When is the World Cup final? Date, UK kick-off time, stadium and how to follow Spain vs Argentina

The World Cup final is the biggest match in football and one of the greatest events in all of sports.

Over one billion people watched the 2022 showpiece between Argentina and France, as Lionel Messi cemented his legacy.

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And there’s no doubt that a similar number will be tuning in this weekend to watch the next world champions be crowned.

And Messi has the chance to claim back-to-back world titles.

Argentina are back in the showpiece match after they came from behind to beat England in their semi-final.

And they will face Spain who stunned France in the other last-four clash.

Here’s all you need to know about the 2026 World Cup final…

When is the World Cup final?

The World Cup final will take place this Sunday – July 19.

Kick-off in the showpiece match is scheduled for 8pm UK time, which is 3pm local.

It will be held at the MetLife Stadium in New York.

The venue, which was announced to be holding the final in 2024 and has a capacity of 82,500 seats, is the home of NFL teams, the New York Giants and New York Jets.

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AFP

The weather forecast for the match is for temperatures of 28C at kick-off with the chance of thundery showers.

The possibility of inclement weather could see the kick-off delayed or the match halted.

How to follow the World Cup final

talkSPORT will have live coverage of the final as well as every single game at this summer’s World Cup.

We will be providing live shows and much more from the United States throughout the tournament.

Listen talkSPORT through the website or find us on DAB digital radio through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

Download and listen to all our live commentaries via the talkSPORT app.

For the latest odds and bet boosts for every big event, visit talkSPORT BET.

Subscribe to the talkSPORT YouTube channel for news, views and analysis plus our regular goals show and for more, follow us on talkSPORT Facebook and talkSPORT on X.

The final is expected to be broadcast on BBC and ITV in the UK again.

Fans will be able to watch the match for free, alongside being able to stream the game on BBC iPlayer and ITVX.

AFP

World Cup 2026 knockout stage schedule

Quarter-finals

Thursday, July 9 –

• France 2-0 Morocco

Friday, July 10

• Spain 2-1 Belgium 

Saturday, July 11

• Norway 1-2 England (AET)

Sunday, July 12

• Argentina 3-1 Switzerland (AET)

Semi-finals

Tuesday, July 14

• France 0-2 Spain 

Wednesday, July 15

• England 1-2 Argentina

Third-place play-off

Saturday, July 18

• France vs England

Final

Sunday, July 19 – 8pm

• Spain vs Argentina

Spain vs Argentina: Squads

Spain

Goalkeepers: Unai Simon (Athletic Club), David Raya (Arsenal), Joan Garcia (Barcelona).

Defenders: Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Club), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid), Eric Garcia (Barcelona), Pedro Porro (Tottenham), Alex Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona), Marc Pubill (Atletico Madrid).

Midfielders: Rodri (Manchester City), Fabian Ruiz (PSG), Mikel Merino (Arsenal), Pedri (Barcelona), Gavi (Barcelona), Martin Zubimendi (Arsenal), Alex Baena (Atletico Madrid).

Forwards: Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Dani Olmo (Barcelona), Nico Williams (Athletic Club), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Yeremy Pino (Crystal Palace), Borja Iglesias (Celta Vigo), Victor Munoz (Osasuna).

Manager: Luis de la Fuente

Argentina

Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Juan Musso (Atletico Madrid), Geronimo Rulli (Marseille).

Defenders: Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille), Lisandro Martínez (Man Utd), Facundo Medina (Marseille), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon).

Midfielders: Valentín Barco (Strasbourg), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors).

Forwards: Thiago Almada (Atletico Madrid), Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid), Nicolas Gonzalez (Atletico Madrid), Jose Manuel Lopez (Palmeiras), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Nicolas Paz (Como), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid).

Manager: Lionel Scaloni

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