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It all comes down to this: Spain and Argentina will meet in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on Sunday at New York New Jersey Stadium in the world’s most important game. It is a clash between two elite national teams who both put on remarkable performances in their respective semifinal wins. It pits the reigning European champion who is undefeated in its last 14 games in major tournaments (13 wins and one draw) against a team whose success is unparalleled, like the two-time reigning Copa América holders and the defending World Cup champion. Here is everything you need to know about the FIFA World Cup final: Spain vs. Argentina: How To Watch Winning any major international tournament is exceptionally hard as it takes world-class talent, top coaching, no off days, and even a little bit of luck. On Sunday, Argentina will attempt to win its fourth consecutive major tournament in what would be an unprecedented feat. Of course, the accomplishment was made possible by Lionel Messi, who is widely regarded as the greatest player of all time. What is striking about Messi’s career is that most of his international success began at the age of 34 with the 2021 Copa América, when he was named the tournament’s best player in leading Argentina to its first title since 1993. Then he won the World Cup in 2022 at the age of 35, where he was again named the best player. Argentina repeated the Copa América title in 2024 in the United States despite Messi scoring just one goal and leaving the final injured. Now at the 2026 World Cup, Messi has once again continued to dominate the tournament at the age of 39. He scored Argentina’s first five goals of the tournament and only three of the team’s 14 goals in the last five games. What is so impressive, is that in the last five games he has actually played his best because he has been elevating his teammates. Against England, Messi took advantage of England’s defensive shift after the Three Lions took a 1-0 lead. He then assisted on Enzo Fernández’s equalizer in the 85th minute and Lautaro Martinez’s stoppage time winner. Messi has instead helped to balance the team’s attack and give it more versatility. Argentina has an incredible amount of talent and Messi has helped to bring it all to its potential. Lionel Scaloni also has this team playing with raw intensity and a desire to win that has not been matched. Argentina has been vulnerable at times in this tournament, such as trailing Egypt by two goals late, or trailing England 1-0 into the 85h minute. But Argentina has excelled when its back has been against the wall. If there is any team that can match Argentina’s intensity, it is Spain. La Roja played a near perfect game in its 2-0 win over France in the semifinal. What makes Spain so great is that all the players are so deeply committed to the system implemented by head coach Luis de la Fuente. No team in this tournament can pass and move as well as Spain. Once Spain has possession, it is extremely difficult to win it back. Then on the defensive side, Spain knows how to shut down spaces and force turnovers. Everyone in Spain plays a role in its system, but Rodri is the glue that makes the team move. Against France, the Manchester City central midfielder put on a world-class shift in terms of connecting the ball from the midfield and into the attack. Then defensively, he forced France into turnovers. He also won a significant percentage of his duels to keep Spain in possession. Spain’s attack is led by teenager Lamine Yamal and veteran forward Mikel Oyarzabal, who spent his entire career at Real Sociedad as opposed to the top clubs where elite center forwards play. Oyarzabal has been a perfect center forward for Spain’s system, and he typically finds ways to score big goals. Yamal, on the other hand, is a teenage superstar at Barcelona who is on the verge of becoming the next global superstar. Of course, if the winger can now in the World Cup, he will be on a path reserved for only the greatest players. The architect of Spain’s rise is de la Fuente. The team has become completely dedicated to his vision. During his tenure, Spain won all seven of its games at Euro 2024 and now has won six of seven at this World Cup. The only blemish he has in a major tournament leading Spain is a 0-0 draw with Cape Verde. But de la Fuente has created a team that is extremely difficult to break down. Through seven games, La Roja conceded just one goal. In the semifinal, world-class attackers Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé never looked dangerous. De la Fuente’s team is as prepared as any team this decade to contain Messi. This game has no clear favorites. Just two great teams led by global stars. It will be an extremely hard-fought game and the winner will be a worthy champion. Players To Watch Everyone needs to watch Lionel Messi in this game because this might be the last chance to see the greatest player of all time play in an important game for his country. He is looking to win his fourth straight major title for La Albiceleste and add to his record 21 career World Cup goals. At age 39, Messi is only continuing to get better. With his two assists against England, he now has eight goals and two assists in this tournament. He became the first player ever to have over 10 goal involvements in consecutive World Cups after scoring seven and assisting on three goals in 2022. Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández has a critical assignment on Sunday. As a central midfielder, he will be tasked with going against the heart of Spain’s system in the middle of the field where Rodi and Fabian Ruiz typically dictate the game on their terms. Fernandez had a great performance against England. Even beyond his goal, Fernandez was very effective in his passing where he made few mistakes, switched the point of attack, and regularly got the ball into dangerous positions. He needs to be just as effective against Spain for Argentina to have a good chance. The 19-year-old central defender might be the best centerback in the world after what he has shown in this tournament. Already a regular starter for Barcelona, Cubarsí has been even more impressive with Spain as he is a major reason why his team has conceded just one goal across its seven games at the World Cup. Handling Argentina will require another big effort, but if he is successful, he will widely be considered a global superstar and the most valuable player in the world at his position. The Manchester City central midfielder is the engine of Spain’s system. He is a tireless worker who is so effective on both sides of the ball. He will present Argentina with the toughest test it has faced at this World Cup. If he can control the midfield and force Argentina into chasing the game the way France did, Spain has an excellent chance of winning. For La Roja, it starts with him.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Argentina and Spain are set to meet in Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final, where Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal will square off in a star-studded matchup that bridges soccer’s past, present and future. FOX Sports soccer analysts Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimović reacted to Argentina’s comeback win over England on Wednesday. For Henry, Sunday’s final is about more than just Spain and Argentina. It’s a clash between one of the best the game has ever seen against one of the brightest young stars in the sport today. “For me, what else do you want? European champion versus South American champion and world champion,” Henry said. “Lamine Yamal versus Lionel Messi. The future and this guy [Messi] is the past, present and the future and forever. I’m excited to see that.” Lionel Messi has the chance to lead Argentina to back-to-back World Cup titles, while the 19-year-old Yamal can bring Spain its first championship since 2010 and further cement himself as one of soccer’s brightest young stars in what feels like a passing-of-the-torch showdown. The debate quickly shifted to an even bigger question: Who will win the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain? Henry declined to make a prediction, saying Messi’s history with Argentina and his legendary career at Barcelona made it too difficult to pick a side. “I actually didn’t finish one,” Thierry said. “It’s because of what Leo [Lionel Messi] represents in Spain. He played all his career there and the fear that they might be facing someone stronger than any other human being because of what they’ve seen so many times in their country.” Ibrahimović shared Henry’s view but believes Spain has the tools to handle Argentina because its style of play matches up well against the defending champions. “Spain handled France very good. … I believe they can handle Argentina,” Ibrahimović said. “They’re going to play their possession. Argentina is not a counterattack team like the way they played today. They were attacking, but I believe Spain is going to do their thing.” Ibrahimović believes Spain’s path to its first World Cup title in nearly two decades will come down to patience. If they can remain composed and control the tempo, he believes Spain has what it takes to dominate Argentina and come away with the win. “You’re going to challenge on the sides with Yamal and I believe Argentina if they don’t have patience, they’re going to hunt the ball and lose patience,” Ibrahimović said. “I believe Spain is going to dominate that game.” As he continued to break down the matchup, Henry pointed to Spain’s dominance in possession as one of its biggest strengths. “Now you have these two competing cultures clashing in this final,” Henry said. “What we saw yesterday from Spain, in terms of the possession, I don’t think that’s necessarily going to change against a team like Argentina. Here tonight [against England], they showed up.” Argentina once again found a way, scoring twice in the closing minutes to complete another comeback victory over England. The question now is whether Messi and Argentina have enough left in the tank to take down a well-rounded Spain side. “Is this the night where they took that last scoop? I don’t know,” Henry said. “Are you going to bet against them with a guy like Messi and with what this team is? There always seems to be a little bit of water in this Argentinian well and it served them well.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The 2026 FIFA World Cup between Spain and Argentina might not feature the depth of star power that a France and England final would have, but make no mistake: the quality is there with the two finalists, as the two semifinal losers learned. That quality starts at the very top with Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi, two superstars separated by 20 years, but it doesn’t end there. Here is our combined XI for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on Sunday at New York New Jersey Stadium: Formation: 4-3-3 Goalkeeper Spain has shown incredible defensive stability throughout this World Cup, and its goalkeeper Unai Simón has played a major role in that, conceding only one goal as Spain’s No. 1. But despite Simón conceding fewer goals than Emiliano Martínez, Martínez gets the nod because of his pedigree and big-game moments. He has been critical in Argentina winning two Copa Américas and a World Cup, coming up huge in key moments and in multiple penalty shootouts. Vedict: Emiliano Martínez Right Back Pedro Porro has really broken onto the scene at this tournament. He came into the World Cup off a relatively inconsistent season for Tottenham, which had a poor season as a club, but Porro has played incredibly well for Spain. He has been defensively solid while also being a presence in attack. Because of that, he gets the nod over the more experienced Nahuel Molina. Verdict: Pedro Porro Right Center Back Cristian Romero gets the nod over