Spain to face Argentina in 2026 World Cup final after U.S. political review and early exit

Spain will face Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium. Spain reached the final after a 2-0 semifinal victory over France on Tuesday. Argentina advanced with a 2-1 win over England on Wednesday.

France will play England for third place on Saturday at 5 p.m. ET in Miami. The final will feature an 11-minute halftime show with Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, BTS, Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, the PS22 Chorus and Coldplay, according to one report.

The tournament was the first expanded edition with 48 teams and 104 matches hosted in 16 cities across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Spain last won the title in 2010. Argentina seeks a fourth championship after victories in 1978, 1986 and 2022.

US Men's Soccer Captain Tim Ream said he would support Spain over Argentina. President Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of Folarin Balogun's red card from the United States' round-of-32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1 in Santa Clara, California. FIFA reversed the one-match suspension.

Belgium defeated the United States 4-1 in the round of 16 in Seattle. The match averaged 30 million viewers on Fox, the most-watched soccer match in US history. The United States exited in the round of 16 for the fourth time in five World Cups.

Cristiano Ronaldo played his final World Cup match, a 1-0 loss to Spain in the round of 16 on July 6 in Arlington, Texas. He scored his first World Cup knockout-stage goal in Portugal's round-of-32 win over Croatia. Lionel Messi has scored eight goals in the tournament, tied for the Golden Boot lead, and set the all-time World Cup goal record at 21.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modrić, Neymar, Manuel Neuer and Kevin De Bruyne confirmed the 2026 World Cup as their final appearance.