Where is the World Cup 2026 Final?

The World Cup 2026 Final is at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA. Capacity 82,500 — the largest World Cup Final venue in history.

Is there extra time in the World Cup 2026 Final?

Yes. If level after 90 minutes, 30 minutes of extra time is played. If still tied, a penalty shootout decides the champion.

What happened in the World Cup 2026 third-place match?

England beat France 6-4 on July 18, 2026 at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens — the day before the Final. Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick and Kylian Mbappé a brace in one of the tournament's highest-scoring games. England finish 3rd, France 4th.

World Cup 2026 Final — Spain vs Argentina

Q: When is the World Cup 2026 Final?

The FIFA World Cup 2026 Final is on July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA. Kick-off is expected around 4:00 PM Eastern Time.

Q: Who is in the World Cup 2026 Final?

The World Cup 2026 Final is Spain vs Argentina. Spain beat France 2-0 in Semi-final 1 on July 14 at AT&T Stadium, Dallas (Oyarzabal pen 22', Porro 58') to reach their second-ever World Cup Final, after 2010. Argentina beat England 2-1 in Semi-final 2 on July 15 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta — Gordon put England ahead (55'), before Enzo Fernandez (85') and Lautaro Martinez (90+2', assisted by Messi) turned it around for Argentina, who reach their first Final since winning in 2022.

Q: Who has won the most World Cups?

Brazil — 5 titles (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002). Germany and Italy — 4 each. Argentina — 3 (1978, 1986, 2022). France — 2 (1998, 2018).

🏟️ MetLife Stadium — East Rutherford, New Jersey

82,500

Capacity

Jul 19

Final date

2026

First WC Final in NJ

MetLife Stadium is the shared home of the NFL's New York Giants and New York Jets, located 10 miles from Midtown Manhattan. It will be the biggest-capacity World Cup Final stadium in tournament history. The 2026 World Cup also used it for group stage and knockout matches.

When is the World Cup 2026 Final?

The Final is on Sunday, July 19, 2026. Kick-off is expected around 4:00 PM Eastern Time / 9:00 PM BST / 10:00 PM CEST. FIFA will confirm the official time closer to the event.

Who is in the World Cup 2026 Final?

The World Cup 2026 Final is confirmed: Spain vs Argentina. Spain beat France 2-0 in Semi-final 1 on July 14 in Dallas (Oyarzabal pen 22', Porro 58') — their second-ever World Cup Final, after winning it in 2010. Argentina came from behind to beat England 2-1 in Semi-final 2 on July 15 in Atlanta — their first Final since winning in 2022. Where things stand:

🇪🇸 Spain — CONFIRMED FINALIST. Euro 2024 champions. Beat Belgium 2-1 in the QF on Jul 10, then beat France 2-0 in the Semi-final on Jul 14 (Oyarzabal pen, Porro) to reach their second-ever Final.
🇦🇷 Argentina — CONFIRMED FINALIST. Defending champions. Beat Switzerland 3-1 after extra time in the QF (Mac Allister, Julián Álvarez 112', Lautaro Martínez 120+1'), then came from behind to beat England 2-1 in the Semi-final on Jul 15 — Enzo Fernández (85') and Lautaro Martínez (90+2', assisted by Messi) overturned Gordon's opener. Messi (21 WC goals all-time record) is 2nd in the Golden Boot on 8, trailing Mbappé's final tally of 10, with only the Final left to close the gap.
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England — ELIMINATED, FINISHED 3RD. Beat Norway 2-1 after extra time in the QF, then led Argentina through Anthony Gordon (55') in the Semi-final before Enzo Fernández and a stoppage-time Lautaro Martínez winner sent them out 2-1 on Jul 15. Bounced back to beat France 6-4 in the Third-place match on Jul 18 — Bukayo Saka hat-trick, Bellingham also scoring to finish his tournament on 7 goals, tied 3rd in the Golden Boot.
🇫🇷 France — ELIMINATED, FINISHED 4TH. Won 2018, runners-up 2022. Beat Morocco 2-0 in the QF but were beaten 2-0 by Spain in the Semi-final (Jul 14). Lost the Third-place match 6-4 to England on Jul 18 despite a Mbappé brace — his tournament ends on 10 goals, the outright Golden Boot lead. Dembélé also scored to finish on 6.

How each finalist got here

🇪🇸

Spain

Confirmed finalist

Spain's 6-match clean-sheet run ended in the QF, but they beat Belgium 2-1 on Jul 10 — Fabián Ruiz scored, De Ketelaere equalised, and Merino's 88th-minute rebound sent them through. In Semi-final 1 on Jul 14, Oyarzabal (pen, 22') and Porro (58') saw off France 2-0 to send Spain to their second-ever Final. Yamal (18) is the youngest player to threaten defences at this level since Pele.