Pau Cubarsí because of his importance in Argentina’s back line and the way he has come up big in crucial moments. Romero got on the end of the header that was deflected in by a Cape Verde player for the winner in the Round of 32, and he also played a huge role in Argentina’s run to the final. Cubarsí has been marvelous in his first major international tournament, but Romero’s experience, edge and know-how get him over the line. Verdict: Cristian Romero Left Center Back Aymeric Laporte has been a pivotal player at the back, anchoring a back line that has conceded only one goal in this tournament. He has provided experience next to the inexperienced Pau Cubarsí, and his ball-playing ability out of the back has been essential for Spain. His ability to play in a high line while Spain squeezes opponents as a unit has made him a valuable piece. He gets the nod over Lisandro Martínez, who scored an important goal against Cape Verde in extra time earlier in the tournament. Verdict Aymeric Laporte Left Back Marc Cucurella came into this tournament as one of the best left backs in the world and has continued to show it. With his high energy going up and down the left flank, Cucurella provides defensive stability while also being an important presence in possession. His link-up play with Álex Baena on Spain’s left side has been key to how Spain controls games. Tagliafico has been solid and brings experience, but Cucurella gets the clear nod. Verdict: Marc Cucurella Left Central Midfielder Rodri has been playing his best football at this World Cup for the first time since tearing his ACL early in the 2024-25 season, following his Ballon d’Or campaign where he won the Premier League with Manchester City and the Euros with Spain. He has absolutely bossed the midfield, showing his composure, ability to dictate tempo and elite footballing brain. Paredes was introduced by Lionel Scaloni to provide more control in midfield for Argentina as the tournament unfolded, but Rodri gets the nod as one of the best players in the world. Verdict: Rodri Right Central Midfielder Fabián Ruiz was introduced by Luis de la Fuente as a starter against Belgium in the quarterfinals, and Spain has not looked back. He has provided more dynamism in midfield with his ability to carry the ball forward, while his work rate next to Rodri to close down spaces has been great. Enzo Fernández just gets the slight nod. He has not been at his absolute best this tournament while playing in a deeper role, but his pedigree and importance to Argentina still give him the very slight edge over Fabián. Verdict: Enzo Fernández Attacking Midfielder Dani Olmo continues to be a pivotal part of this Spain team, occupying the central attacking midfield position. His intricate play, ability to make late runs and presence around the edge of the box have been critical for Spain. He is not the most natural, silky No. 10, but his unique qualities and overall connectivity with Mikel Oyarzabal make him essential to this side. Mac Allister is made of the right stuff. He has the capacity to make runs into the box and be a goal threat, he is willing to do the dirty work in midfield, and he can carry the ball forward. But Olmo gets the slight nod. Verdict: Dani Olmo Left Winger Lionel Messi just continues to show why he is the greatest player in the history of football. He has scored eight goals in this tournament and had two assists in Argentina’s late comeback victory against England, taking over that game just like he took over Argentina’s late comeback against Egypt in the Round of 16. Messi looks like he is 39 turning on 29. Baena is unfortunate to be compared to Messi because of the left-sided role. He has had a solid tournament for Spain, providing the ability to keep possession, free roam and pick up different pockets. But Messi gets the clear nod. Verdict: Lionel Messi Striker Mikel Oyarzabal has had a marvelous tournament for Spain, scoring five goals, including the pivotal penalty to take the lead over France in the semifinals. He has been efficient and ruthless as a finisher while playing as an untraditional No. 9. He may not play like a classic striker, but he has been incredible in that role for Spain. Julián Álvarez has not had his best tournament compared to his contributions in 2022 for Argentina, but he still scored a magical goal to win the game for Argentina in the quarterfinals against Switzerland late in extra time. Oyarzabal gets the nod. Verdict: Mikel Oyarzabal Right Winger Because of the imbalance between Spain’s shape and Argentina playing with four midfielders, Rodrigo De Paul gets compared to Lamine Yamal. Yamal is one of the best young players we have ever seen and just turned 19 a day before Spain’s semifinal victory over France. He came into this World Cup nursing a hamstring injury he suffered near the end of the club season with Barcelona, but he has steadily grown into this tournament. He has scored only one goal, but his impact goes beyond the stats. His ability to create fear every time he gets on the ball makes him one of the most dangerous players on the pitch. Yamal gets the nod and will be the second-best player in the World Cup final behind Messi. Verdict: Lamine Yamal Final Combined XI For Spain And Argentina GK: Emiliano MartínezRB: Pedro PorroCB: Aymeric LaporteCB: Cristian RomeroLB: Marc CucurellaCM: RodriCM: Enzo FernándezCAM: Dani OlmoLW: Lionel MessiST: Mikel OyarzabalRW: Lamine Yamal​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

