Day 37: Spain vs Argentina waits for the final

The 2026 World Cup ends with Spain against Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for Monday, July 20 at 03:00 (UTC+8). This is the pre-match snapshot, so there is no final score yet. FIFA final preview

Argentina arrive as defending world champions; Spain arrive as European champions. The numbers point in opposite directions: Argentina have scored 19 goals to Spain's 13, while Spain have conceded once and Argentina seven times. BBC Sport comparison

The final's human story is Messi against Yamal. Opta says the 39-year-old Messi and 19-year-old Yamal will be starters on opposite sides in the first World Cup final with a 20-years-and-19-days age gap between them. Messi is also set for his third final, after 2014 and 2022. OptaJoe | ESPN final preview

The fourth card keeps the pre-kickoff X pulse intact: FIFA's holders-versus-challengers framing, Opta's age-gap stat, and Craig Burley's praise for Argentina's resilience, all shown with capture-time engagement rather than invented reach. FIFA World Cup | OptaJoe | ESPN FC