The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off mid-June and it’s already winding down to a final climactic match between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, (July 19).
The Spain-Argentina match kick-off time is at 3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. ET and fans can watch it live on Fox, Telemundo.
How to watch the 2026 World Cup Finals without cable
For cord-cutters out there, you’ll be able to watch the finals through streaming services like Fox One and Peacock. If you don’t have cable, you can also get live television streaming services like Fubo, YouTube TV, or Live TV Hulu, and via those services you’ll be able to watch the game on Fox.
Spain and Argentina will face off in the 2026 World Cup Final
This year marks the 104th World Cup and the final match of the competition is coming soon, deciding which team will take home the highly coveted win.
Argentina returns as the defending champions after defeating France in 2022. According to Sports Illustrated, they have become the first champion to defend their title since 1962.
Spain’s road to the 2026 World Finals
- Group Stage: Spain vs. Cabo Verde, 0-0
- Group Stage: Spain vs. Saudi Arabia, 4-0
- Group Stage: Spain vs. Uruguay, 1-0
- Round of 32: Spain vs. Austria, 3-0
- Round of 16: Spain vs. Portugal, 1-0
- Quarter-finals: Spain vs. Belgium, 2-1
- Semi-finals: Spain vs. France, 2-0
Argentina’s road to the 2026 World Cup Finals
- Group Stage: Argentina vs. Algeria, 3-0
- Group Stage: Argentina vs. Austria, 2-0
- Group Stage: Argentina vs. Jordan, 3-1
- Round of 32: Argentina vs. Cabo Verde, 3-2
- Round of 16: Argentina vs. Egypt, 3-2
- Quarter-finals: Argentina vs. Switzerland, 3-1
- Semi-finals: Argentina vs. England, 2-1
Lionel Messi and Lamine Yama’s epic matchup
Lionel Messi is the 39-year-old defending champ and captain of the Argentina national team and people are looking forward to watching him and Spain’s young up-and-comer Lamine Yamal, 19, go head-to-head in the finals.
An additional layer of context to this matchup comes from a 2007 viral photo that recently resurfaced showing Messi giving a baby Yamal a bath for a UNICEF charity calendar.
“I took a picture with him when he was a baby … the fact that we’re both playing in the World Cup now is crazy,” Messi said at Fanatics Fest on Friday.
When is the World Cup halftime show?
This year, the FIFA World Cup will feature its first-ever halftime show and it has a stacked lineup of performers! The halftime show is in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which hopes to raise $100 million to expand access to quality education and soccer for children around the world.
The show will be 11 minutes and beg at approximately 3:45 p.m. ET, so about 45 minutes after the game starts. You’ll be able to watch it on Fox or wherever you’re streaming the World Cup live.
Who is performing at the halftime show?
The full lineup for the halftime show includes Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, BTS, Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay, Ghetto Kids, Emmanuel Kelly, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, New York Philharmonic, and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela.
What happens if the final match between Spain and Argentina is tied?
If the match between Spain and Argentina results in a draw, then there will be two periods of 15 minutes added as extra time. If it’s still tied after that, the match will be decided by a penalty shootout, per Al Jazeera.
Find out who is predicted to win the World Cup finals according to the betting odds!
Posted To:2026 World Cup Lamine Yamal Lionel Messi Sports World Cup