I’m reminded of the saying in George R.R. Martin’s “Game of Thrones” series: “What is dead may never die.” And much like the Ironborn or the White Walkers, there are some things in fútbol that never die. And that’s Argentina. A team that sacrifices itself and drowns during a match, only to rise again and destroy whatever lies in its sight. With Lionel Messi, just like the Night King, leading the destruction. And just like I’ve previously said, Messi and his Argentina companions are relentless in discovering new ways to win. Wednesday’s World Cup semifinal victory over England in Atlanta was a testament to this ritual. After the first half, it appeared the Three Lions had victory in their sights. The light was clear and guiding and became even more vivid after Anthony Gordon’s opening goal in the 55th minute, courtesy of a wonderful cross from the super agile Morgan Rogers. Argentina, though physically imposing, could not find a way to break down this English wall. Djed Spence was magnificent in his surprise start at left back. John Stones, too, in his substitute shift at center back. Jordan Pickford, ever in his confident smile, denied anything that came towards him in goal. As the minutes died down, so did Lionel Scaloni’s smile. The Argentina manager was running out of ideas and staring at a defeat. To be honest, it would have been accepted because, just like Switzerland and Egypt — and emphatically so from the Cape Verde victory — Messi and his teammates were running out of ways to get up. But that’s the thing. This Argentina squad somehow, rather, always, finds a way. I will be brutally honest: Messi is someone who I admire more than any other player. I have covered his career extensively, wrote a book about him and have had the honor and privilege of interviewing him one-on-one. And as a lifelong Aston Villa supporter, Emiliano “Dibu” Martinez is also a player who is close to my heart. But as a Peruvian, born and raised in England and with English family members, this one truly hurt. So excuse my figurative tears. But Messi and Argentina don’t care. And that’s what makes them so impressive. They are World Cup champions, not because they know how to win, but rather because they kill themselves in the quest to do it. They treat the opponent, not as an obstacle, but as a virus. Something that must be eradicated. It’s what makes them Argentina. To them, winning is not a desire, it is a hunger. I will also say that England also paid the ultimate price after scoring because, instead of fighting fire with fire, it actually invited Argentina to attack. It almost welcomed it. The substitutions were too defensive and restrictive, and Messi saw this as an opportunity. Not to score, but to utilize his other (perhaps most underrated) weapon … to create. His two assists were indicative of his incredible ability to open up play and find angles where no one else can. The first was the easiest as he fed Enzo Fernández, who absolutely smashed the ball past Pickford in the 85th minute. The second? A beautiful cross, once again from the right wing, finding Lautaro Martínez like an arrow to the center target. England knew it was done. It allowed the greatest player we have ever witnessed, at 39, to once again destroy it all. The final whistle blew, and Argentina once again fell to its knees. Messi was once again lifted by his teammates. Argentina had done it again. It reached a second straight World Cup final and now has the chance to become the third team in history to win back-to-back titles (joining ancient rivals Brazil and Italy). So now comes a meeting of generational icons where the full circle is fully embraced. Messi, who once at the age of 19 did a promotional photographic shoot for Barcelona holding a baby Lamine Yamal in his arms, will meet this Sunday as Argentina faces Spain. La Finalissima between the champions of Europe and South America will indeed happen. It will be a meeting of the past, present and future. But most importantly, it will be a final of steel and grace. For Argentina, it’s a chance at incredible repeated glory. For Spain, a chance for its second title and first since 2010. And for all of us, it’s one more chance to witness Messi. Inevitable. Omnipresent. The undisputed king of the realm.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

It took 102 matches … and we’re right back where we started. Lionel Messi and Argentina are defending their World Cup, and are looking to become the first back-to-back champs since Brazil in 1962. The epic final between Argentina and Spain is jam-packed with storylines that make it a must-watch event for everyone, from the most devout fans left in the tournament to the scornful stragglers whose team failed to make the final. Here are the four key storylines to know for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina on Sunday at New York New Jersey Stadium. 1. Lamine Yamal’s Coronation … Lionel Messi’s throne is up for grabs, and the overwhelming belief is that Lamine Yamal will succeed him, just as he did at FC Barcelona. Some would argue that he’s already done enough to earn it. Others think he still has to prove it, and a World Cup title at 19 years old would put that debate to bed. Only four players in history have started in the World Cup final and won it before the age of 20: Uruguay’s Rubén Morán, Brazil’s Pelé, Italy’s Giuseppe Bergomi and France’s Kylian Mbappé. If Yamal does it this year with Spain, he will be the youngest to do it since Bergomi in 1982. That list gets even smaller when you include players that have also won the Euros before the age of 20 – because the list is zero. Yamal would become the first after winning the Euros with Spain in 2024. 2. … Or Messi’s Final Stand? Lionel Messi’s World Cup journey has nearly ended more times than he and his Argentina teammates would care to admit. First against Cape Verde, then against Egypt, Switzerland and, most recently, England. None have succeeded, either because of Messi’s heroics or due to Argentina’s will to keep their national hero’s dream alive. Messi will now go head-to-head with a country he knows very well in Spain. Messi spent 21 years of his life in Barcelona, rising through the youth ranks of La Masia before making his senior team debut for FC Barcelona in 2004. He’s a legend in Spain; now he’s standing in the way of the country’s second-ever World Cup title. Messi’s best days are behind him at 39 years old, but he’s shown that he doesn’t need to be in his physical prime to dominate his competition, scoring eight goals in seven matches this tournament. 