The 2026 World Cup final will feature the national teams of Argentina and Spain. This will be the eighth encounter between these two teams in World Cup knockout stages, each leaving its mark on football history. Argentina is aiming for their fourth World Cup title, while Spain currently holds one. Let's explore the history of these rivalries.
The First Final: Uruguay vs Argentina (1930)
The history of finals between these teams began with the very first World Cup, held in Uruguay. In the decisive match, the tournament hosts met their neighbors from Argentina. The teams demonstrated a goal-filled shootout, with Uruguay emerging victorious with a score of 4-2. Goals were scored by Dorado, Ceá, Iriarte, and Castro against Piroselli and Stábile.
The Path to the First Title: Argentina vs Netherlands (1978)
The "Albiceleste" had to wait nearly half a century for the next final. In the final against the Netherlands, regular time did not produce a winner. However, in extra time, the Argentines wore down their opponent and became World Champions for the first time in history. The match ended 3-1 thanks to goals by Kempes and Bertoni.
The Legendary Final: Argentina vs Germany (1986)
In the final, the Argentines and Germans produced a fierce shootout. The "Bundesmannschaft" managed to come back from a 0-2 deficit, but Maradona and his company ultimately emerged victorious. Although Diego Armando did not score in the final, he was named the tournament's best player. Maradona provided the assist for the decisive goal by Burruchaga. The match ended 3-2.
Repetition of the Final: Germany vs Argentina (1990)
At the very next World Cup, the final was repeated—but this time the Germans celebrated the victory. The Argentines did not display such bright football and finished the final with only nine players. The only goal of the match was a rather controversial penalty scored by Andreas Brehme.
Spain's First Final: vs Netherlands (2010)
Spain played their first World Cup final in history in South Africa. And they won immediately—the Netherlands national team could not stop the "Furia Roja". The decisive goal in the 116th minute was scored by Andrés Iniesta. Since then, Spanish fans have been waiting for a second final—and now they have finally waited it out.
The Third Final Between Germany and Argentina: Brazil (2014)
At the World Cup in Brazil, Germany and Argentina competed for the "gold". This was already the third meeting of these national teams in a World Cup final. The final turned out to be tough and tense. Argentina dragged it into extra time, but there Mario Götze brought victory to the "Bundesmannschaft" in the 113th minute. It is worth noting that Messi was not in his best form at the time due to health issues.
Final Against France: Argentina (2022)
The Argentine national team delivered a highly productive final against France at the last World Cup. The captain and leader of the "Albiceleste", Lionel Messi, scored a brace (another goal was scored by Di María), while Kylian Mbappé recorded a hat-trick. Ultimately, the fate of the gold medals was decided by a penalty shootout, where the main hero was the Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez. And the Argentine national team became three-time World Champions.
Expectations for the 2026 World Cup Final
The 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain promises to be one of the most anticipated events in football history. Both teams have a rich history and numerous titles, and their rivalry always generates huge interest among fans around the world. It is expected that this match will become another legendary page in the history of World Cups.