🇦🇷

Argentina

Confirmed finalist

The defending champions are hitting their stride. Messi (8 goals) is 2nd in the Golden Boot behind Mbappé's final tally of 10, and is playing his final World Cup. Beat Cape Verde 3-2 AET in R32, then needed extra time again in the QF to see off Switzerland 3-1 (Julián Álvarez 112', Lautaro Martínez 120+1') after Ndoye had equalised for the Swiss. In Semi-final 2 on Jul 15, Argentina trailed England 1-0 after Anthony Gordon's 55th-minute goal, but Enzo Fernández's long-range strike (85') and Lautaro Martínez's stoppage-time winner (90+2', assisted by Messi) completed the comeback, 2-1, and sent Argentina to the Final against Spain.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

England

Finished 3rd

England needed extra time to see off a historic Norway side in the QF on Jul 11 — Schjelderup put Norway ahead (36'), Bellingham equalised right before half-time (45+2') then struck the extra-time winner (93') to win 2-1. In the Semi-final on Jul 15, Anthony Gordon put England ahead (55', assist Morgan Rogers), but Argentina hit back through Enzo Fernández (85') and a Lautaro Martínez stoppage-time winner (90+2') to win 2-1 and end England's title run. England bounced back to beat France 6-4 in the Third-place match on Jul 18 — Bukayo Saka's hat-trick (incl. a penalty) plus goals from Rice, Konsa and Bellingham overturned an early France onslaught. Bellingham's tournament finishes on 7 goals, tied 3rd in the Golden Boot race.

🇫🇷

France

Finished 4th

France's title run ended in the Semi-final — Mbappe was shackled all game (3 shots, none on target) and Dembele was also held scoreless as Spain won 2-0 in Dallas on Jul 14 (Oyarzabal pen, Porro). Mbappé responded in the Third-place match with a brace (48', 66') and Dembélé added a stoppage-time goal, but France's second-half comeback fell just short in a 6-4 loss to England on Jul 18. France had reached the Final in 2018 and 2022, but this run stops at 4th place — Mbappé's brace did take him to 10 goals, the outright Golden Boot lead, final.

🥇 Golden Boot: Mbappe leads on 10 (final) after a brace in the Third-place match. Messi 2nd on 8 with the Final left to catch him. Haaland & Bellingham tied 3rd on 7. Kane & Dembélé tied on 6.

Full tracker →

Is there extra time and penalties in the Final?

Yes. If level after 90 minutes, 30 minutes of extra time is played. If still tied, penalty shootout — five kicks each, then sudden death. The World Cup Final cannot end in a draw. Notable Finals decided by penalties: 1994 (Brazil beat Italy 3–2), 2006 (Italy beat France 5–3), 2022 (Argentina beat France 4–2).

Who has won the most World Cups?

🇧🇷 Brazil — 5 titles (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)
🇩🇪 Germany — 4 titles (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014)
🇮🇹 Italy — 4 titles (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006)
🇦🇷 Argentina — 3 titles (1978, 1986, 2022)
🇫🇷 France — 2 titles (1998, 2018)
🇺🇾 Uruguay — 2 titles (1930, 1950)
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England — 1 title (1966) · 🇪🇸 Spain — 1 title (2010)

What is the World Cup Golden Ball award?

The FIFA World Cup Golden Ball is awarded to the best player of the entire tournament — voted by accredited media at the Final. It is separate from the Golden Boot (top scorer). Winning both the World Cup and the Golden Ball in the same tournament is the rarest individual achievement in football.

2022 Golden Ball winner: Lionel Messi (Argentina) — won the award and the World Cup in Qatar.
2018: Luka Modric (Croatia) — despite Croatia finishing as runners-up.
2014: Lionel Messi (Argentina) — runners-up to Germany.

2026 Golden Ball favourites:

🇦🇷 Lionel Messi — 2nd in the Golden Boot with 8 goals, one match left · all-time WC record 21 goals · defending champion
🇫🇷 Kylian Mbappé — finishes the tournament as outright Golden Boot leader on 10 goals · defending Golden Boot winner from 2022 · brace in the Third-place match
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Jude Bellingham — 7 goals, tied 3rd with Haaland · scored England's equaliser and extra-time winner vs Norway in the QF, plus a late goal in the Third-place win
🇪🇸 Lamine Yamal — 18 years old, Spain's attacking talisman · youngest player in tournament
🇪🇸 Rodri — controlling Spain's dominant midfield

Greatest World Cup Finals ever

2022 — Argentina 3–3 France (Argentina won 4–2 on pens) — The greatest Final ever played. Mbappé hat-trick nearly stole the title. Messi's third World Cup and first as champion.

2006 — Italy 1–1 France (Italy won 5–3 on pens) — Zidane's headbutt on Materazzi in his final professional match. One of football's most unforgettable moments.

1970 — Brazil 4–1 Italy — Pelé's third title, Brazil's greatest team, the most beautiful football the World Cup has ever seen.