3. Spain’s Stout Defense … Spain’s path to the final hasn’t been easy. In its seven matches, it has played three teams ranked in the top 10 in the FIFA World Rankings: Belgium (8), Portugal (7) and France (2). No team has played more at this year’s tournament. And yet, even in the face of the stiffest competition the tournament had to offer, Spain has conceded just one goal so far. Its six clean sheets are the most by a team in a single edition of the World Cup. Goalkeeper Unai Simón has been at the center of Spain’s shutout wins, recording a record six clean sheets at this year’s tournament. But its defense has been anchored on the pitch by 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, who has returned to his world-class form at the World Cup. 4. … Against Argentina’s Unwavering Offense Argentina has scored 18 goals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, more than any team at the tournament by two goals. Half of those goals have come in the 75th minute or later. It doesn’t just win; it delivers painful punches to the gut. If there’s any team that can buck that trend, it’s Spain and its stellar defense, but the key difference between these two teams is experience. Spain’s star player is a 19-year-old playing in his first World Cup; Argentina’s star player is a 39-year-old playing in his sixth, who also happens to be leading the Golden Boot race. One thing is for sure: nothing will come easy, for either side, in Sunday’s World Cup final.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

ATLANTA STADIUM — Just when it looked as though the end of the road had arrived for the GOAT on the biggest stage in sports, Lionel Messi and Argentina made magic. The Albiceleste came back to win a World Cup semifinal for the ages, 2-1, over England on late goals by Enzo Fernández and substitute Lautaro Martínez. Anthony Gordon opened the scoring for England earlier in the second half off a perfect cross from Morgan Rogers — a goal that kept the Three Lions in front until there were just five minutes of regular time remaining. But Fernández — who plays his club soccer for Premier League side Chelsea — scored a brilliant long-range equalizer off a pass from Messi. Fernández then sealed another famous win for Argentina over its transatlantic rival in stoppage time. “We were ready to go home, sad, knowing that we had left everything on the pitch,” a relieved Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said in his press conference after the match. “After they scored, we really proved ourselves. It shows what football is to us, which is something that goes beyond tactics.” It was a fitting end to an instant classic. The atmosphere was off the charts in Georgia’s capital, with two of the most fervent supporters in sports taking over the city in the lead-up to the match. But while the packed crowd of almost 70,000 leaned decisively Argentine — Albiceleste fans completely drowned out “God Save the King” before kickoff – the English seemed destined early to finally return to the World Cup final for the first time since they won their only major trophy way back in 1966. Argentina will now take on Spain in Sunday’s title match at New York New Jersey Stadium, while England will head to a consolation match on Saturday against France in Miami. Here are four takeaways from Wednesday’s unforgettable encounter. 1. Argentina — and Messi — Will Play For History In addition to the world title they won four years ago in Qatar, Scaloni’s team also won the Copa América as South American champions in 2021 and 2024, joining Spain’s 2008-2012 squad as the only nation to win the World Cup and a pair of continental titles on either side. Now the Albiceleste will go for an unprecedented fourth straight major tournament title. Just getting the chance is an unbelievable achievement for a team that, despite its recent record, was not considered one of the favorites to win this World Cup. And maybe they won’t. Still, who would bet against this team? A day before the match, Scaloni said the following: “We have a culture where we never write off a match as lost.” Before Wednesday’s epic, Argentina came back from near death a couple of times during the knockout stage. On this day, they stared the Grim Reaper in the face and laughed. While Spain might be the better team on paper, that piece of paper will mean nothing when the World Cup final kicks off. 2.  Heartbreak For England Again For England, a 60-year World Cup drought will continue for at least another four years. Getting to Sunday’s title match at New York New Jersey Stadium would have cleared a major hurdle on the way to breaking that streak. As Tuchel said on Tuesday, they’ve been knocking on the door for the last eight years. This was the Three Lions’ second World Cup semifinal appearance in three tournaments; they also lost the final of the European Championship in 2020 (which was played in 2021 because of the global coronavirus pandemic) and 2024. Tuchel signed a contract extension before this World Cup. England will be one of the contenders for Euro 2028. Still, captain Harry Kane will be 34 then, with no obvious replacement coming up behind him. It’s hard to imagine Jude Bellingham being better than he was over the last few games, though both superstars were quiet against Argentina. The point is, there is no guarantee that this sort of opportunity will come around again in the next few years. Just ask anyone who is old enough to remember that glorious summer in London 60 years ago this month. This was a chance squandered — one England’s players and fans will be thinking about for a long time to come. “We were very, very close today,” a visibly devastated Tuchel said after Wednesday’s loss. Said Kane: “We just need to find that missing piece in the final stage of the tournament.” 