The FIFA World Cup 2026 final between Spain and Argentina on Sunday evening promises to be one of the most extraordinary showpiece matches in the tournament's history — and not only because of what happens on the pitch.

A final that will run long into the night

Kick-off is scheduled for 8pm UK time at the MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey, but fans should clear their evening schedules. The match could run well past midnight before Gianni Infantino and US President Donald Trump hand the trophy to the winning captain.

Mandatory hydration breaks, introduced for this tournament, guarantee an additional three minutes of stoppage time at the end of each half. VAR stoppages will add further time on top of that — and then there is the half-time show.

Football's first ever Super Bowl-style half-time show

The final will feature the first half-time entertainment show in World Cup history. FIFA have scheduled the performance for 11 minutes, but the stage setup and dismantling will extend the interval well beyond football's standard 15-minute break. Players' unions have raised concerns about the extended rest period increasing injury risk through player inactivity.

Performing on the night will be Madonna, Shakira, and Justin Bieber, in a show that FIFA say is staged in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.

Winners' rings and other American touches

In a nod to Super Bowl tradition, the winning players will receive championship rings. A total of 2,026 rings are being produced — 30 reserved for the victorious squad and 1,996 made available for public sale.

Trump, meanwhile, will be attending the final in person for the first time during this tournament. He is set to join Infantino in presenting the World Cup trophy to the winning captain, having done the same at the Club World Cup earlier this year. His involvement throughout the FIFA World Cup 2026 has been significant: he made headlines for suggesting Iran's players should not be allowed to participate, confirmed he had asked Infantino to lift the suspension of USA's Folarin Balogun, and weighed in on criticism directed at England coach Thomas Tuchel over his selection of Harry Kane.

The football: what matters on the pitch

Amid all the spectacle, Spain and Argentina will contest what should be a compelling match between two of the world's finest squads.

European champions Spain boast a formidable midfield led by Rodri and Fabián Ruiz, the electric young winger Lamine Yamal, and goalkeeper Unai Simón — who will finish the tournament as its leading keeper by clean sheets.

Reigning world champions Argentina arrive with Enzo Fernández, Julián Álvarez, and Lionel Messi. At 39, Messi is competing in his third World Cup final and sits in contention for both the golden boot as top scorer and the golden ball as best player. He gave no indication before the match that this would be his international farewell — though he had previously retired from Argentina duty in 2016, only to return and since add a World Cup and two Copa América titles to his name.

Who will win?

Argentina moved to No. 1 in the FIFA world rankings during this tournament, with Spain sitting second. Opta's statistical model gives Spain a 59.6 percent chance of lifting the trophy, though the match feels evenly balanced on paper. Argentina are chasing back-to-back World Cup titles, while Spain would match their own 2010 feat of combining a European Championship and a World Cup triumph.

Controversy on and off the pitch