2026 World Cup Final: Argentina vs Spain — Date, Time and TV Channels
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain kicks off Sunday, July 19, at 3:00 p.m. ET at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The match airs live on FOX in English and Telemundo in Spanish, with streaming on FOX One and Peacock.
When is the World Cup final and where is it played?
Argentina and Spain meet in Match 104 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the tournament’s showpiece final, on Sunday, July 19, 2026. The venue is MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, marking the first time a men’s World Cup final has been staged on U.S. soil. This clash is also a historic first, as Argentina and Spain have never previously met in a World Cup final.
What time does the match start?
Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m. ET (12:00 p.m. PT) in the United States, with FIFA deliberately choosing the afternoon slot so the match falls in prime time across Europe. That translates to a 9:00 p.m. start in most of continental Europe and 8:00 p.m. in Britain. Broadcast coverage on FOX begins one hour before kickoff, around 2:00 p.m. ET.
Which channel broadcasts the game?
FOX holds exclusive English-language rights in the United States, while Telemundo carries the Spanish broadcast. Cord-cutters can stream the final through FOX One, Peacock, YouTube TV, Fubo, and Hulu + Live TV.
Context and Background
Argentina, managed by Lionel Scaloni, and Spain, under Luis de la Fuente, arrive as the last two nations standing in the first 48-team World Cup, having eliminated tournament favorites France and England, respectively, on their paths to MetLife Stadium. For context on how the bracket unfolded across the tournament’s knockout rounds, semifinals were played on July 14 in Dallas and July 15 in Atlanta, before the third-place match in Miami on July 18 set the stage for Sunday’s finale.
Reactions and Impact
Football commentators have billed the matchup as a stylistic showdown, with “Men in Blazers” co-host Roger Bennett describing it to CNN as a contrast between Argentina’s chaotic intensity and Spain’s structured control. This tactical framing has fueled widespread anticipation among fans across social media ahead of Sunday’s kickoff.
What Comes Next?
Once the final whistle blows at MetLife Stadium, attention turns immediately to the trophy presentation and the closing ceremony of the first World Cup hosted across three nations — the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Fans in Marrakesh and across Morocco, whose own national team competed in this expanded 48-team edition, will be watching closely to see how the tournament’s historic format shapes future World Cups.