3. Argentina’s Understudies Steal The Show In a match stocked with superstars, it was Messi’s supporting cast that came to his rescue on Wednesday. For the second time in three matches, defensive-minded midfielder Fernández scored a hugely important goal to help keep Argentina in the World Cup. Martínez, the captain of Inter Milan and for years now the best player in all of Italy’s Serie A, would start for just about any other country. Yet he played the hero off the bench again, as he did by sealing the Albiceleste’s quarterfinal win over Switzerland last Saturday, just as he scored the game-winner over Colombia in the 2024 Copa final. “This experience is just incredible,” Martínez said post-game in the bowels of the stadium. “The work, the sacrifices, everything come came to fruition.” Not even the greatest player ever wins alone. Though Messi might be the straw that stirs the drink and the inspiration for the rest of his teammates, he’ll need help to hoist another World Cup on Sunday. Win or lose, that help will be there. 4. A Fitting Final For The Greatest World Cup Ever Both Argentina and England entered Wednesday’s contest knowing what was in store should they prevail, with Spain having defeated France in Dallas a day earlier to advance to the decisive match of the biggest sporting event on the planet. Now we all know. It’s a fitting end to what will go down as the greatest World Cup of all time. Spain is the reigning European champion, having beaten this same English squad two summers ago in the Euro 2024 final. Argentina has claimed the last two Copa América titles as South America champions. Oh, and they also happen to be the World Cup holders. As we saw with their ferocious showing against the English in Atlanta, the Albiceleste will not relinquish their hard-earned crown without a knock-down, drag-out fight — even against a team that is considered the stronger one by the sports books. Lionel Messi & Co. are trying to become the first repeat World Cup champion since Brazil, led by Pele, repeated all the way back in 1962. Spain has everything to play for, too. For all their pedigree, La Roja has won just one World Cup, in 2010. The pre-tournament favorites are determined to add to that tally with the help of a player many consider as Messi’s most obvious successor: 19-year-old fellow Barcelona academy product Lamine Yamal. “It’s going to be a very special match,” Martínez said. “This is a place where dreams can come true.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

ATLANTA STADIUM — Perhaps Marc Guéhi simply refuses to think past Wednesday’s monster FIFA World Cup semifinal between his England and Lionel Messi’s Argentina. Maybe Guéhi, as a devout Christian, just doesn’t want to tempt fate. Or maybe the Three Lions center back genuinely has no idea if this star-studded England squad can do in the next five days what none before it has in almost 60 years: reach a World Cup final and take that sparkling golden trophy back home to the country that invented the planet’s most popular sport. “I don’t know — it’s in God’s hands,” Guéhi said when asked by a reporter on Tuesday if this might finally be England’s moment. “All I know is that we’re here right now, and we’re going to give everything that we have.” It’s going to take all they’ve got to beat the defending World Cup champs. Not only does La Albiceleste boast the incomparable Messi, who, at 39, leads the tournament with eight goals along with France’s Kylian Mbappé. (Les Bleus lost the other semifinal to Spain on Tuesday.) They also own the all-time series against England in the knockout stage of the World Cup, having knocked out their cross-Atlantic nemesis at both the 1986 and 1998 events. That’s ancient history, of course. None of the 26 men on Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup roster were born before the former; only a few were old enough to remember the latter. Yet every English soccer player — and every Argentine, too — grew up hearing about those games. Depending on their persuasion, they learned about how Diego Maradona scored either the greatest goal in World Cup history (his 60-yard slalom through what felt like England’s entire team) or the most infamous (the one he punched, undetected, into the English net and later dubbed the “Hand of God”). About how Diego Simeone, whose son is on this current Argentina squad, got David Beckham sent off en route to Argentina’s shootout win in the quarterfinals at France ’98. The history is there, whether either side wants to admit it. “That was before my time,” England defender Ezri Konsa said on Tuesday. “We just have to focus on ourselves, try and forget about the history.” Which makes sense. Still, Tuchel understands that when two of the most soccer-crazy nations on Earth meet, their shared history will always add a little extra spice — even in a match with so much at stake already. Or perhaps because of it. “I would say it’s irrelevant, but I’m not sure,” Tuchel said when asked if the history between the nations matters. “The players are very aware — of both countries — what it means to them. “You cannot just say it’s just another football match. “But as a coach, we do exactly that,” he continued. “We don’t speak about the historic events, but yeah, the magnitude of the match is just what it is. I think it does not help if we engage emotionally.” That said, Tuchel and his team “expect an emotional match, an intense match” on Wednesday, he said. “I expect a match with a lot of momentum swings.” And the wild card, naturally, is Messi. “How he carries that team is just absolutely incredible,” Tuchel said of the GOAT. “He is the key player in any team. “You see that they love to play in the middle of the pitch,” he added. “They’re playing through gaps, and once Leo Messi has the ball, the movement starts. If you analyze the matches, you feel like he sees stuff just earlier than anyone else on the field. It’s like the ball just drops to him, he finds the gap, he makes two meters space for his left foot, and then executes on the very highest level.” “So there’s a lot to take care of,” Tuchel concluded. “But we are here to play our way.” “It’s not just him on the field,” Guéhi said of Messi. “He’s got other really good players on the team.” England understands the assignment. To be the best, they have to beat the best. They’ve earned this opportunity. So will they crumble under the pressure, like each of their predecessors has over the last six decades? Or is this group of players truly different? “There’s so much to love about this England squad,” Tuchel said. “What I really like is, I feel in the last few days that the players are very excited, and they are hungry to play this match. We will be prepared for the best version of Argentina. We expect and hope and demand the best of ourselves. “Every team in the world is beatable,” the England manager said. “And so is Argentina.