, 13 hours ago

    Wow Rodri :-O

    Play acting should get a RC. That was embarrassing.

  7. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    1 day, 13 hours ago

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

  8. JBG
    • 8 Years
    1 day, 13 hours ago

    Oh fck off! Would've been so lovely.

  9. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
    • 9 Years
    1 day, 13 hours ago

    Feeling a Messi winner…

  10. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    1 day, 13 hours ago

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

    1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
      • 9 Years
      1 day, 13 hours ago

      I’d be getting a refund asap lol

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        1 day, 12 hours ago

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

  11. DARE TO BISCAN
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 13 hours ago

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

  12. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 day, 13 hours ago

    Quite bizarre subs by argentina. Defensive and like for like

  13. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 day, 13 hours ago

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

  14. Goro Majima
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 13 hours ago

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

  15. JBG
    • 8 Years
    1 day, 13 hours ago

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

    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      1 day, 13 hours ago

      Really? I hate how spain plays. Boring

      1. JBG
        • 8 Years
        1 day, 13 hours 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.

        1. jacob1989
          • 4 Years
          1 day, 13 hours ago

          All of argentina knockout games were incredibly dramatic.

          1. JBG
            • 8 Years
            1 day, 13 hours ago

            Wonder why....

  16. EmreCan Hustle
    • 14 Years
    1 day, 13 hours ago

    Argentina will start playing when Spain least expect it.

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      1 day, 12 hours ago

      2030?

  17. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 day, 13 hours ago

    Romero cs banked!

    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      1 day, 13 hours ago

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

  18. PartyTime
    • 5 Years
    1 day, 12 hours ago

    Ref Vincic has been very competent out there.

  19. JBG
    • 8 Years
    1 day, 12 hours ago

    Such a bad, bad match this.

  20. JBG
    • 8 Years
    1 day, 12 hours ago

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

  21. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    1 day, 12 hours ago

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

  22. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 12 hours 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.

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      1 day, 12 hours ago

      Simeone is scum. Runs in the family.

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        1 day, 12 hours ago

        Looks like a terrible person…

  23. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 day, 12 hours ago

    92nd minute winner by merino coming up

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      1 day, 12 hours ago

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

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        1 day, 12 hours ago

        Ha, ha…

  24. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    1 day, 12 hours ago

    gotta be the easiest 8 saves ever

  25. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    1 day, 12 hours ago

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

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      1 day, 12 hours ago

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

      1. Freshy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        1 day, 12 hours ago

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

        1. Jafooli
          • 14 Years
          1 day, 12 hours ago

          Excellent…

  26. JBG
    • 8 Years
    1 day, 12 hours ago

    Spains shooting is the worst

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      1 day, 12 hours ago

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

      1. JBG
        • 8 Years
        1 day, 12 hours ago

        They will probably score with the first

      2. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
        • 9 Years
        1 day, 12 hours ago

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

  27. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    1 day, 12 hours ago

    Hahaha Enzo

  28. EmreCan Hustle
    • 14 Years
    1 day, 12 hours ago

    Enzo red!

  29. JBG
    • 8 Years
    1 day, 12 hours ago

    Finally!!

  30. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
    • 9 Years
    1 day, 12 hours ago

    Red card!! He’s off!