Argentina and Spain meet in the World Cup final : NPR

NEW YORK — The excitement of the FIFA World Cup in North America is reaching its climax with the final match of the 104-game tournament. Top-ranked teams Spain and Argentina are set to compete at 3 p.m. Eastern time for the prestigious trophy.

A crowd of 80,000 is expected to fill MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, just outside New York City, where tickets are fetching nearly $10,000 on resale sites.

New York had been under a haze of wildfire smoke and heavy rain, but by Sunday, the weather cleared, promising sunny skies and a pleasant 80-degree temperature for the game.

For Spain, winning would signify a rapid ascent for their young and exciting team, led by 19-year-old Lamine Yamal. Despite a quad injury earlier in the year, Yamal has shown remarkable skill throughout the tournament.

Spain has overcome three of the world’s top ten teams to reach the final, including a narrow 1-0 victory over Portugal, a 2-1 win against Belgium, and a commanding 2-0 triumph over France, conceding just one goal in their seven World Cup matches.

Argentina aims to secure another historic victory, adding to their 2022 World Cup title, two Copa América wins, and the 2022 Finalissima, with Lionel Messi at the helm. Spain’s coach Luis de la Fuente praised Argentina’s impressive performance over the past decade, calling them an excellent opponent.

Argentina’s journey to New York has been filled with dramatic victories, often coming from behind in their knockout games. They have twice clinched wins in stoppage time and twice after taking the lead in extra time.

Lionel Messi of Argentina speaks on stage at a fan event in New York City on Friday before Sunday’s FIFA World Cup Final between Spain and Argentina.

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At 39, Messi’s World Cup performance has been outstanding, second only to France’s Kylian Mbappé with eight goals and four assists, including key plays against England. He scored twice in the bronze medal match against England for a total of ten goals.

“Messi is extraordinary,” de la Fuente said. “His talent and sportsmanship are unparalleled, especially considering his age and current World Cup performance.”

When asked if the final would be Messi’s last game for Argentina, coach Scaloni said, “I wouldn’t know what to tell you. He never stops surprising us.”

The parallels between Messi, 39, and Yamal, 19, are remarkable. Both emerged from Barcelona’s La Masia as young stars. Yamal now dons the No. 10 jersey for Barcelona, a number Messi wore until 2021.

Sunday’s match marks the first time Messi and Yamal will face each other, despite meeting when Yamal was a baby during a UNICEF photo shoot.

Recalling the photo at a fan event, Messi described it as “una locura” or “madness.” He added, “I took a photo when he was a baby, and now we’re competing in a World Cup final.”

Messi praised Yamal, calling him a “tremendous” player with a promising future and a great chance to make history. “We’ll do everything we can to make sure it doesn’t happen this time,” he joked.

A drone show takes place displaying the message “FIFA World Cup 2026 The Final” with the graphic representing the host countries of Canada, the United States and Mexico, in front of the Lower Manhattan skyline on Friday in Jersey City, N.J.

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The passionate support of Argentina’s fans, with their songs and cheers, has fueled the team’s drive to secure a second consecutive trophy.

“We’ve revived something special: fans uniting in their Argentina shirts, embracing despite club rivalries,” Scaloni said, referencing Argentina’s domestic clubs and their passionate supporters.

“We see it. We feel it. We keep it in mind,” said Scaloni. “How could it not move you?”