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The American League only has five teams with a winning record compared to the National League’s nine at the break, but the AL’s shoddy first half didn’t matter Tuesday night in Philadelphia. The NL lineup didn’t stand a chance against an overpowering AL pitching staff in the All-Star Game, as the American League won the competition for the 11th time in the past 13 seasons and recorded its first shutout win since 2013. Here are my takeaways from the AL’s 4-0 win. 1. AL Pitching Dominates Shohei Ohtani wasn’t there to lead off for the National League All-Star team after bowing out of the competition to take care of his knee, but there was still enough firepower to expect some fireworks from the superstars throughout the NL lineup Tuesday night. Instead, the American League pitching staff completely shut them down. The NL All-Stars struck out 15 times and had just two hits, both singles, when the Rays’ Bryan Baker entered in relief to replace Aroldis Chapman with two outs in the ninth. Otto Lopez followed with a single for the NL’s third hit of the game, but it couldn’t get a rally going as Sal Stewart grounded out to end a feeble evening for the NL squad. It was a sign of things to come when Dylan Cease struck out three batters in the first. Each of the next nine pitchers who entered for the AL struck out at least one batter. Michael Wacha, Joe Ryan and Cade Smith recorded multiple strikeouts. Juan Soto, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Lopez were the only NL players to record a hit. 2. Tough Break For Philly Faithful The crowd at Citizens Bank Park was rocking Monday night, getting louder with each of Kyle Schwarber’s 11 home runs in the final round of the Home Run Derby. The hometown star looked primed to be the hero of the competition. Instead, through a chorus of boos, the Cardinals’ Jordan Walker flipped the script and left the Philadelphia faithful stunned. One night later, it didn’t get any better for the hometown crowd. The Phillies led all teams with six representatives in the All-Star Game and had ace Cristopher Sánchez on the mound to start the game, a decision made easier after Brewers flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski bowed out of the competition. Sánchez was the first Phillies pitcher since Roy Halladay in 2011 to start the All-Star Game, but the American League lineup did not care to appease the hometown crowd as they plated three runs against Sánchez via three singles and two walks in the first inning to jump out to an early advantage. Those were the only runs of the game until White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas, one of 36 first-time All-Stars in the competition, went deep off former Dodgers teammate Justin Wrobleski in the eighth to add to the American League lead. Phillies hitters Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper and Brandon Marsh combined to go hitless on the night, though Phillies starter Jesús Luzardo did throw a scoreless inning of relief. 3. Rays Appear To Avoid Disaster This week in Philadelphia could have been the Junior Caminero national showcase. He ended the first half on fire, homering 13 times in his final 19 games before the break, and entered the Home Run Derby as one of the favorites. But he failed to make it out of the second round of the Derby on Monday. And one day later, disaster nearly struck. Cardinals reliever Riley O’Brien went up and in with a 97.6 mph sinker that caught Caminero in the left hand in the top of the third inning. The Rays star third baseman immediately fell to the ground and stayed down for a while before getting up and going straight to the tunnel. Thankfully, X-rays came back negative. Caminero told reporters afterward that he expects to be fine, but his health is something to monitor for a Rays team that is currently holding off the Yankees atop the AL East. And speaking of the pinstripes… 4. Led By MVP Bellinger, Yankees Show Out With Aaron Judge injured, it has been tough for the Yankees to get their offense going over the last few weeks. Dating back to June 20, they rank 28th in MLB in runs scored and 29th in OPS. At the All-Star Game, though, their reps had no problem generating offense. A hard-hit grounder up the middle from Cody Bellinger plated the first two runs of the game off Sánchez in the first inning. One batter later, Ben Rice followed with a nearly identical hit to knock in another run. Bellinger was heating up entering the break, going 7-for-16 with two doubles in his final four games of the first half, and has been one of the best offseason (re)signings in baseball. Rice, meanwhile, has the second-highest slugging percentage and third-highest OPS in MLB this year. But he also is hitting .279 this season, and he used his contact skills in a triumphant first All-Star Game.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The MLB All-Star Game has featured some of the league’s best players on the diamond in recent years, but it’s not necessarily for the action anymore. The American League defeated the National League 4-0 at the 2026 MLB All-Star Game, which saw many players mic’d up and share many memorable jokes, stories and more over nine innings. Here are five of the best mic’d-up moments of the 2026 MLB All-Star Game. Taking the mound in the first inning, Dylan Cease hooked up to a live mic to converse with the FOX Sports broadcast booth. Cease sought advice from Smoltz while actively working the count. The highlight of the sequence featured Cease completely overpowering Mets star Juan Soto, freezing him with a fastball for a swift three-pitch strikeout. When Smoltz offered a deserved, “Nice job, Dylan,” the pitcher casually replied, “Thank you.” Milwaukee Brewers flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski has been lighting up radar guns all season, and John Smoltz made sure to get the young phenom on the mic to ask every baseball fan wants to know: “How in the world are you throwing it at 104 MPH?” Without giving up too much information, Misiorowski responded, praising the Brewers’ pitching staff for getting him to focus on the lower half of his body. Just a week after announcing that 2026 would be his final season, legendary pitcher Justin Verlander took the field as the “Legends Pick” for his 10th All-Star appearance. During his mic’d-up segment, the veteran reflected on his incredible journey, putting a heavy emphasis on how much it means to him to finish his Hall of Fame career right where it started: with the Detroit Tigers. Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Yandy Díaz lost his bat in the fifth inning during an AB against the Nationals’ Foster Griffin, which prompted a funny response from home-plate umpire Alan Porter. “Go get some damn pine tar,” Porter said. Playing in an All-Star Game is special. Playing in your 9th All-Star Game in your home stadium is the stuff of legends. Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper took a playful, lighthearted swing at the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge system. After stepping up to the plate, he humorously decided to challenge a pitch call simply because “we haven’t done it yet, why not?”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

ATLANTA STADIUM — By the time Thomas Tuchel began speaking, there wasn’t an empty seat in the room. There wasn’t a square foot of floor space, either. It wouldn’t even be accurate to call Tuchel’s press conference a standing-room-only affair, as a line of reporters and camera crews snaked all the way out the door. Yet there was Tuchel, England’s German coach, smiling and looking relaxed as anyone could less than 24 hours before the biggest moment of a career that already included a UEFA Champions League crown. What’s his secret? Ice cream, it turns out. On Wednesday, Tuchel will lead the best Three Lions squad in decades into the semifinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Lionel Messi and defending champions Argentina. The stakes are enormous for both nations but especially the English, who haven’t reached the title game since winning their one and only World Cup 60 years ago this month. Figuratively speaking. Tuchel and his players have stared death in the face during this knockout stage. They went down a goal to DR Congo in the round of 32 and to Norway in last weekend’s quarterfinal. They went down a man in the thin air of Mexico City against the tournament co-host El Tri. They survived and advanced each time. Between those emotionally draining elimination games, Tuchel has done everything possible to keep his players loose, giving them time to unwind and recover at the team’s base camp in Kansas. How does he do the same for himself, the former Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund boss was asked shortly after England’s delegation landed in Georgia’s stately capital. “Sometimes you just go on a bike and then you just need a big parking lot and an ice cream in your hands for 15 minutes,” a smiling Tuchel said. “Then you feel like [you’re ] 15 years old — 15 not 50,” added the 52-year-old, as some of those in attendance chuckled. “You feel like 12 or 13 or 15 years old and you enjoy your evening — a warm summer evening for 15 minutes with an ice cream.” The admission was an endearing one from the famously intense Tuchel, who caught some heat following his team’s gutsy fight-back against Norway for criticizing afterward England’s performance from a pure soccer perspective, though he gushed about his players’ heart and never-say-die will to win. Tuchel’s words appeared to catch Player of the Match Jude Bellingham off-guard in the moment, leading to speculation that the coach had annoyed one of his top players and, potentially, others, too. Center back Marc Guéhi did his best to correct the record on Tuesday. “I think the manager’s done a great job,” said Guéhi  “He’s created a squad where there’s a big togetherness and a real belief in what we’re doing at the moment, and everyone’s behind him. We’re glad to have him.” The feeling is mutual. “They simply don’t give in,” Tuchel said of his squad. “This is the key attribute of our team, which makes me very proud.” Will it be enough to see off Messi & Co.? If it is and England punches its ticket to face Spain — which beat France on Tuesday in the other semi in Dallas — Tuchel will be just one more victory away from history. Not only would he become the only coach alive to lead England back to the biggest match in sports, he’d also have the chance to become the first foreign manager to win a World Cup. No country, men’s or women’s, has ever hoisted the trophy under a coach who wasn’t a citizen of that nation — not that Tuchel is thinking about that. “Never,” he said. “It just doesn’t work like this for me. I don’t set these goals.  I just love what I do, and I’m grateful for the opportunity.” “I just try to be the best coach possible every single day,” he added. “I have to influence what I can, and that’s where my energy goes.” That and on the occasional frozen dessert.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports