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Starting here by naming every African side to have reached the World Cup

If that's not up your alley, or simply too easy for you, then try our Pre-Match Poser no.35 which scientists have proven only one per cent of football fans are capable of getting.

Our World Cup True or False quiz promises to give you sleepless nights. As are the eight sovereign nations that are NOT members of FIFA.

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Pep Guardiola has spoken to the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) about becoming their next national team head coach.

Reports claim that Guardiola is seen as the man to turn around the Italians' fortunes, after they failed to qualify for a third World Cup in a row.

Whether or not Guardiola wants the job remains to be seen, but the ex-Manchester City man is reportedly top of the list.

The Italian Football Federation is desperate to turn around the team's fortunes

Sky Italy are claiming that a contingent, including the new Italian Football Federation's technical director Paolo Maldini and his assistant Leonardo have flown to Barcelona to meet with Guardiola.

Talks were held over a three day period, suggesting that Guardiola hasn't flat out rejected the approach.

Maldini and Leonardo are part of a big shake up by the FIGC to bring success back to Italy, who have failed to qualify for a World Cup since 2014.

They have immediately identified Guardiola as the man who can get their country's football team back on track.

After winning the Euros in 2021, Italy have had a difficult five years, after they were knocked out of the 2024 Euros by Switzerland.

Guardiola isn't the only man on their list to replace former boss Gennaro Gattuso, however.

Reports claim that Roberto Mancini, the man who masterminded their 2021 success, is also an option.

Andrea Pirlo is another potential option for the role.

Guardiola would take some persuading to take the role, given that he told Sky Sports he had "no plans for coaching for a while" and said: "I need to step back."

However, he has previously shown an openness to taking on an international position, reportedly agreeing to take over as England boss after Gareth Southgate's departure.

The 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina may not have been a classic, but Spain were very worthy winners on the day and the most consistent performers throughout the competition.

Once Donald Trump had been ushered from the winners' podium, the Spanish team wildly celebrated its second-ever World Cup victory.

You can celebrate Spain's World Cup win too with this full-size replica of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Official Trophy that's just been revealed by Lego. Pre-order yours now at Lego.com for €199.99

Built from 2845 Lego bricks, this fantastic recreation has the same dimensions as the real World Cup Trophy. Spain's name is featured on the base along with past World Cup winners.

The Lego recreation is superb, and it's definitely an object of desire for any football fan would go nuts for – even more so if they support the Spanish team.

Unlike FIFA's 18-carat gold version, this Lego one has a hinged flap in the globe that opens up to reveal a removable Lego Minifigure of the World Cup and a recreation of the winner's podium.

At €199.99, it doesn't come cheap though. That said, the price is the going rate for premium Lego builds and this 2026 World Cup Trophy is definitely one of them.

Whether this will sell out on pre-order, we cannot know. But if you want to get your hands on your very own Champions Edition Lego World Cup, we'd suggest signing up to buy one as soon as you can.

For more, check out our feature on the fantastic Lego World Cup and player-themed sets already released.

The football world has been reacting to the sad news of the death of Kevin Keegan at the age of 75 this afternoon.

The ex-Newcastle, Liverpool and England man touched the hearts of all of the clubs he represented, both as a player and manager, leading to an outpouring of emotion from former teams, colleagues and friends from throughout the game.

Among those to pay their respects was former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer, who idolised Keegan from the Gallowgate terraces at St James' Park as a child, before later joining the Magpies to play for his hero.

A hero, a manager and a friend

In a brief message, Shearer simply wrote: "My Hero. My Manager. My friend. Sleep easy Boss."

Shearer's former teammate Shay Given was another ex-Newcastle player to pay their respects, writing: "It’s hard to put into words what this man meant to to me, an unbelievable player and manager but most importantly an incredible human being, the world has lost one of the greatest."

Keegan's former clubs have been paying tribute too, with Liverpool, where Keegan won three First Division titles, the European Cup, the FA Cup and two UEFA Cups, writing: "His indomitable spirit and remarkable contribution will be forever etched in our history and his legacy will live on."

Newcastle United's statement described Keegan as "more than a legendary footballer and manager" and "the beating heart of Newcastle United for generations of supporters" and said that the club was "carefully considering how we shape a lasting tribute to Kevin’s remarkable life and legacy".

Hamburger SV, where Keegan won a Bundesliga, as well as two European Player of the Year awards, said they will "always cherish the memory of our former title-winning player and two-time Ballon d’Or winner" while Manchester City, who Keegan managed for four years, described him as: "A transformative manager who brought optimism and vibrancy to City."

Keegan both played for and managed the England national team, with the FA stating they were "incredibly saddened by the news that Kevin Keegan has passed away."

A tribute will be paid to Keegan at Wembley when England host Spain in the Nations League in September.

Touching tributes have also been left by the wider footballing world, including from former Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler, who said: "Whenever you were given the chance to cover a Newcastle game as a commentator, you knew you were in for a rollercoaster of an evening. It was always special being in his company. He never disappointed. Never."

Ex-Newcastle defender Warren Barton added: "He made you feel like the best player in the world. For me, I owe him everything."

Newcastle United have requested fans wishing to pay their respects with flowers, scarves and other tributes leave them at the South West Corner of the stadium, with a book of condolence to be opened. The scheduled launch of the new away shirt has been postponed until Friday following the news.

The 2026 World Cup was the first to contain 48 teams, with Canada, Mexico and the United States of America pitching in to share hosting duties.

The next tournament, in 2030, will also be held across multiple countries, with Spain, Portugal and Morocco the main hosts, although the tournament will also have three matches held in South America.

In honour of the 100th anniversary of the World Cup, Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina will each host one match, paving the way for Saudi Arabia to be the sole hosts in 2034.

Saudi Arabia will use 15 stadiums across five cities

That will make it the first country to host an expanded World Cup tournament on its own.

Whether or not it will have the capacity and infrastructure to handle hosting duties in time for the 2034 competition remains to be seen, but not all of the proposed tournament stadiums have been built yet.

That includes the 92,000 capacity King Salman International Stadium, which is slated to be completed by 2029.

Currently, work on the stadium, which will be in the Saudi capital Riyadh, is yet to properly start, although it is expected to begin by the end of the year.

However, that is merely one of 10 new stadiums that need to be built between now and the beginning of the tournament. Of those 10, work has only started on three, so there is a great deal of construction required between now and 2034.

What's more, the five stadiums already in existence require a lot of refurbishment to make sure they are in line with what Saudi Arabia promised when they submitted their hosting bid.

Currently, the 2034 tournament has no start date and many are predicting it could be moved to the winter once again, as it was in 2022 in Qatar, to avoid the Middle East's blistering summer temperatures.

Already the 2034 tournament has drawn some controversy and criticism from Human Rights campaign groups, despite it being eight years away.

In May 2025, FairSquare and Human Rights Watch reported the deaths of numerous migrant workers, including from, but not limited to, decapitation, electrocution, and falling to their deaths. They also claimed that Saudi authorities were failing to protect workers from preventable deaths and weren't investigating workplace incidents, nor were they ensuring compensation for the families of those workers who died.

Kevin Keegan, one of the most iconic and charismatic figures in the history of British football, has died at the age of 75 following a battle with cancer.

A two-time European Footballer of the Year (Ballon d’Or winner in 1978 and 1979), Keegan was a global superstar whose electric style of play, infectious enthusiasm, and famous perm defined an era of English sports culture.

He is survived by his wife, Jean, and his two daughters, with Gosforth-based SkySports Presenter Pete Graves breaking the news via social media on behalf of the family.

The King

Born in Armthorpe, Yorkshire, in 1951, Keegan began his career at Scunthorpe United before earning a fairytale move to Liverpool after Bill Shankly spotted him in 1971. At Anfield, he transformed from promising youngster into a world-class forward, scoring 100 goals in 323 appearances and winning three First Division titles, two UEFA Cups, an FA Cup, and the 1977 European Cup.

In an unusual move for English players at the time, he signed for Hamburg in 1977 and set about cementing his status as a titan of European football. While in Germany, he won back-to-back Ballon d'Or trophies and led the German side to a Bundesliga title. He returned to England in 1980, shocking everyone by signing for Lawrie McMenemy at Southampton, who were just establishing themselves as a top-flight club.

He shone on the south coast before capping his playing career with an unforgettable, promotion-winning spell at Newcastle United — the club that his Geordie father Joseph supported, and a club with which the name Keegan would forever be entwined.

At international level, Keegan earned 63 caps, scored 21 goals, and captained his country, embodying the heart and pride of the national side throughout the 1970s and early 1980s.

The Entertainer Years

Keegan’s managerial career was as utterly romantic and dramatic as his playing days, if not as successful. Returning to Newcastle United as manager in 1992, having completely cut himself off from football for seven years, he saved the club from relegation to the third tier on the final day of the 1991/92 season before assembling his famous "Entertainers" team at St James’ Park.

Keegan demanded total commitment to attacking football from his players, reminding them regularly that supporters spending hard-earned money on match tickets deserved to be entertained by what they saw.

He brought Newcastle to the brink of the Premier League title in 1995-96 (it would've been their first top-flight title win since 1927), famously blowing a 12-point lead to Manchester United that culminated in his famous “Love It” interview live on SkySports as the title slid out of his grasp. Speaking to FourFourTwo years later he said “I don’t regret it even now.”

He had a unique relationship with the club's supporters, became renowned for signing autographs for hours after training on the public grounds of Maiden Castle in Durham and even addressed fans' concerns over the sale of Andy Cole on the steps of St. James’ Park.

He later went on to manage Fulham, Manchester City, and of course, the England national team. He announced his retirement from the game in 2005 and worked at the ‘Soccer Circus football school’ in Glasgow.

A man of constant surprises, Keegan was persuaded to return to manage Newcastle United in January 2008, sparking scenes of jubilation across the city. After a tough start, he recorded wins over Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland, maintaining his perfect record over the club's local rivals in the Tyne-Wear derby, and putting Newcastle on top of the league's form chart.

However, rumours of tension with owner Mike Ashley and Director of Football Dennis Wise grew over the summer. Shortly after the transfer window closed, he released a statement confirming he had left the club, stating "A manager must have the right to manage and that clubs should not impose upon any manager any player that he does not want." Keegan later successfully sued Ashley for unfair dismissal. It would be his last job in management.

In retirement, Keegan almost completely withdrew from football and public life. In occasional interviews, he admitted to not watching the game much and becoming disillusioned with aspects of modern football. Recent years have seen him tour UK venues with Pete Graves as part of an ‘Evening With’ series. He was due to appear at 11 venues across the country between November and February.

His last public appearance came on 31 May, fittingly in Newcastle at the Tyne Theatre, where he told the audience: “I want to say goodbye [to Newcastle fans]. I didn’t get the chance when I left last time.”

Responding to calls from fans for a statue of Keegan to be built outside St James' Park, Keegan distanced himself from the idea, saying: “My statue is the way people receive me. You will have to wait until I die, I'm afraid."

How did Spain eventually overcome Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final? Was it tactics? Was it superior players? Or was it in fact down to a lucky object?

Well, that depends who you ask, but for 2010 World Cup winner Joan Capdevila, the object certainly played a part.

Capdevila, who was a part of the last Spain squad to win the World Cup, urged the 2026 cohort copy the ritual he performed 16 years ago prior to his successful final appearance, and he seems pretty convinced it did the trick.

Marc Cucurella copied Capdevila's ritual to help Spain win the tournament

In a post on X, Capdevila revealed that he had buried a coin pitch side before his final in 2010, and that he had urged Cucurella to do the same this time around.

He wrote: "Now I'll let you in on a little secret. Back in 2010, I buried a coin in the grass before the match started.

"I’ve told that story a million times. I asked Cucurella to do the same thing yesterday... Marc, I love you so much. YOU’RE A WORLD CHAMPION!"

That post was accompanied by a video of the now Real Madrid full back walking to the side of the pitch and clearly burying something in the grass, presumably the coin that Capdevila instructed him to hide.

The win was a celebratory culmination of a tricky few days for Capdevila, who at first looked as if he wouldn't be able to attend the game.

The former defender's ESTA was denied, forcing him send messages to Donald Trump on X, saying: "I’ve just been told I can’t travel to the final with my kids because my ESTA was denied.

"I can't believe I'm not being allowed into the USA... and that I'll miss out on a moment like this with my kids - we love football so much. If anyone knows how to fix this, I would be eternally grateful."

Fortunately he had his issues sorted and he was able to be there to see Cucurella bury a lucky coin before sealing Spain's second ever World Cup victory.

He later added: "How could it not have been worth it... I deserved to be here with my family, enjoying this moment, and justice was served.

"Thank you to everyone who pushed to make this possible; heartfelt thanks to you all."

When referee Slavko Vincic blew the final whistle at the World Cup on Sunday evening, it didn't just signal the end of one of the worst tournament finals in living memory, it also signalled the end of a competition that has met, and in many cases exceeded, a whole host of pre-tournament worries.

While there have undoubtedly been some great stories on the pitch, they are very much outweighed by the negatives that this tournament has produced, with controversy and allegations of corruption at the heart of a World Cup like no other before, and one that could have set football down a worrying path.

Though it seems churlish to rain on Spain's parade quite so immediately, there are a number of issues that have been dragged up at this World Cup that simply cannot be ignored.

Gianni Infantino, Donald Trump and FIFA's problematic relationships

Chief among those issues is the amount of power seemingly being given to external influences like U.S. President Donald Trump, who was able to persuade FIFA to have Folarin Balogun's suspension magically suspended, despite all of the game's rules and laws stating that it should not be permitted.

Not only did this bring FIFA's increasingly problematic governance into sharp focus, but it also put the US Men's National Team and Balogun himself at the heart of a controversy they didn't ask to be a part of, eradicating any of the positivity they had earned through their impressive performances. Their humbling at the hands of Belgium was seen as a karmic realignment by most neutral fans, and though it was difficult not to smile as the USMNT spectacularly crashed out, FIFA and Gianni Infantino still have yet to sufficiently answer questions surrounding their contribution to what is arguably the most overtly grim moment in modern World Cup history.

It sadly came as no surprise either, with Infantino showing early on at the tournament that he was more or less completely unable to influence the competition he was supposed to be in charge of in any meaningful way.

Somali referee Omar Artan should be heading home today, proud of having performed his duties on the biggest stage possible. Instead, he was embarrassed and barred entry for some fairly flimsy reasoning and forced to watch from home like most others.

He wasn't the only one to have problems getting into the country, either. Fans had visas rescinded at late notice, the Iranian team had to leave games in the USA immediately after they had finished and relocate to Mexico, while other supporters had to use life savings to pay exorbitant ticket prices.

All Infantino could muster when asked about these issues was to tell people to "relax and chill" before doing seemingly nothing to address any of these concerns as the tournament went on.

Should these issues be forgotten, or if people simply move on from this, then it sets a dangerous precedent. Infantino already has the backing of more than 200 FIFA members for re-election at the upcoming presidential vote in March, which shows just how willing to forget about these incidents FIFA members are. Hoping for any reform seems beyond naive at this point, and this tournament has only served to prove that he needs to be held to account externally, because internal repercussions are unlikely to ever arrive.

Away from these obvious failings, the tournament itself was also riddled with problems caused simply by poor choices.

The expanded team format was fun for a while, but eventually wore thin, meaning that fans had grown weary of the number of games by the end of the tournament. It seems, however, that this is only going to go one way, with a 64-team World Cup already proposed for the near future, with decision makers seemingly incapable of doing things that are genuinely in the best interest of the sport.

What's more, the fact that the MetLife Stadium was selected over options like the Azteca, or Sofi Stadium as the venue for the final is a borderline dereliction of duty, with the New York/New Jersey-based stadium unable to hold a candle to the history and reverence of the Mexico City arena when it comes to football.

The spectacle inside was dismal as well, in particular the half-time show, rightly panned as "crap" by Wayne Rooney and something that should never be a feature of a World Cup final ever again.

Yet, with Donald Trump eyeing up further hosting duties in the future, stating "we will be requesting it again immediately" after the final had ended, it's not hard to see a world where FIFA hands it to them on a retainer and Shakira and Justin Bieber become as synonymous with World Cup finals as Maradona and Marco Tardelli. It doesn't even seem that farfetched a suggestion at this point.

Such nonsense had begun long before half-time at the final, prior to which, actor Tom Cruise bafflingly told us all that football "brought the world together". Yet, this was arguably the most divisive tournament in history, turning participants against the hosts, splitting fan groups into those who could and couldn't afford to attend and treating some people entirely differently to others based on little evidence or reasoning.

This is not what a World Cup should be. We should expect better, and it shouldn't be too much to hope that the game respects everyone involved. Instead, we were served pantomime theatrics, watered down quality and a complete misunderstanding of the game by a governing body that time and time again is incapable of understanding what is right for the game. We deserve much, much better, but I fear things will only get worse from here.

Arne Slot, prior to his sacking, spoke about Liverpool’s upcoming summer and anticipated the squad undergoing “another little transition” but “probably not as drastic as it was last summer.”

Last summer, the Reds spent over £400 million, twice breaking their club record transfer fee, adding eight players to the first-team squad and seeing five first-team players depart.

The departures of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz, two players who made 75 starts between them in the title-winning campaign the year before, only became more apparent as the season progressed.

Key replacement

Replacing Alexander-Arnold and Diaz is something that, over a year on, the Reds have still not been able to do.

And now, new head coach Andoni Iraola not only seeks to replace those two key players but also Mohamed Salah, Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson.

That’s five of the starting XI that won the title 15 months ago gone from Anfield, plus Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez, Jarrel Quansah and Caoimhin Kelleher, with Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott potentially adding to the departures this summer.

Welcome to Liverpool, Andoni. No wonder owners FSG warned the incoming Spaniard that “everything is not perfect” during initial talks, with an admission that he would face “some challenges.”

Those challenges are clear. Liverpool’s squad, and coaching staff, has been completely dismantled in the last year. There hasn’t been a period of transition so deep as this in a long time.

Liverpool’s Squad Situation

The squad that Iraola inherits is one that certainly doesn’t look capable of challenging for the title.

“We need more players. We know this,” admitted Iraola at his first press conference. “The club is working on this.”

The Spaniard also arrives with five players unavailable due to long-term injuries; Hugo Ekitike isn’t expected to be involved this side of Christmas, Conor Bradley won’t be available any time soon, centre-back Giovanni Leoni isn’t back from an ACL injury, and youngsters Stefan Bajcetic and Jayden Danns remain out with hamstring issues.

Jeremy Jacquet, the £60m signing from Rennes, is a vastly inexperienced replacement for Konate, having played fewer league minutes in his young career so far than his fellow Frenchman played in the Premier League last season alone.

Victor Munoz is a similarly inexperienced signing. The 23-year-old has never played in European competition and his natural position on the left is one of the few where Liverpool actually have some depth in Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha. Continued links to Bradley Barcola add to the puzzle, with the PSG winger also most comfortable on the left.

It’s on the other side of attack where Liverpool lack any clear first-choice winger following Salah’s departure. “It is clear we need a player there, I wouldn’t say to replace Mo Salah, but we need one more winger,” outlined Iraola

As Liverpool fly to Chicago, where they’ll be based during their pre-season US tour, Iraola’s options for the right wing are Harvey Elliott, Jeremie Frimpong, Federico Chiesa or a youngster such as 16-year-old Josh Abe.

Given that Frimpong is the only right back in the squad, he’ll be needed there during the early friendlies, with the Reds taking on Sunderland in Nashville, Wrexham in New York, and Leeds in Chicago.

Chiesa is the only first-team centre-forward on the tour, so he’ll be needed there. Beyond him, with Danns still sidelined, 18-year-old Will Wright, a £200,000 signing from Salford last summer, should get plenty of opportunity.

Abe, meanwhile, is a prodigiously talented winger who could have an Ngumoha-like breakthrough in the next two seasons. Still, having just turned 16, he isn’t a solution for Iraola’s debut season.

It’s clear that a right-sided attacker is Liverpool’s clear priority this summer, with Yan Diomande having been the first-choice target but he seemingly prefers a move to Paris over Merseyside.

“It is not easy; it has to be players who have shown a good level,” says Iraola, who has the unenviable task of replacing Salah’s output, with the Egyptian contributing 22 goal involvements despite a poor final season.

From the title-winning squad of just over a year ago, 81 goals have been removed with the loss of Salah, Diaz, Jota, Nunez, Alexander-Arnold and Konate.

What Liverpool Need This Summer

It’s clear that right wing is the priority, by a distance, but there are other areas of huge need for Liverpool to address.

Of course, much depends on whether Iraola can get more from the current options than they performed last season, but Liverpool’s midfield looked incredibly open throughout last season.

Most supporters would like the club to add a true No.6 to finally replace Fabinho, who left three years ago and whose arrival transformed the midfield under Jurgen Klopp. A player whose primary role is to protect the defence and has instincts to do so is missing in this squad.

Slot changed Ryan Gravenberch’s role last season, encouraging the Dutchman to get forward more, which only led to bigger gaps in midfield and less protection for a defence that conceded a whopping 78 goals in all competitions.

Adam Wharton was linked and seemed like a strong candidate, but links to the Crystal Palace man have quietened since Slot’s sacking and he isn’t exactly a combative player with defensive instincts.

Meanwhile, right back was a problem position last season, with Frimpong proving to be far from an adequate replacement for Alexander-Arnold. Most fans aren’t sure where the Dutchman fits in; he isn’t a full-back, but equally he isn’t a right winger. That’s the problem you get when you sign a wing back for a team that doesn’t play with wing backs.

Frimpong, Bradley, Szoboszlai and Jones all played right back, with Szoboszlai arguably the best of the lot but the Hungarian clearly isn’t happiest playing there and wouldn’t be expected to do so under Iraola.

Bradley, even if able to return from his serious injury, won’t be in a position to play every week. A robust, reliable solution is needed.

And yet, there are few credible links to right backs so far. Given that three of the regular back four from 16 months ago have left, you’d expect it to be a priority to get a right back in sooner rather than later in order to build some sort of relationship with Jacquet.

Iraola may opt for a more solid right back, given Kerkez’s attacking qualities on the other side. A player like Brentford’s Michael Kayode would have been ideal, but he signed a new contract. Marco Palestra was also linked before he moved to Chelsea.

And while Jacquet, Leoni, Joe Gomez and Van Dijk make four centre backs; two of them (Jacquet and Leoni) have never played in the Premier League, Leoni has been out for 10 months with an ACL injury, Gomez cannot be relied upon to remain fit, and 35-year-old Van Dijk just played the most minutes of his career, clocking over 6,000 minutes for club and country.

An experienced centre-back would surely be advantageous, reducing the reliance on Van Dijk and also not needing to rush Jacquet and Leoni. Marcos Senesi seemed an ideal candidate, leaving Bournemouth on a free transfer, an experienced Premier League player who knows Iraola’s methods, capable of stepping into Van Dijk’s role when the Dutchman leaves next summer. But he moved to Tottenham, who also have Jan Paul van Hecke and Micky van de Ven. Such strong options are something Liverpool would dearly like.

It could be that Liverpool look to a versatile option capable of playing more than one position in defence. There’s also an argument that Kostas Tsimikas, who is returning from a disappointing loan spell at Roma where he started just six league games, isn’t of the quality required.

Then there’s the centre-forward conundrum, with Ekitike’s injury meaning only Alexander Isak can be considered as a first-team No.9 - and the Swede’s injury record doesn’t exactly instil confidence.

As things stand, beyond Isak, Liverpool’s options going into the season would be Chiesa (should he not leave), and youngsters Danns and Wright. And Danns isn’t currently fit.

Again, a versatile option might be the solution; somebody can play wide and also through the middle in attack. But it would surely be a risk to go into the new season with the current central options.

All this, without mentioning the effect that the loss of the experienced trio of Salah, Robertson and Konate will have around the training ground, plus a change in goalkeeper coach for the third summer in a row and a new coaching staff for the second time in three years.

Interestingly, Iraola says “we are here to solve these kinds of problems and to try to maximise what we have” - possibly hinting at in-house solutions to the problems he inherits.

“I trust myself a lot, and I’m ready for the challenge that I know is very big,” says the new head coach.

The challenge is certainly bigger than many may realise.

Had qualification for the World Cup been decided by population, Spain would only just have made it for the past seven tournaments. Ranked 31st by that metric, they lag behind Myanmar, Sudan and Colombia – plus England, for that matter.

Instead, their men’s and women’s teams both currently sit top of the FIFA rankings, having now won three World Cups and three Euros between them.

No country consistently produces as many exceptional players as Spain, so FourFourTwo flew to the Canary Islands to find out exactly why, and try to spot the players who’ll help them dominate the globe once more a decade from now.

Futures Bright (and on TV)

We’re in Las Palmas for La Liga’s latest FC Futures tournament – several of the events take place throughout the year, and this one is particularly prestigious, welcoming all of Spain’s biggest clubs and others from across Europe to Gran Canaria each winter.

Despite it being an under 13s tournament, all three days are shown live on the sports channel of RTVE, Spain’s equivalent of the BBC, plus DAZN, YouTube and other platforms. This year it’s been switched to the 32,000-capacity home of UD Las Palmas, currently pencilled in to host matches at the 2030 World Cup. It’s hard to imagine such prominence ever being given to a youth event in the UK.

A big reason for its reverence is the list of alumni – Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Iker Casillas, Fernando Torres, Gerard Pique and Lamine Yamal are just a few of the greats who once shone at the tournament. If you want to see the next Spanish superstar, this is the event to watch.

That’s a great source of pride for former journalist Jose Ramon de la Morena, who founded the tournament in 1992, when it took place on the outskirts of Madrid. He’s seen it grow to a status he never imagined, aided by La Liga getting on board. The fact that so many graduates of the event went on to win the World Cup with Spain in 2010 is something he remains emotional about.

“I still feel it,” he tells FFT. “All those players who were champions in South Africa, they all played in this tournament. I can still picture Iniesta when he was nine years old – we chose him as the best player at the tournament. A great friendship was born – I followed him when he was 10, 12, 14, then 16, when they took him to train with the first team in Barcelona. Then I saw him become a world champion, and I’m still friends with him now. Great pride.”

Launching the tournament wasn’t easy. “We didn’t have money, and I had to put my own in,” he explains. “We had to prepare the field ourselves, there was no advertising, nothing. The first two or three years were difficult, then we started broadcasting it and things worked out. Canal Plus started taking care of everything.

“When we started, it was just after the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, so a lot of facilities had been created in the country, and there was a very good climate for sports. We came up with the idea of this championship for children – for a few days, they felt like professional footballers, because it was on TV, and they saw themselves in the newspapers, and they started to grow and grow.”

Not that things went smoothly for every future superstar at the tournament. “Iker Casillas was very good, but one year he didn’t play,” De la Morena remembers. “Real Madrid came to train at the field where the tournament was being played, and they saw a kid, the son of a local petrol station employee, who was playing as a goalkeeper. They told us ‘Hey, we want to try out that kid’, so that kid played instead of Casillas. Later, Casillas came to me with his father. His mother was very angry and told me ‘You’ve blocked my son’.”

Thankfully, when he sees Casillas these days, they’re able to joke about it. “I had nothing to do with him not playing, but he still doesn’t forgive me, he’d been very excited to play in that tournament, he still says it was my fault!” De la Morena chuckles.

The founder remembers Yamal playing in FC Futures events, too. “He was the top scorer at a tournament in Villarreal five years ago, then he played in New York and Abu Dhabi as well,” the 69-year-old says. “I remember going for a walk with all the teams alongside the Hudson River. Lamine came up to me and asked if I was going to take him to see some rap – his father had told him there was very good rap music in New York, and he should see some. I said ‘Rap? No, you’re here to play football!’ I met him again two months ago for an interview, and showed him all the goals he scored at the tournament. It was really nice to see him again.”

De la Morena breaks off to take a call from David Villa, whose son Luca is playing for Atletico Madrid in the latest tournament. The former striker has phoned to accept an invitation to present the prizes at the end of the event.

We ask De La Morena if there are particular players we should watch out. “A lot,” he says. “For Atletico Madrid, a kid called Toro, and another called Mario. For Real Madrid, the number 10, Hugo Fernandez. For Barça, their number 11, Mounirou. For Inter, their number nine (Leonardo Bolzoni).”

Modric 2.0

Inter are one of six non-Spanish clubs taking part in the 16-team tournament, together with Juventus, Dortmund, Benfica, Sporting and Paris Saint-Germain, who play Real Betis in the first game we take in.

PSG have been praised for bringing through young players who helped them win the Champions League last year, but they didn’t reckon with the might of Spanish youth academies – Betis incredibly go 5-0 up inside eight minutes, aided by two goals each from forwards Ivan Calderon and Eric Villalba. Matches are seven-a-side and 12 minutes each way on a reduced-size playing surface, with Betis enthusiastically cheered on from the stand by what appear to be mum ultras, a small group who sing the entirety of the club’s official anthem in support of their sons. They eventually win 6-0, making this PSG’s most challenging visit to Spain since the Remontada.

Betis coach Edgar Agudo is delighted. “An experience like this tournament is immense for our players,” he says. “For two or three years now, they’ve been playing in tournaments – a boy who’s been at Betis since he was eight will have played many tournaments at this level. Perhaps not with this media exposure, but against this level of opponent, so they’re used to it. They’ve played a lot of seven-a-side, too, from the age of six to 12, even though they’ve been playing 11-a-side for six months now.

“At Betis, our academy is important to us, to bring players to the first team, and we’re proud that Spanish clubs are also contributing to the success of the national team. Our players were at an event yesterday where there was a presentation showing all the elite footballers who’ve passed through this tournament previously – it inspires them that there’s a path to follow.”

Juventus captain Andrea Ortoncelli impresses against Benfica – the right-back also scores and goes straight to the camera to show off the Dybala-esque hand gesture he’s prepared to celebrate. Some of these youngsters haven’t played on live TV before, and a few have devised special celebrations for the occasion – including Valencia’s Luca Sanchez, in a 3-0 win over Inter.

Atletico Madrid take on hosts Las Palmas, who are backed by a number of the most ardent fans of the club’s first team. The group make a grand entrance into the stadium banging drums and waving giant flags, then sing virtually non-stop and throw confetti, which all feels rather surreal for an under 13s tournament. They even whistle their disapproval at refereeing decisions.

Despite being the middle of winter, it’s nearly 20 degrees and more than 1,000 have been tempted into the stands – including David Villa, who’s sitting with the rest of the Atletico Madrid parents.

Barcelona beat neighbours Espanyol despite many of their players being noticeably small – there can be big height differences, with some still awaiting growth spurts. If anything, we’re most impressed by the smaller players who show talent, since they already have the technique to compete against taller opponents, and will become even better when they grow. Barca’s composed centre-back Claudio Ruiz looks like he could be one such player.

Real Madrid captain Hugo Fernandez isn’t the biggest either, but against Athletic Bilbao, we can immediately see why De la Morena mentioned him earlier – and why another of our contacts had told us to look out for him, too. The number 10’s idol is Luka Modric and he’s already got a similarly flowing mane of hair, plus many of his technical skills – albeit unlike the Croatian, he’s left-footed. He sets up one goal and scores another, while left-winger Nacho – complete with orange boots that give off a vibe that he knows he’s good – is a dangerous dribbler who delivers the most outrageous piece of skill we see all day.

Of the six overseas sides, only Juventus make it out of the group stage and into the quarter-finals, such is the strength of the Spanish teams. “Year after year, they show they’re the best,” smiles Cristina Sanchez, one of La Liga’s representatives at the event. “We have many tournaments, and the Spanish academies are the ones that really stand out.”

Dortmund coach Jannik Pleschke has been impressed. “You can tell that Spanish teams live football in a very special way,” he says. “Every team has players who’ve stood out for their dribbling, skills and solutions in pressure situations. They produce many footballers who have a high understanding of the game and are artists with the ball.

“Seven of the teams in the quarter-finals are Spanish, and that’s partly also because they defend well. It’s a highlight for us to compete at this level with top international opponents – it’s great experience for our team.”

“Our best generation ever”

In the quarter-finals, rangy right winger Aly Nestor Fofana shows plenty of ability as Villarreal beat Espanyol, but the beaten side have still relished being part of the tournament. “It’s been fun, we’ve had a very good time,” says dreadlocked defender Max Novas, after Espanyol invite us to speak to two of their players. “It’s been my first time in the Canary Islands – I was very motivated to come here to play in such an important tournament,” adds midfielder Issa Sigue.

They’re both understandably shy – this is more or less their first time speaking to any type of media, and talking to them reminds us just how young the footballers at this tournament are, even though they’ve spent the day playing and behaving like impressive mini professionals. “The coaches at Villarreal have been teaching me a lot,” explains Yellow Submarine midfielder Raul Perez. “My dream is to be a professional player, and to win this tournament.”

Atletico Madrid join them in the semi-finals after victory over Juventus, when talented dribbler Viti deploys his hammer of a left foot to smash home a goal from outside the box. Goalkeeper Inigo even scores, giving the ball an old-fashioned punt upfield and seeing it bounce over the head of his opposite number.

Barcelona lose a penalty shoot-out to Valencia, then Betis goalkeeper Gaby Oseremen Anorh is in tears at the end of their quarter-final with Real Madrid, after he can only parry a shot into the path of Modric lookalike Fernandez, who tucks away a difficult chance with aplomb for the only goal of the game. “That kid’s got aura,” another pitchside journalist remarks of the goalscorer – Thibaut Courtois regen Andres Estaire had previously thwarted Betis with several fine saves.

In the semi-finals, our interviewee Raul Perez does a panenka for the decisive spot kick as Villarreal beat Valencia on penalties, then David Villa’s son scores as Real Madrid are eliminated by city rivals Atletico, prompting a beaming smile from his dad in the stand.

In true Atleti fashion, they win the final 1-0, after Jaime’s solitary goal. Delighted at the result, and wearing an Atletico shirt underneath his hoodie, Villa strides on to the pitch to present the champions’ dribbling king Viti with the tournament’s MVP award. Real Madrid’s Modric 2.0 gets the top scorer honour, with Valencia’s Ibai Garcia named the best goalkeeper.

Finalists Villarreal must content themselves with runners-up medals, but it’s all part of a learning process that coach Paco Peris hopes will lead some of them to the club’s senior side one day. “We sign players at a very young age, because it gives them time to develop within our training model, and we’re a club who promote a lot of players to the first team,” he says.

Why have Villarreal and Spain had so much success with bringing players through to senior level? “Because of their quality, and because we trust them,” Peris adds. “When they’re good enough, trust your players, give them opportunities.”

Tournament founder De la Morena is confident that Spain’s conveyor belt of quality footballers will continue, based on what he’s seen here. “We have probably the worst generation of politicians we’ve had in years, but the best generation of footballers we’ve ever had, and over a prolonged period too,” he smiles.

The players we’ve seen in Gran Canaria won’t be ready for the 2030 World Cup on home soil, but given that this event gathered together all of the best under-13 footballers in the country, it would be little surprise if at least one or two of them are representing La Roja by the time 2034 comes around.

Spain have climate advantages that allow them to play tournaments all year round – even three-day tournaments on Las Palmas’ home pitch, without severely damaging it – but they’re the envy of the world right now when it comes to youth development, and with good reason.

In 10 years’ time, one can only guess at the total financial value of the players we’ve just witnessed.

Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni broke down in tears after his country's World Cup final defeat to Spain.

While facing questions from the press, the man who guided his nation to World Cup victory in 2022 was unable to continue, overcome by the disappointment of failing to defend the title.

He also admitted questions would have to be asked over his future as national team coach.

Scaloni's strange comments about his side's manner of defeat

As he sat and faced questions after the game, the manager was overcome with emotion and said: "Bear with me, I don't know if I can continue."

He then stood up and added: "It's really painful, I am very sorry" before leaving the room.

Perhaps Scaloni's emotion had clouded his judgement because his opinion on how his side performed was very different to how other people felt Argentina had played in the match, and reacted after it.

Leandro Paredes was sent off after the full-time whistle, after he grabbed Eric Garcia by the throat and threw Gavi to the floor, as he responded angrily to the loss. Enzo Fernandez also saw red for a ridiculous challenge.

"I’ll cherish the memory of my players, what they achieved and the effort it took to reach this stage,” Scaloni said.

"We are gracious in victory, and we must be gracious in defeat. Today, we are showing that we know how to lose. If the players leave everything on the pitch, as they did today, it sets a great example for our people and our country."

Scaloni's current contract as Argentina boss runs until December and he said that might be a good time for him to leave his role.

He continued: "I will talk to the president. I have an idea of what I would like to do. I will see out my contract. I don't know if something big needs to be done. We need to speak this through.

"I am thankful to the president for bringing me this chance of being in this place where I am at the moment. It was a dream for everyone. We have tried up until the very last minute to give our best, the staff and players. I believe it's only fair that I can take this time for myself to think this through."

Spain won the World Cup for the second time in 2026, defeating Argentina in extra time in New Jersey, but what can you remember about the rest of the tournament?

If you were awake at all hours, absorbing football's greatest show in all its glory, you'll be in a great position to smash the FourFourTwo Big World Cup 2026 Quiz!

We've got 20 questions covering the headline moments, biggest matches and star turns of the summer tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. You'll be tested on your knowledge from the group stage to the final, and there's no time limit. Take your time, and don't forget to let us know your score below.

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

FourFourTwo has a whole host of quizzes to enjoy, all courtesy of Kwizly. First up, can you name every nation to have hosted the World Cup in order? You should be getting through them all so we're primarily interested in how quickly you manage to compete the set.

We also want to know if you can name every team from every men's and women's World Cup final, and the English league winner in every World Cup year. More broadly, can you sort these 30 players in order of their international goal tallies?

Scotland's previous World Cup was now 28 years ago but it was memorable nonetheless. Can you answer all 20 questions in our Big World Cup 1998 Quiz and name every Frenchman to play in a World Cup final? If line-up quizzes are more your speed, how about telling us who started in Ghana's defeat against Uruguay at the World Cup in 2010?

The FourFourTwo Weekend Crossword 62 has clues on controversial defenders, free kicks, famous stands and more. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter for your daily afternoon briefing of football trivia and analysis, and don't forget to join The Club: our free membership portal where you can secret hints and get on the leaderboard.

Ready?

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

Too quick? Need more quiz? You're in the right place. From international football to domestic, women's, European and everything in between, there is no shortage of stuff for you to test your knowledge on, thanks to Kwizly.

Starting here by naming every African side to have reached the World Cup

If that's not up your alley, or simply too easy for you, then try our Pre-Match Poser no.35 which scientists have proven only one per cent of football fans are capable of getting.

Our World Cup True or False quiz promises to give you sleepless nights. As are the eight sovereign nations that are NOT members of FIFA.

Don’t let your encyclopedic knowledge of the beautiful game evaporate as a passing thought; turn your trivia triumphs into an official matter of record by joining The Club, our free digital community hub. It is the perfect central repository to log your scores, claim exclusive digital badges for your profile, and see precisely where your footballing IQ sits when stacked against the sharpest minds in the global fanbase. To ensure your mental reflexes sharp, get the weekday newsletter, which drops a freshly prepared dose of high-intensity trivia straight to your inbox every single afternoon so you are always primed for the next kickoff.

If the summer of 2024 was a 'Brat Summer' inspired by Charlie XCX's album then the summer of 2026, it was a case of it being 'New York or Nowhere'. Anything and everything was happening in the Big Apple.

From The Knicks winning their first NBA title for 53 years, July 4th being the 250th anniversary of American Independence, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce tying the knot at Madison Square Garden, Jay Z’s residency at Yankee Stadium and of course the small matter of the World Cup.

I was fortunate enough to be based in New York for the duration of the World Cup and the questions I was asked more than any other from people back home was: “Do the Americans ‘get’ the World Cup? Are they buying into it?” Well the answer was a resounding 'yes'.

New York is a sports-mad city, although the start of the World Cup coincided with the NBA Finals – the New York Knicks were going for their first championship since 1973 and so understandably everyone was gripped by it - the World Cup definitely cut through in a city where there is a lot going on.

New York’s sports fans had been starved of recent success. The Yankees have not won the World Series since 2009, the Mets have gone even longer with their last triumph coming the year after Live Aid in 1986. The New York Giants last won the Super Bowl in 2011 and the New York Rangers last lifted the Stanley Cup in 1994 - coincidentally when the USA last hosted the World Cup.

In fact, the last sports team to win a major title was New York City FC when they won the MLS Cup in 2021.

So when the Knicks went into Game 5 3-1 up and knowing they were one win from history it is understandable that New Yorkers focused on their team.

The reaction was like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. Cars, buses, lamp posts… nowhere was safe from celebrating fans. The NYPD closed down the streets surrounding Madison Square Garden for fear of overcrowding, and used horses to break up large groups of fans. An estimated two million people descended on the streets of downtown Manhattan for the open-top bus parade days later. And so for the first week the World Cup took a back seat.

That passion then spilled across into football. Every bar, barber shop and bodega had the football on the TV, and New York had five official fan parks, one in each borough. All were packed. Further giant screens around the city showed every game.

New York is a hugely diverse city and Queens is known as the ‘World’s Borough’ – I watched Colombia play in a Colombian bar in Jackson Heights, Ecuador in Little Ecuador in Corona and Argentina in the Boca Juniors steakhouse in Elmhurst - each an experience I will never forget and all with extremely knowledgeable and passionate fans.

The Boca Juniors steakhouse was wrapped in a giant Argentina flag and I was in there when Lionel Messi scored twice against Austria to break the World Cup goalscoring record and the celebrations and happiness in the building was unlike anything I have ever experienced when watching football.

In Times Square, right at the heart of Manhattan, billboards delivered a sensory overload dominated by the World Cup. Messi promoting Michelob Ultra lager, Christian Pulisic flogging deodorant and Argentina players fronting a campaign for prediction market company Kalshi. One night, a barge carried a 50ft cutout of Lamine Yamal down the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn, to promote the newest pair of Adidas boots.

Shop after shop had football shirts – real and fake – for sale. In any 10-minute period, you could walk the streets and see jerseys of all 48 nations at the tournament.

Times Square became the unofficial home of fan takeovers. If a country was playing at the MetLife Stadium, a few miles away in New Jersey, fans would descend on the intersection, singing and dancing. In the group stage alone, Brazil, Ecuador, France, Norway and Panama all turned up in numbers. The Norwegians even did the Viking Row.

American supporters were just as passionate. I witnessed the USA’s last-32 clash with Bosnia in a new Brooklyn bar called Socceria, and New York mayor Zohran Mamdani even turned up to watch. He was one of the biggest winners of the tournament, by doing a deal to provide cheaper tickets for locals.

When there were big VAR calls, bars would fall silent as people waited to hear the decision, this was a nation of sports fans gripped by the World Cup. When the USMNT were eventually knocked out by Belgium it did feel like someone had let the air out of the balloon, but the fans picked themselves out and got stuck into the rest of the tournament.

Even right at the end of the tournament, the 'game of shame' or Bronze medal match between France and England - with a 6-4 scoreline to the Three Lions was one of the games of the tournament - and one of the city's most popular haunts to watch the World Cup, Houston Hall, was packed with fans watching on a Saturday evening.

The city’s famous landmarks leant themselves to the World Cup. Classic Football Shirts took over the Empire State Building with an exhibition, the Atlas statue outside the Rockefeller Centre replaced the globe with a giant adidas football to promote the final ball. A giant lego replica of the World Cup trophy stood where the famous Rockefeller Christmas tree usually stands, I watched Spain beat Belgium on the Top of the Rock and Netherlands vs Japan under the iconic Brooklyn Bridge. While fans packed into Central Park to watch Spain beat Argentina in the final.

Shop windows were dressed in World Cup memorabilia. Ahead of the final, drones lit up the Manhattan skyline with the World Cup trophy. The city gave itself to the World Cup and the world came to play in New York City.

There was plenty not to like about this World Cup - unnecessary advertising hydration breaks, dynamic ticket prices, political interference and a half time show at the final. But when it came to the fans adopting football, there was not a better place to be than America and New York.

So don’t be fooled by people saying that America didn’t ‘get’ the World Cup. I spent six weeks there, and can confirm they absolutely did and there is nowhere I would rather have experienced it than New York.

Let's get quizzical.

Some flags are so synonymous with World Cups that they require no geographical knowledge. We're thinking of Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Italy... maybe not Italy, actually. But there are others that are far more obscure, particularly in 2026, when the World Cup expanded from 32 countries to 48.

So do you know your Cape Verde flag from your Curacao flag? We want you to correctly identify every flag from every team at this year's tournament. There are 48 answers, and you have just four minutes. Get quizzing!

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

We've reached the end of World Cup 2026, but we have plenty more quizzes on football's greatest tournament to keep you occupied between now and the start of the domestic season. If you're feeling some World Cup withdrawal symptoms already, how about testing your knowledge – courtesy of Kwizly.

If you know your goalkeepers, this one might be up your street. We're asking you to name every World Cup Golden Glove winner since the award's inception in 1994. Every goalkeeper needs a tactically astute team of outfield players in front of them, and that is largely the responsibility of elite managers. We reckon you should try to name every World Cup winning manager in the tournament's history. This goes back all the way to 1930, so it's a real test of your knowledge.

The World Cup is of course often remembered for it's star performers, with Lionel Messi lighting up the tournament once again in 2026, but can you name every Golden, Silver and Bronze Ball winner since 1982? Following that, you could challenge yourself with a quiz that doesn't necessarily require such a long memory and name every Spain player with over 50 caps. How many of La Roja's greatest players do you remember?

The true trivia titans aren't content with just quizzes, which is why we can offer you FourFourTwo's Weekend Crossword 61, featuring clues on wonderkids, wondergoals and 1-0s. As the World Cup fades into memory and the new club season approaches, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter for your daily afternoon briefing of hand-picked trivia so you are armed with everything you need to know. To completely cement your legacy this summer, join The Club, our free membership hub that serves as your digital dugout, where you can unlock secret hints for the toughest quizzes, climb our global leaderboards, and engage in tactical debates in the comments section as the matches play out.

We no doubt all feel a little bit like losers after England crashed out of the World Cup against Argentina, but it could certainly be worse than getting to a semi-final.

None are likely to go home completely happy, but there have been plenty of positive stories from Thomas Tuchel’s camp.

Here’s how we see the split…

Winners

Harry Kane

England’s captain showed exactly why he has the armband, proving himself (were any demonstration needed) that he’s one of the Three Lions’ only true world-class talents.

A demon from the spot, able to take the country on his back as against DR Congo and comfortable creating and finishing.

More could have been asked of him in that semi-final against Argentina, but he’s not alone there.

Jude Bellingham

Tuchel’s other world beater – if it wasn’t a clutch moment from Kane, then it was probably Jude Bellingham.

England’s top scorer at the tournament – albeit via a top-up in the third-place play-off – once again showed his big-game-player qualities.

Still just 23 years old (!), there are plenty more opportunities to come for the Real Madrid man.

Djed Spence

The jury’s out on whether a player turning 26 this summer can be labelled a breakout star, but if deemed possible, then Djed Spence is the blueprint.

Perhaps not able to show his full repertoire of skills in a stuttering Spurs outfit, they certainly all came to the fore in this tournament, almost single-handedly saving England on multiple occasions against Argentina, before they were ultimately undone.

Neil Warnock famously once said he’d end up in the Premier League or non-league – that debate may just now be ready for bed.

Elliot Anderson

A £116million move to Manchester City did nothing to take the eyeballs off Elliot Anderson, which could have even made an already heavy England shirt weigh even more.

Not that you’d have noticed from the former Forest man’s performances, consistently one of the best players on the pitch throughout.

It suggests he may have what it takes to take that next step at the Etihad, and he certainly has plenty of time on his hands to develop.

Dean Henderson

Perhaps a rogue inclusion in this list, especially given he let in four goals in 90 minutes of football, but his outing against France, a sixth career cap, was his first appearance at a major tournament.

And it may well be his last, now aged 29 with the younger James Trafford growing in stature.

It will be a big bucket list item ticked off for the Crystal Palace gloveman, after years of stoic deputisation.

Losers

Thomas Tuchel

The simple maths says Tuchel went into this tournament with more backers than he leaves it with.

Getting to a semi-final, and being half an hour away from a World Cup final, means he’s probably done enough for a second chance at Euro 2028, but his handling of that game against Argentina will mean proving himself all over again.

However, Gareth Southgate survived lower moods and kept improving, so don’t write off the old Schnauzer just yet.

Jordan Henderson

Played six minutes against Panama and flies home with a celebration-induced broken arm.

He might be great for the dressing room, but an explanation as to why he needed a squad number to fly over with the group has not yet been forthcoming.

Kobbie Mainoo

There are moments when England probably could have used Kobbie Mainoo’s calm composure to link defence with attack.

Having been called up, he certainly does not deserve to be heading back to England without a World Cup minute to his name.

That being said, there’s still plenty of time for the Manchester United man to make his mark on coming editions of the competition.

Anthony Gordon

Much like Cole Palmer at Euro 2024, Anthony Gordon was robbed of a history-defining moment.

His goal against Argentina would have been seared into the memory of Three Lions fans had it been the nation’s ticket to the showpiece in New Jersey, but it wasn’t to be.

Nevertheless, that goal and three assists may see some of the eyebrows raised at his Barcelona move begin to drop slightly.

Ivan Toney

A shootout specialist thwarted by the lack of shootouts.

At 30 years old, now in the Saudi Pro League, this was highly likely to be Ivan Toney’s last World Cup appearance, and he was unable to impact it.

Even as the starting striker in the 10-goal thriller with France to wrap up the tournament, he never really imposed himself on the game.

If one good thing emerges from the inaugural World Cup final half time show, I hope it is that it is a one-off, confined to the history books and never seen again.

It was odd, completely out of place at a World Cup final and more than anything else it was boring.

Ahead of the game, the media, stadium workers and volunteers queued for up to three hours in the baking sun to get into the stadium due to additional security checks because of President Trump’s attendance. And that painful process was more enjoyable than whatever that halftime monstrosity was.

Madonna spent the majority of her performance in the bowls of the stadium, only appearing on the side of the pitch towards the end of her song Music flanked by Brazilian duo Ronaldo and Ronaldinho in what looked more like a scene from the new Ali G film than a live performance. Even then she only bowed. Odd.

Which aside from being a strange decision for what was supposed to be a spectacle, it was more suited to those watching at home on TV rather than those in the stadium who had paid upwards of $4,000 to be there.

Shakira and Burna Boy then performed the official World Cup anthem Dai Dai, which if you have not heard it, is exactly how you would imagine a FIFA commissioned song to sound. And then K-pop band BTS performed their hit Dynamite, which was not my thing, but no notes.

But then things got strange again when Justin Bieber was subbed on by Ted Lasso - a nice plug for the new series - and then proceeded to sing his acoustic song Everything Hallelujah which was dull and tedious. He did change the words to ‘It's the World Cup, Hallelujah’ but that did not make it any better. It was still slow and monotonous.

If the half time show was supposed to get people up and off their seats and dancing a long to then Bieber got his song choice all wrong. It was more likely to send fans to sleep than get them out of their seats.

To be fair to Biebs his performance did see him make more entries into the penalty box than Lionel Messi in the first half.

During the whole half time show I kept asking myself ‘who is this for?’ It was certainly not for football fans. Football fans want a p*ss and a pint at half time, not a weird pop medley that makes the Eurovision Song Contest look vaguely entertaining.

Then there was Pele on the big screen from his New York Cosmos days talking about ‘Love’ and then we were subjected to children on the pitch waving flags and displaying the word ‘LOVE’ in yet another completely pointless act.

The whole thing felt like a weird fever dream combined with an episode of Lip Sync Battle rather than the live extravaganza it was billed as.

All the bookings felt odd and didn’t seem to fit or work together. Earlier in the World Cup Bon Jovi’s hit Livin’ on a Prayer was played during the hydration breaks. And fans were genuinely clapping and singing to the chorus. Given Bon Jovi are in the middle of a nine night residency at Madison Square Garden, they would have been a far better booking than what we were subjected to with this peculiar series of acts..

The only part of the ‘show’ that had some participation was when Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes was played, and that was 'performed' by Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and Animal, because, why not? At least they know they are Muppets.

Comparisons between this half time show and those at the Super Bowl were made beforehand. But the Super Bowl half time shows are slick and entertaining, they have become ‘must watch’ moments in sport and entertainment. Whatever this was, was not that. Well not for any good reasons anyway. It was neither slick nor entertaining. It was confusing, dull and pointless.

After 20 minutes of watching it, I was left scratching my head wondering what I had just witnessed and why I had witnessed and again the great unanswered question, 'who is this for?'

FIFA must have been delighted when Argentina made the final and not England, because you can be sure of one thing, just like Mexican Waves, the England fans would not have stood for this nonsense and would no doubt have booed the whole farce.

Whoever had the bright idea to introduce this to the world’s biggest sporting event has some questions to answer, because in my opinion this was a poorly judged and poorly executed waste of time. But it will no doubt be lauded a success by FIFA supremo Gianni Infantino and the suits in Zurich.

And let’s not forget the players in all this. For all their careers footballers have trained and played on the basis that there is a 15 minute break for half time and yet on the biggest stage of all they are made to wait longer and their bodies would have cooled down and heightened the risk of injury - when the football did finally resume.

The World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico has been an undoubted success but that is in spite of FIFA and not because of them. Hydration breaks, dynamic ticket prices, political interference and now this half time show have no place in football.

Let the game flow and let the fans enjoy the game - stop trying to force fun onto them.

This was more than a victory for Luis de la Fuente and his wonderful players like Lamine Yamal, the outstanding sub Nico Williams, and Ferran Torres, who struck a fractious final’s decisive blow. This was a victory for football.

This was a victory for those who believe the game should be about expression, not aggression. Argentina’s street fighters were put to the sword by the matadors of Spain. “Ole, ole,” chanted their fans as the game closed with a sweeping passing move and never has it sounded more fitting.

Spain kept playing the way they’ve traditionally done, passing and moving, caressing the ball, treating it as a friend. By contrast, Argentina came to destroy and few, beyond their immense support here in New Jersey, eight miles from Sinatra’s birth-place, will mourn their loss.

'Argentina wasted the regal presence of Lionel Messi'

The world champions were an embarrassment at times. Enzo Fernandez was sent off for dissent and a foul and he still disputed it. Even after the final whistle, as tempers spilled over, Leandro Paredes was still picking fights. What a waste of the regal presence of such a maestro as Lionel Messi.

He had little service, few touches, no real opportunity to impose those sublime skills. It was a shame that his wonderful World Cup should end in such circumstances, but it was his team-mates’ fault. They came to fight, not play.

Spain’s many supporters railed against the Slovenian referee, Slavko Vincic, for not clamping down on Argentina’s very obvious spoiling tactics. They especially blamed the FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, for a perceived favouring of superstars. “Infantino – you’re not a Christian” was one of the more printable chants. From a parochial perspective, English frustration bit deeper at the second-half tactics and substitutions that invited Argentina to look like Brazil 1970.

Spain, meanwhile, looked like the European champions they are, simply on a world tour. How fitting that amongst the full house at the MetLife were many of Spain’s 2010 champions, the Andres Iniesta generation, who also had to endure some rough-house tactics from their final opponents, the Dutch, in their final in Johannesburg.

Spain will never forget their journey to New Jersey. As the heat rose, so did the prices, shamelessly, ranging from $9,715 to $49,384. Capitalism in real time. Many ticketless Spanish and Argentinians came anyway, dodging the loose checks on the outer rings to get close to the MetLife party. Hundreds held up signs hoping for tickets, even more ambitiously seeking them at face value.

Inside, a truly American spectacle briefly broke out, the Super Soccer Bowl. Tom Cruise delivered some sub-Shakespeare seize-the-day, save-the-world rhetoric. Cruise did well, given that it was almost a mission impossible to compete with the deafening Argentinian choirs. Some of their football left one speechless.

Spain did well surviving some of the uncompromising Argentinian tackles. This is far from a great Argentinian team, beyond the genius of Messi, but they are packed with world champions and tough nuts.

Spain were in a dogfight, but they stayed composed, controlled the game and were thwarted only by the outstanding Emi Martinez in the Argentinian goal. Yamal was a test down the right, worrying Tagliafico. When he did get close, threatening a goal, Martinez saved with his legs. Over on the left, Marc Cucurella was enjoying himself, linking with Dani Olmo, even backheeling the ball past Gonzalo Montiel, who recovered with a magnificent sliding challenge. Cucurella shot wide, then Oyarzabal had his 20-yarder saved by Martinez.

Spain were trying to play football, trying to build from the back. Rodri dropped deep, triggering the press from Julian Alvarez and Alexis Mac Alllister under the watchful gaze of Messi. Mac Allister flew in on Olmo, and was granted clemency by Vincic. The Slovenian was clearly in the mood to let things go, but there’s a fine line between trying to let the game flow and allowing some rough-housing. He eventually drew the line at some more leg-tangling from Lisandro Martinez, who was booked. He also had to withdraw, limping, to be replaced by Nicolas Otamendi.

A show finally broke but it proved the much-anticipated half-time show. Madonna and Shakira strutted their stuff, Ted Lasso gave a pep talk to Justin Bieber, just as President Trump had offered some tactical advice to Thomas Tuchel about Harry Kane and defense. The highpoint of the show was Ronaldo and Ronaldinho flanking Madonna. Where was Rivaldo? Half-time stretched to 27 min 22.15sec, a new FIFA world record. The celebratory merchandising is surely on its way.

Back to the football, back to Spain dodging tackles. Nico Williams came on and soon delivered a cross met by the head of Aymeric Laporte. Martinez clutched the ball rather theatrically. Enzo Fernandez tumbled, but was booked for dissent. The mind rolled back to past finals that took time to come to life, to 2014, USA 94, even Italia 90. It was a hard, hot watch and it got feisty as the game staggered like a punch-drunk boxer through added time. Messi found Laporte shut.

Then Enzo Fernandez, racing in, eyes only on the man, sent Pau Cubarsi into orbit. He walked, eventually, reluctantly, and one wonders whether that will affect his price when Chelsea come to sell him.

Martinez continued to defy Spain, pushing away a Yamal free-kick, then denying Mikel Merino’s header. Giuliano Simeone came on and annoyed people. Paredes took Merino out in mid-air. But then came the moment that saved the game, that saved the World Cup, and what a move and goal it was. Yamal laid the ball back to Pedro Porro who steeped his cross to the far post to Williams. The livewire winger nodded the ball back for Ferran Torres to kill off Argentina and make football lovers celebrate.

Rodri has denied Lionel Messi a second successive Golden Ball, after Spain beat Argentina in the 2026 World Cup Final.

The Golden Ball is often used as a predictor for the Ballon D'or, having gone to Messi and Luka Modric in the last two tournaments.

Messi was expected to receive the award, having bagged eight goals for Argentina, but the Spanish midfielder, and 2025 Ballon D'or winner, has claimed it.

Rodri denies Lionel Messi and claims Golden Ball, after Spain prevail 1-0 against Argentina in the World Cup Final

Messi will instead receive the Silver Ball, to sit at home next to his two previous Golden Ball wins, in 2022 and 2014.

Kylian Mbappe received the Bronze Ball, bagging 10 tournament goals en-route to becoming the highest ever World Cup goalscorer.

Pau Cubarsi, who was the victim of a ridiculous Enzo Fernandez tackle that earned the Argentinian a second yellow card, will take home Young Player of the Tournament.

Unai Simon, who conceded one goal all tournament, the least ever en-route to a World Cup victory by any nation, was awarded the Golden Glove.

Argentina and Messi put up a defensive fight, but were clearly the inferior side in every moment of the game.

They failed to register even a single shot in the 90, played the entirety of extra-time with 10 men, then fell to a Ferran Torres dagger.

That came in the 106th minute, which led to Argentinian pressure for the remainder of the match, including many previously elusive shot attempts, that continuously fell short.

Spain won the World Cup for the first time since 2010, when Uruguayan Diego Forlan was the Golden Ball winner.

Leandro Paredes was sent off after throttling Eric Garcia at the full-time whistle of the 2026 World Cup Final.

Spain prevailed 1-0 against Argentina via a 105th-minute Ferran Torres strike, after playing all of extra-time with 10 men.

Argentina failed to register a single shot attempt in the initial 90 minutes, and were thoroughly outplayed by the victors.

Leandro Paredes throttles Eric Garcia after Argentina lose 1-0 to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final

Paredes became the second Argentinian to be sent off in today's game after Enzo Fernandez committed an absurd challenge on Pau Cubarsi.

The Argentina international grabbed Garcia by the neck after losing the World Cup final, and many others in the Argentina squad joined in with abhorrent antics.

Joe Hart, working as pundit for BBC, described the event as "disgusting" after Lionel Messi's Argentina fell in the final.

Argentina already had the most World Cup Final dismissals in history with Enzo's red card, enduring two others in 1990.

Those three sending-offs were enough to secure the record, but that total has now extended to four.

Hart said: "Disgusting. There's one player in that squad who had a bit of class and that's Lionel Messi, who went around and shook the hands of all the Spanish players."

Paredes' antics were stopped briefly by Lionel Scaloni, before he broke free and shoved yet another Spanish player to the ground.

The Argentinians are no strangers to committing harsh challenges, and escaping punishment, as Ian Wright discussed at half-time.

But Paredes' violence was a different level, leading ITV pundits to also condemn his actions, and much of the Argentina squad's antics after losing.

Argentina vs Spain delivered an enjoyable second half of 2026 World Cup Final football, with the latter being the dominant force, but an Enzo Fernandez horror tackle stained the occasion past the 90th.

Spain began second half proceedings with a flurry of close calls, none of which materialised into serious chances.

The Spanish were narrowly thwarted after a near brilliant moment of in-box intricacy, then Marc Cucurella was denied a clear-cut shot right on the edge of the six-yard box by an Argentinian tackle.

Enzo Fernandez sent off after committing World Cup horror tackle, as Argentina vs Spain enters extra-time

The Argentinians were also punished for their behaviour early on, after Ian Wright expressed discontent with the standard of refereeing at half-time.

Leandro Paredes was booked for unsporting behaviour after repeated shoving directly in view of referee Slavko Vincic.

Spain were then awarded two free-kicks in quick succession right on the corner of the Argentinian box, but failed to capitalise on either opportunity.

By the 65th-minute, the ITV broadcast pointed out that Argentina had failed to have an attempt of any kind throughout the entire match, as Spain's onslaught continued. By the 70th, Lionel Messi's men had managed merely one touch in their opposition's penalty area.

That pressure continued until the 90th, when Argentina posed a brief but unrewarding attack, failing yet again to register a shot.

But the only real talking point of the game came in second-half injury time as Enzo Fernandez received his marching orders for his second yellow card in just ten minutes.

The Chelsea midfielder received his first for dissent, and then went in with a clear late on Pau Cubarsi to earn himself a red card. He had only himself to blame for his sheer stupidity.

Despite protest from his fellow Argentinians, and a brief check by VAR, the booking stood.

The 2026 World Cup Final has now entered extra-time, after a Lamine Yamal free-kick was saved by Emi Martinez in the dying embers.

Argentina will play on with 10 men, having failed to register a shot for the entirety of the match so far.

Argentina vs Spain has provided fans across the globe with a first half of World Cup Final football packed with technical quality, but Ian Wright has been less than impressed with the referee, and the Argentina team's ability to somehow escape punishment.

The game began, before a ball was even in play, with an extravagant, classically American pre-match show, with Tom Cruise delivering a speech that only the Hollywood superstar could pull off.

For all of its cheesiness, the stoicism of the Spanish and Argentinian professionals was evident, and that transferred into the game itself.

'It's always Argentina' - Ian Wright slams referee leniency in favour of Lionel Messi's men vs Spain

After a preceding day of electric storms and flash floods, the 2026 World Cup Final is bathed in an afternoon of picturesque sun.

Within five minutes, Lamine Yamal got in on goal twice, being denied in a 1v1, then failing to square to an open man, then Lionel Messi was unleashed into open space and stopped from having a golden opportunity of his own by an onrushing Unai Simon.

Argentina, in Argentina fashion, began making challenges early on and quickly became the beneficiaries of 'Let It Go' refereeing.

Both teams played aggressive football defensively, marking man-to-man and refusing to allow any openings that weren't hard fought.

Wright, working as pundit for ITV, spoke on the refereeing decisions made in favour of Argentina throughout the first half.

The 2022 World Champions escaped the first half with just one booking, despite committing nine fouls in dubious fashion.

Wright said, in response to being asked whether the referee was being lenient with Lionel Scaloni's men: "Always with Argentina."

The former Arsenal man was met with a brief moment of silence, then laughter, after he said this, repeating 'always' to drill his point home.

Gary Neville chimed in with his take, saying: "[Alexis] MacAllister should have been booked," which Roy Keane quickly agreed with.

"Leniency to the extreme, I would say," concluded Neville.

Argentina vs Spain is the final match of the 2026 World Cup, to decide who will lift the sport's most sought-after prize.

Will it be Lionel Messi and his fellow Argentinians? Will they enjoy a second successive lift, after the trophy evaded him for much of his career?

Or will it be Spain, in potentially record-breaking fashion with the least goals ever conceded, which their previous Champion 2010 side already hold, en-route to a World Cup victory?

Argentina vs Spain: Will Lionel Messi lift a second successive World Cup trophy?

When we say that Argentina vs Spain isn't the final that was necessarily predicted, that goes beyond pre-tournament expectations.

Across North America, these sides - particularly Argentina - have looked unconvincing in moments, yet have time and time again risen to the occasion, and upped their level, when required.

Against France, Luis de la Fuente's men entered the clash as underdogs, then delivered a dominant, well-drilled performance for the ages while creating a plethora of chances for themselves.

Against Egypt in the round of 16, Argentina were incredibly lucky to not exit the tournament, after surviving a scare versus Cape Verde prior to the match.

That pattern followed against Switzerland and England, with the latter being favoured to win: taking it to extra-time against the Swiss and coming back from the dead again versus the Three Lions.

On paper, Spain have the superior team. On the evidence of the knockout rounds, Argentina may have the greater mentality.

It would be unwise to suggest there isn't as much pressure riding on the Argentinians: their beloved captain Messi, whose sword the side lives and dies by, is almost certainly playing his last World Cup.

As a result, future iterations of this Argentina squad will be devoid of their central figure, and how long will it be before they can compete for football's greatest prize again?

On the other hand, Spain's star man; well, not so much this tournament, has almost his entire career ahead of him.

After coming into the tournament still recovering from injury Lamine Yamal has been in unconvincing form for his high standards at the 2026 World Cup, but, unlike Messi, he should represent his nation at many more to come.

However, Spain haven't won the competition for 16 years after a series of deeply disappointing attempts to recapture the spark of their brilliant side of the late 2000s and early 2010s.

As the defending holders, Argentina have already proved their worth in making it back to this event, so the Spaniards have more to lose should they fail to turn up this evening.

Spain's defence is scarily strong, limiting what appeared to be the best offensive force in the tournament to nothing versus France.

But Argentina's attack, while not the best at a first glance, is certainly the most unrelenting, and with Messi, a moment from nowhere should be expected, not just possible.

The likes of Dani Olmo, Mikel Oyarzabal and Rodri have been in wonderful form, and Yamal is long overdue a defining match.

For the Argentinians, Messi has been Messi, but Enzo Fernandez, Alexis MacAllister and super substitute Lautaro Martinez are all proving to be serious dangers at this tournament.

FourFourTwo thinks that Argentina will ride their luck one final time, but in a similarly high-octane basketball game to the 2022 final.

When Spain's defence is penetrated, because it will be, we will finally see the attacking potency of their line-up without a lead to defend.

Yamal will spring to life, and while he will fall short of Kylian Mbappe's astonishing World Cup final performance last time out, he will prove worthy as successor to the legendary Messi.

PREDICTION: Argentina 2-2 Spain

Argentina win on penalties (5-3)

Welcome to FourFourTwo’s live coverage of the biggest game on Earth. We are at the New York/New Jersey Stadium for a historic, mouthwatering clash of titans as Spain face off against defending world champions Argentina.

Can Lionel Messi guide La Albiceleste to back-to-back world titles and secure a historic fourth crown? Or will Spain's generational prodigy Lamine Yamal lead La Roja to their second-ever World Cup trophy?

Spain have been ruthless on their road to New Jersey, boasting the tournament's meanest defense behind the masterful Rodri who looks back to his Ballon d'Or best. But Argentina have proven they simply do not know when they are beaten, snatching a dramatic, Messi-inspired 2-1 win against England in the semi-finals, under their new guise as the comeback kings of the world.

Welcome!

Did you leave your football socks out for Soccer Claus last night? Meat and potato pie and an $11 beer under the World Cup tree?

The big day is upon us: the World Cup final.

Introducing first, in the blue corner: the reigning, defending, undisputed football champions of the world: Argentina.

And in the red corner, the challengers: former one-time World Cup winners and reigning European champions, Spain.

Massive game ahead. As big as it gets.

The scene

MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey is our venue for this one.

This is the first time either side will have played at this stadium this summer.

There's maaaaassive queues for the media to get in today, which has not been the case at other games at this tournament - and by that we mean two hours if you're lucky, potentially up to four. Secret Service security checks, apparently. Can't imagine why.

Hopefully the fans in attendance won't have anything like those issues.

Spain's route to the final

Spain were tipped to do well this summer, of course, having been by far the best side and deserved winners at the Euros two years ago.

Luis de la Fuente's side kicked off with one of the most memorable games of the tournament as they were held to a goalless draw by debutants Cape Verde - and that game may well have contributed to Spain going under the radar a bit over the following few weeks.

Aside from their 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia in their second group game, Spain have built their run on being largely unspectacular but extremely well-drilled and extremely competent.

Spain made sure of topping the group with a 1-0 win over Uruguay before beating Austria 3-0 in the round of 32 and claiming a last-minute victory over Portugal in the round of 16.

Belgium remain the only side to have scored against Spain at this World Cup - well done, Charles De Ketelaere - but once again it was Mikel Merino who settled the tie late on in a 2-1 victory in the quarter-finals.

France were widely expected to beat Spain in the semi-finals, but Mikel Oyarzabal's third game of the tournament put them ahead before Pedro Perro made it 2-0 in a game Spain had complete control over throughout.

Argentina's route to the final

Argentina have had a much more dramatic time of it, on the whole.

The group stage was a breeze for them, with Algeria, Austria, and Jordan all seen off with minimal fuss, largely thanks to a series of inspired Lionel Messi displays.

Since then, though? It's got a bit ridiculous.

Cape Verde came from behind both in normal time and in extra time in a sensational game in the round of 32, with an own goal eventually giving Argentina a 3-2 victory.

Egypt went two goals up and looked set to make it through the round of 16 with Lionel Messi also missing a penalty, but roared back in the final 11 minutes to claim another 3-2 win.

Lionel Scaloni's side were second-best for much of their quarter-final meeting with Switzerland, offering very little after going ahead early on through an Alexis Mac Allister header off Messi's corner. But a red card for Swiss Breel Embolo just after his side had equalised turned the game, with Argentina scoring twice in extra time to win 3-1.

And there was yet more resilience required against England in the semi-finals after Anthony Gordon's goal ten minutes into the second half saw them fall behind - only for Thomas Tuchel's absolutely cowardly and pathetic substitutions to allow Argentina to keep applying the pressure and come back to claim a 2-1 win in the final five minutes plus stoppage time.

The race for the Golden Boot

As well as the World Cup trophy, Lionel Messi could have his eye on this year's golden boot.

He's going to have to get at least two goals and maybe an assist to win it this year, though.

Kylian Mbappe's brace against England took him to 10 goals this summer, with Messi currently on 8.

Unless he went off inside 57 minutes, even two goals from Messi would not be enough on their own to earn him the Golden Boot ahead of Mbappe.

That's because the first tiebreaker is assists - and both Messi and Mbappe have four of them.

If both goals and assists finish honours even, then it comes down to goals per minute - and again, Mbappe would hold the advantage, largely thanks to Argentina having played two lots of extra time at this tournament.

So...Messi needs two goals and an assist, or a hat-trick, to get the Golden Boot this year.

Either way, we are guaranteed to have the highest-scoring Golden Boot winner since Gerd Muller hit ten in 1970.

Incidentally, Mbappe is now also ahead of Messi for all-time goals scored at World Cups, too: the Frenchman is on 22, with Messi on 21.

The referee

46-year-old Slovenian Slavko Vincic has been handed the highest honour a referee can earn: taking charge of a World Cup final.

He said: “So, first of all, a shock. Then happiness. I was shaking, so it’s an incredible honour to get the World Cup final.

“It’s something that… it’s only a dream for a referee, for a young referee when they start. So, I’m very proud, very proud of myself, my team.

“It’s very difficult to put everything into words, but I’m very proud to represent my country, Slovenia, in the biggest sporting event in the world. So, yeah, I’m very proud. My team is very proud and we will do our best.”

This is Vincic's fourth game of the tournament: he also oversaw Brazil vs Morocco and Jordan vs Algeria in the group stage, as well as Mexico vs Ecuador in the round of 32.

Vincic also refereed the 2022 Europa League final, where Eintracht Frankfurt beat Rangers on penalties, and the 2024 Champions League final, where Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund.

The teams are in the building

The US president's presence at this game has meant those massive queues, with both TSA and the Secret Service handling security and causing waits of at least two hours to get into the stadium. Seems like a great setup all round.

But the teams are in the stadium, at least. Spain have taken a little wander around the pitch to check out the surface.

Just over an hour and a quarter to go, with the closing ceremony to come before kick-off.

Closing ceremony under way

We've already seen IShowSpeed, now we're onto Post Malone. We're also going to get performances from Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger and Robbie Williams, with an appearance from Tom Cruise.

Real up-to-the-minute cutting-edge stuff all round. Truly the very best world music has to offer.

Team news

Spain: Unai Simon, Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella, Dani Olmo, Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal, Alex Baena.

Argentina: Emiliano Martinez, Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico, Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister, Nicolas Gonzalez, Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez.

Do ITV know England aren't playing in this final?

We're currently getting a video package on Thomas Tuchel. Sure.

Where will this one be won and lost?

Throughout the knockout stages, Argentina have looked very capable in attack and have been able to summon on a huge amount of spirit and, perhaps more importantly, genuine quality in the final third.

But they have looked vulnerable in defence, particularly on their right flank - the opposition's left side. They can be got at by swift attacks up that side in particular.

We've also seen certain teams and individuals get to grips better with how to keep Lionel Messi quiet, at least up to a point. Switzerland's Granit Xhaka and England's Elliot Anderson both left Messi looking frustrated for much of the game in the past two rounds; might that be a job for Fabian Ruiz and/or Rodri here?

Spain, meanwhile, have been superb at not allowing an obvious weak point to show anywhere on the pitch.

If there has been a criticism of them at points, it has been that they have had phases of games where they have looked rather toothless, particularly with Lamine Yamal struggling for form for much of the competition.

But their system has looked more and more convincing as the summer has gone on, and they have excelled at grinding teams down - and when all else fails, Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino has proven to be a superb option to play up front from the bench.

For Argentina, the key may be to try and limit Rodri's influence from midfield...but just like with Messi, that's easier said than done.

Extended half time coming in this one, obviously

Because apparently it's an absolute necessity to have a half-time show, a break of around 25-30 minutes is expected in the middle of this game.

Madonna, Shakira, BTS, Justin Bieber, Burna Boy and Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus (with Coldplay) will stick their stupid disruptive noses where they don't belong for the benefit of nobody except FIFA's desperate bid for cultural relevance. Sure, Gianna, that's what Madonna, Shakira and Coldplay give you.

Micah Richard says on the BBC: "After about 10-15 minutes, I would have been getting really stiff. I would have found it really difficult."

All worth it though we're sure.

30 minutes to go

Excited?

The teams are going through their warm-ups at present, but don't worry, they'll soon have some more musicians and stuff out on the pitch.

What goes around...

After enjoying himself at Harry Kane's expense, Wayne Rooney's voice is now giving up on him as he goes through his pre-match punditry on the BBC.

Looking to go back-to-back

Only two sides have ever won back-to-back men's World Cups: Italy in 1934 and 1938, and Brazil in 1958 and 1962.

Argentina have the chance to join that list today have deprived France of the honour in an absolute classic of a final four years ago.

We can only dream of having a showpiece as brilliant at that one this time around...right?

Could be a long evening

Four of the past five men's World Cup finals have gone to extra time, with two of them settled on penalties. France's 4-2 triumph over Croatia in 2018 was the only exception.

With the extended half time interval, we're probably not going to be done with the regulation 90 minutes until well past 5pm local time (10pm UK time). Extra time and penalties would be likely to take us past 11.

And just to compound matters, the closing ceremony looks to be running a bit behind schedule.

Jennifer Hudson belts out the US national anthem

The EGOT-winner is finally in place to sing the Star-Spangled Banner.

Still weird that she was once married to David Otunga.

Paulie Gualtieri from the Sopranos now takes the mic

No, wait, it's Robbie Williams, apparently.

This is dross

Paulie is joined by Nicole Scherzinger and Laura Pausini to perform some absolute dirge that has absolutely killed the crowd. Absolute garbage. Why have they done this to us? Get on with it.

The World Cup now comes out in a Louis Vuitton case. "I feel like I'm having a fever dream," my wife says. She's not wrong. Bizarre business all round.

And now here's Tom Cruise

He's doing a dramatic monologue, while holding onto his sunglasses. Nobody could have held onto them for him for a bit?

"Football is a language spoken without words," says Tom Cruise

Take your own advice Tom.

Finally, mercifully, that's all over (for now)

The teams are in the tunnel. The flags of Spain and Argentina have been pulled across the pitch. Minutes away.

KICK OFF

Over six minutes late, we're under way in the World Cup final!

4 - Tentative opening

Both sides have had a spell of possession to try and feel their way into the game.

5 - First chance

Yamal plays off Olmo brilliantly to get free in the box, but his shot deflects straight at Emi Martinez.

Spain get into the box again moments later but it comes to nothing, and a quick Argentina break forces Unai Simon to race 35 yards off his line to mop up. Just about gets there before Messi and the danger is gone.

Messi looked to pull out of that when I think it was winnable.

7 - Free kick shout

Porro looked set to get into the box off Oyarzabal's flick, but was brought down off the ball by Mac Allister. No foul, says the referee. Not sure that was the right call but there we go.

Spain looking the better side so far.

12 - Spain corner

Ruiz's cross from deep on the left is flicked behind for a corner. Baena to take from the right.

He finds Olmo at the back post, but it's a hard one to take down and Romero nips in to get it away.

15 - Rough tackle

Mac Allister somehow avoids a yellow card for a nasty challenge on Olmo. Not a red, should have been yellow for sure, just a warning from the referee.

17 - Argentina free kick

Baena with a cynical shove on Messi 40 yards out.

De Paul tries to find Gonzalez's run into the box but overhits it for a goal kick.

18 - Claim

Wonderful first touch from Yamal to bring down a high ball, drive forward and put in a low cross, but Emi Martinez claims it.

23 - "The assistant didn't put his flag up!"

So says Alan Shearer after a clearance deflects off a Spanish man and drops nicely for Oyarzabal inside the box, with Fernandez back well to make sure there's no threat, but Oyarzabal knew he was offside and didn't go for it.

Yes, Alan. They don't put the flag up straight away these days. They haven't for years. Come on, keep up.

25 - Hydration break

Is it disrespectful to play Las Ketchup during the drinks break? That's what they're doing, anyway.

One of our men in the ground, the esteemed Joe Donnohue, reports that the Spain fans are chanting "FIFA-tina" whenever a decision goes Argentina's way, such as Mac Allister avoiding yellow for that tackle ten minutes ago.

28 - Back at it

Play resumes. Spain have had the better of that first quarter.

Mac Allister with a blatant intentional handball. Still no yellow for him.

30 - Intense from Spain

Spain are not letting Argentina breathe in their own half here. They just had to put it out for a throw in the Spain half to get away from Cucurella's intense press after he had briefly taken possession of a rushed Argentina pass.

33 - Argentina free kick

Mac Allister draws a foul out on the left wing. Deep crossing position for the Argentina free kick, but cross it they will...

...no, Messi passes it instead, then is easily dispossessed by Ruiz. Waste.

35 - "That late flag again"

Shearer at it again as Cucurella is flagged after his cross is cleared for a throw.

I don't understand how all pundits and commentators still keep doing this, as if they've watched no football in the past seven years.

38 - Probing

Spain have a sustained spell of pressure around the Argentina box, but Cucurella's cross is poor. Spain get another try through Olmo, but it's headed away before Oyarzabal can get onto it. Porro shouts for handball against Lisandro Martinez just outside the box as his shot is blocked, nothing given..

Spain try again after dealing with an attempted Argentina counter, and eventually Oyarzabal gets a shot off from 25 yards - well struck but straight at Emi Martinez for a routine save.

That's about as good an attempt on goal as we've seen so far, and even that was nothing to write home about.

41 - Yellow card

Lisandro Martinez in the book for the most cynical of fouls on Oyarzabal to stop any chance of a Spain break.

42 - Nobody on the end of it

Nice intricate stuff from Spain to get Porro free up the right. Decent ball into an area, but nobody challenges for it.

43 - Wide

Cucurella receives the ball on the edge of the box towards the left, no real passing options, so he has a shot - drags it wide of the far post.

And Lisandro Martinez has now gone down, with Emi Martinez indicating to the bench that the centre-back needs to go off.

44 - Substitution

Nicolas Otamendi is on in place of Lisandro Martinez.

Four minutes added on

This game still yet to come to life. Can we get a twist to set up something for the second half please?

HALF TIME: Spain 0-0 Argentina

Yawn.

And now for a complete and utter waste of everyone's time for the next 20-30 minutes in the form of that ridiculous half-time show.

Go and have a walk, have a coffee, renew your acquaintance with a long-lost childhood friend, file your tax return, and by the time you're done it might almost be time for the second half.

Hold the phone

The Muppets are part of this half time show?

Alright fine. Dunno why they've got those other fleshbags involved at all. All Muppets please.

There's Madge

Performing her song Music, from [checks notes] the year 2000.

All pre-recorded, as well. She's being driven around by a mortified-looking OG Ronaldo and a rather happier looking Ronaldinho.

Why are you doing this, Ronaldo? This is beneath you.

And out them come onto the pitch as a trio.

And now the real main event: the Muppets helping to perform Seven Nation Army (2003).

And now BTS take over

Performing Dynamite (2020), which sounds like a tribute to B*Witched.

Of course we have to have Ted Lasso. He's really funny! He's an American but he's a football manager! He doesn't really know what he's doing! But he's lovable!

He hands over to Justin Bieber to bring the mood down with something boring and heartfelt.

Chris Martin is proud of this, is he?

Lining his pockets with FIFA money to force this crap on the world?

Well done, you're an asset to society.

Anyway here's Shakira and Burna Boy.

Now here's some kids who have been co-opted into this farce

Chris Martin and the rest of the performers join a bunch of kids around the word "LOVE" on the pitch.

And that's it. What a spectacular waste of time and money. Everyone involved should be ashamed.

ROOONNEEEYYY!

Gabby Logan asks the BBC pundits for their favourite parts of the half time show. Wayne Rooney: "My favourite bit was when it finished. I thought it was crap."

Here we go then

The players are back out, finally, some 27 minutes after the half time whistle went.

Argentina are absolutely meandering over to slow things down further, and Leandro Paredes is set to come on.

Half time: Argentina sub

Paredes comes on for Nicolas Gonzalez.

SECOND HALF

We're back under way.

46 - Has to hit it better

Argentina give the ball away in their own third, and Baena cuts across the face of the 18 yard box to et into a good shooting position - but puts a tame effort pretty well straight at Emi Martinez.

Had to at least test the keeper properly there.

48 - Argentina corner

Messi to take from the right.

Whipped to the near post, clearance rebounds out off Mac Allister for a goal kick.

52 - Man down...two men down

Paredes leaves an elbow on Rodri, sparking a very slow coming together between the two sides. Olmo gets shoved over in the thick of it too. Something and nothing.

Paredes goes in the book for pushing over Olmo.

54 - Very scrappy this now

The ten minutes since the break has just been a series of niggly little fouls. That plays to Argentina's favour you would think.

Spain actually play some football now, but Ruiz's return pass for Oyarzabal on the edge of the box is cut out after good work to get there.

57 - Spain corner

Rodri's through ball slips Olmo into the box at pace. He tries to cut it back to Cucurella in a great position, but Montiel gets there first. Behind for a corner.

In from the right after a short corner, but it's a dreadful ball - far too high and straight out for a goal kick.

58 - Argentina sub

Montiel goes off, on comes Nahuel Molina. Straight swap at right-back.

59 - No moment of quality so far

Spain have had most of the ball, all the territory and all the impetus, but this is them in that sterile mode we've seen them in at various points in this tournament.

They presumably want Yamal to provide a spark, but he's done absolutely diddly squat so far.

60 - Spain free kick

Spain have a free kick on the right and could either pass, cross or shoot here. Left for Yamal...who hits the wall. Baena thinks he's bought a corner off a blocked cross, but it stays in play and Argentina force it out for a throw their own way.

62 - Spain subs

Ferran Torres and Pedri on for Oyarzabal and Ruiz.

63 - Argentina still yet to have a shot

Absolutely zero from the reigning champions. Five from Spain, apparently, of which three on target. None of them memorable.

64 - Spain corner

Olmo tries his luck from 25 yards , straight at Emi Martinez, but the keeper makes a bit of a hash of it and turns it out for a corner. He was relieved to see it wasn't going into the top corner instead.

Corner cleared, Yamal tries again with a good cross, Paredes nods it out for another corner on the left this time.

Bit of a scramble in the box, but Argentina lump it away in the end.

66 - And another corner

Cross from the left nodded behind. Yamal to take from the right.

Straight to Mac Allister at the near post. Headed away.

Yamal gets to the byline off the loose ball and puts it onto Torres' head, but he puts it - you guessed it - straight at the keeper. Should have done better.

68 - Drinks break

We're going to have a three minute stoppage.

Cristian Romero has gone down holding his ankle, but after a few moments, he's back up to join his teammates in the dugout.

Still goalless.

69 - We'll level with you

This game has been rubbish. If Spain had anything in the final third, they'd have this game sewn up already. So far, they have not.

In the other direction, we've barely seen anything of Lionel Messi whatsoever.

70 - Final Argentina subs

Romero and De Paul go off. Giuliano Simeone and Facundo Medina on.

Back under way.

75 - Spain subs

Olmo and Baena make way. On come Nico WIlliams and Mikel Merino.

Firmly into Plan B mode here for Spain.

77 - You won't believe this

Spain just shot straight at Emi Martinez again. Pedri this time.

Spain try again and Yamal wriggles into the box, but his cutback is blocked and cleared.

Long shot from Cubarsi tests Martinez with its power, despite being (yeeep) straight at him. Spain keep it alive and win a corner.

Over everyone and out for a throw.

80 - Spain corner

Porro's cross from the right is blocked, out for yet another Spain corner.

Short again, Pedri gets it to Williams at the byline, cross to Laporte, header is a comfortable one for Emi Martinez.

He launches it long, it ends up back with Simon in the opposite box.

83 - Yellow card

Enzo Fernandez being a petulant little sod and getting booked for dissent? Surely not.

87 - Wide

Merino dinks it over the top for Torres, but he can't connect properly with his finish and it bounces harmlessly wide.

90 - The view from MetLife Stadium

Our own Joe Donnohue, out at MetLife Stadium, has the following assessment:

If Lionel Messi gets just one of the opportunities Spain have made a habit of squandering this half, it'll be game over. The Spanish have been uncharacteristically profligate - their attempts lacking power and placement.

Emiliano Martinez has made save after save, but he's hardly had to work for any of them. We approach extra time here at the New York New Jersey Stadium…

Four minutes added

We're now into Scaloni time, or else it'll be extra time.

90+1 - Argentina free kick

Laporte fails to dematerialise as Messi runs into him, which is a free kick, apparently.

It's 35-40 yards from goal. but a chance to ump the ball into the box.

No, they go short. Worked to Messi, who is tackled as he cuts inside.

Argentina come again, Simeone crosses, Simon claims it.

Spain go on the break, Williams has two men in support and opts to shoot - good save!

90+3 - RED CARD - Enzo Fernandez (Argentina)

How thick can you get?

Fernandez was only booked ten minutes ago, but he still decides to go ploughing straight through Cubarsi. He's eons late, it's a ridiculous challenge, second yellow, off you go.

Stupid boy.

90+4 - Argentina protest, Fernandez cries

Argentina, ridiculously, protest that decision en masse. Not a leg to stand on there. Ridiculous.

Fernandez is in tears as he goes off. Good.

90+7 - Spain free kick

This could be the last kick of the 90 - and Spain have a free kick in an ideal shooting position.

The world holds its breath. Yamal and Porro looking at it.

90+8 - Save!

Good hit by Yamal on that free kick, but Emi Martinez pushes it out for a corner!

Taken quickly and short, then put into the box...cleared.

END OF 90 MINUTES

Goalless. And now Argentina must take on extra time with ten men.

EXTRA TIME

We're under way on the additional 30 minutes.

97 - GOAL DISALLOWED

Nico WIlliams has it in the net, but the referee has whistled!

Pedri touches on a ball into the box, Merino beats Martinez to the loose ball but can only put it straight at the keeper, and Williams tucks home the rebound!

VAR will have a look at this - but the initial replays don't really show anything in the way of a foul...

99 - Goal still ruled out, Spain sub

Yeah VAR has chosen not to intervene. VAR apaprently saying Otamendi had his foot stood on in the build-up. OK.

Eric Garcia on for Rodri.

112 - Off target

Yamal miscues his shot well off target after Pedri leaves it on the edge of the box for his Barcelona teammate.

113 - Close!

Williams whips in a cross from the corner of the box and Merino times his run well to meet it with Emi Martinez surely beaten - but he glances it wide!

That should have been the opener.

115 - Yellow card

Scaloni goes in the book for protesting the non-award of a Cucurella foul on Simeone.

I think it was a foul but there we go.

HALF TIME IN EXTRA TIME

This has descended into farce over the past few minutes with both sides as bad as the other for petulant little shoves and tussles.

15 more minutes to go.

Still zero shots for Argentina in 105 minutes.

This game is awful.

INTO THE FINAL 15

Come on, someone, do something.

106 - GOAL SPAIN! 1-0

FINALLY! TORRES!

More on the goal!

It's a high ball into the box, Williams does great to get to it before Medina at the byline and nod it back to Torres, and he powers a shot past the helpless Emi Martinez!

11

111 - Yellow card

Mac Allister is in the book for a foul on Merino.

He was very lucky not to be booked early on in the game.

114 - GOAL DISALLOWED

Spain hit Argentina on the counter, Yamal plays Torres in from the halfway line, nobody except Emi Martinez in that entire half of the pitch, and he gets his finish right!

...but the flag is up for offside. Tight one, but correct.

115 - Argentina corner

Messi's cross is turned behind by Garcia.

Messi plays the corner short, then loops a high ball into the box...in fact, onto the roof of the net. Goal kick.

116 - What was that?!

Williams just surged into the box from the left, can either shoot or play it across to Torres....and instead pokes it harmlessly wide of the near post. Absolutely bizarre.

Looks like he was trying to flip-flap it and got it wrong.

117 - Man down

Argentina, finally, after 117 minutes, have their first shot - but Messi absolutely ploughs it straight into Merino's face from just outside the box.

That will have left him seeing stars, and he needs a moment to recover.

Play will restart with...a corner, I think?

No, it's a drop ball. Never went out.

120 - Argentina free kick

Daft foul from Williams 45 yards out. Messi is going to pump this into the box....no, short, then slides it to Simeone at the byline, cutback across the six yard box, and Spain get it behind from the goalmouth! Huge moment.

Argentina corner.

120+1 - Over the bar!

Five minutes added on.

Messi's corner causes a scramble, and the ball goes behind for another corner.

Short from Messi, but the ref orders it retaken having whistled for shoving in the box.

Messi again from the right, flicked on near post, Simeone is free to get a shot off - and put it over the bar! Just leaning back too far to get his foot around the ball.

120+3 - Stupid free kick

...goes Spain way on the edge of the Spain box. Argentina were working their way up the left and Simeone just shoved his man down off the ball. The officials clocked it.

120+5 - Keepaway

Spain are just holding onto the ball to try and see out the final minute....but a stray pass sees Cucurella commit a foul on halfway.

Emi Martinez to punt this into the box. Final seconds.

FULL TIME: SPAIN WIN THE WORLD CUP

That's it! Ferran Torres' extra-time goal is the difference against ten-man Argentina!

Disgrace

Scaloni has gone mad on the final whistle, marching onto the pitch and confronting several Spain players.

Alan Shearer says he saw someone throwing some haymakers.

Nicolas Otamendi is going at it with Rodri now.

Argentina have been disgraceful throughout this game and beyond. Cynical, nasty anti-football and no class whatsoever in defeat. Spain the only team that deserved to win it.

Complain all you want, Argentina

Paredes has absolutely lost his mind after the final whistle, going at it with several Spanish players and having to be pulled away before he properly lamps someone. He also grabbed Eric Garcia by the throat.

Joe Hart says: "Disgusting. There's one player in that squad who had a bit of class and that's Lionel Messi, who went around and shook the hands of all the Spanish players."

No idea what they're so upset about. You didn't have a shot until the one hundred and seventeeth minute, lads. Not a sausage. They set up to do absolutely nothing except defend and spoil the game. They got exactly what they deserved.

And now Spain can celebrate

Now that their dreadful opposition have shuffled off the pitch, Spain's celebrations begin in earnest.

Lamine Yamal lies down on the floor just taking it all in for a moment alongside Nico Williams.

The players and staff then join arms in a massive circle and dance around.

The European champions are now also world champions.

Spot on from Emma Hayes, as ever

The USA manager said on ITV: "This was death by a million cuts. Spain were just waiting to put a dying dog down."

Brutal and correct.

The agony and the ecstasy

This is what it means.

Trophy lift imminent

The various FIFA and government representatives are out to hand out the medals and, finally, the trophy.

The referees go up first, to whistles.

The individual awards

Young player of the tournament goes to Spain centre-back Pau Cubarsi, who looks absolutely delighted, bless him.

The Golden Gloves go to Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon. Emi Martinez doesn't look too happy. Oh no.

No holding the trophy his genitals for Simon.

The Golden Ball for player of the tournament goes to Rodri. Clean sweep for Spain.

The Golden Boot, of course, goes to France's 10-goal man Kylian Mbappe.

Messi in tears

The Argentinian icon has burst into tears after going up to receive his silver medal and then heading over to the Argentina end, who receive him with glowing adulation.

Up they go

The Spain squad now head up to get their gold medals.

How's that feel?

Match-winner Ferran Torres cannot resist laying his hand on the trophy on his way past after receiving his medal.

Rodri the last to go up, after Luis de la Fuente - and now the Spain captain will get the chance to lift the World Cup trophy.

And there it is!

Rodri hoists the trophy aloft!

The Spain squad take their turn to do likewise, and fireworks blast off from the full perimeter of Metlife Stadium.

That trophy is bigger than we remember

So then...that's it

The men's World Cup is over for another four years, and this year's edition is now one for the history books.

We should acknowledge there has been no shortage of controversy around and during this tournament, the fallout from which will rightly continue to be discussed.

But on the pitch, we've seen minnows go further than we expected, Scottish heartbreak once more, shock eliminations for Germany and the Netherlands in the round of 32, England blow hot and cold to make it to the semi-finals, a ten-goal thriller in the third-place play-off, Kylian Mbappe's golden boot triumph, and what was frankly one of the worst cup finals we have ever seen in any competition at any level.

The enduring images of that final will no doubt be Enzo Fernandez's sheer stupidity, Ferran Torres' deserved winner, Argentina's rage on the final whistle, and Lionel Messi's tears.

That's all from us for tonight and for the 2026 World Cup. Thank you for joining us!

It's here. The big one. The World Cup Final.

No fewer than 103 matches have been and gone to get to this point; over 154 hours of football played, 618 minutes of hydration break endured.

And while those of a Three Lions persuasion would have liked to see their representatives in this showpiece decider, what a tie we have ahead of us. But who's guiding us through it?

Who are the BBC pundits, commentators and presenters for Spain vs Argentina?

For the first time in this tournament for viewers in the UK, you have your pick of broadcasters, with the BBC and ITV both showing the 8pm BST kick-off.

In terms of the BBC, we now know who'll be covering the all-important meeting in New Jersey.

Hosting proceedings will be BBC stalwart Gabby Logan, who brings almost 30 years of broadcasting experience to the programme.

Joining her with expert analysis of the final is a star-studded line-up of former England internationals, with Wayne Rooney, Micah Richards and Joe Hart offering their pre-match, in-game and post-match thoughts.

Speaking over the pictures during the two halves will be lead BBC commentator Guy Mowbray, a fan favourite and a true signal that a big game is upon us.

He'll be joined by none other than Alan Shearer, who has carved out a post-playing media career as successful as his contributions on the pitch, but this will undoubtedly be one of his biggest gigs.

Pressure? What pressure?

Watch the World Cup Final 2026 as Spain take on Argentina to be crowned champions. The match has gone to extra time after Enzo Fernandez was sent off in the dying seconds of the game for Argentina.

After 39 days and 103 games, the stage is finally set for a mouthwatering World Cup final in New Jersey between two sides that have made winning a habit.

European champions Spain are unbeaten in a record-equalling 37 matches (their penalty shootout loss to Portugal in the Nations League final officially being recorded as a draw), while defending champions Argentina have won 14 games in a row.

Both teams have found a formula for success, but that is where the similarities end. For Spain, it is all about control. The entire team works as one to ensure they dominate possession and frustrate their opponents. This has helped them become the first team in World Cup history to keep six clean sheets at a single tournament.

In contrast, Argentina’s recent achievements have owed much to a squad built to get the best out of Lionel Messi. They may be vulnerable in defence, but they fight tooth and nail to protect their little magician and give him the best chance of producing something miraculous.

In New Jersey, we’ll find out which approach comes out on top.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Spain vs Argentina in the FIFA World Cup 2026 online, on TV, and from anywhere.

Spain vs Argentina: Team news

Spain XI: Simon, Cucurella, Laporte, Cubarsi, Porro, Ruiz, Rodri, Baena, Olmo, Yamal, Oyarzabal

Argentina XI: Martinez, Tagliafico, Martinez, Romero, Montiel, Gonzalez, Fernandez, Mac Allister, De Paul, Alvarez, Messi

Watch World Cup Final for FREE

The World Cup final between Spain and Argentina will be free-to-stream across multiple regions, including BBC and ITV in the UK, RTÉ Player in Ireland, SBS On Demand in Australia, CazéTV on YouTube in Brazil, NOS in the Netherlands, RTBF/VRT in Belgium, SRF/RTS/RSI in Switzerland, and TRT in Turkey.

This game will also be available for free in Spain on RTVE Play and Argentina on TVP.

English commentary will be provided on BBC, ITV, RTE Player and SBS On Demand.

‼️ Outside one of these countries? Use Norton VPN to unlock your stream from anywhere in the world — more on that below.

Watch World Cup Final from anywhere

Away from home this summer and want to watch Spain vs Argentina? All you need is a VPN, a handy piece of software that makes your devices appear to be in a different location.

This World Cup, our office friends at TechRadar are recommending Norton VPN:

How to watch World Cup Final in the UK

In the UK, you can stream the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina on BBC One and ITV1. The build-up starts at 7.00pm, ahead of the kick-off at 8:00pm.

How to watch World Cup Final in the US

In the US, you can stream the World Cup Final on Fox.

This channel is accessible via Fox's own streaming platform Fox One or via a cord-cutting platform such as YouTube TV, Hulu+Live TV, Sling (select markets), Fubo or DirecTV.

Telemundo will have Spanish language coverage and is available via one of the above cord-cutters or Peacock.

How to watch World Cup Final in Australia

In Australia, you can watch the World Cup Final for free on SBS On Demand.

World Cup Final 2026: Spain vs Argentina Preview

Aiming to emulate the legendary Spanish side that won Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup, the current crop head into the final having conceded just one goal across four knockout games, and on the back of a comprehensive 2-0 victory over a French side with a terrifying attack.

That semi-final victory demonstrated just how far the team has come under head coach Luis de la Fuente. He has created a side that perfectly combines individual talent with teamwork and discipline.

For all the talk of Lamine Yamal, it has been the spine of Unai Simón, Pau Cubarsí, Rodri and Mikel Oyarzabal that has caught the eye in North America. Each has played a major role in Spain’s success in this tournament and will be vital to La Roja’s chances of lifting the trophy for just the second time.

While Spain have cruised into the final, Argentina have staged a series of remarkable fightbacks. After surviving a scare against Cape Verde, they fired three goals in the final stages to eliminate Egypt, needed extra time to overcome Switzerland, and trailed England 1-0 in the 84th minute.

On each occasion, they have simply refused to accept defeat. Manager Lionel Scaloni has made impactful substitutions, while Messi has come up with vital goals and assists.

Thanks to this, La Albiceleste now have the chance to become just the third nation to win back-to-back World Cups. Having also won consecutive Copa América titles, victory over Spain would surely cement their position as Argentina’s greatest-ever team.

World Cup Final 2026: Spain vs Argentina Q+A

FourFourTwo's prediction

Spain 2-1 Argentina

Argentina will put up more of a fight than France but FourFourTwo sees Spain achieving a deserved victory.

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Given his penchant for making eyebrow-raising moves during his playing career, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Youri Djorkaeff’s post-retirement job has taken him into a very different role.

In recent years, the French World Cup and European Championship winner has taken up a key role behind the scenes at FIFA, having been appointed the FIFA Foundation CEO in 2019.

This job sees him help shape projects that look to use the game as a force for social change, in a position that sees him work closely with the controversial FIFA head Gianni Infantino.

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Djorkaeff on working alongside Infantino

Djorkaeff believes the sport can have a transformational impact across the world, a role which the former Inter Milan and Bolton Wanderers midfielder is clearly relishing.

“Seven years ago, Gianni Infantino asked me to help build the foundation from the ground up,” he tells FourFourTwo.

“We carried out major projects and developed programmes all over the world, many in the poorest communities imaginable.”

In this role, Djorkaeff has been able to see how football can be used to create opportunities where they are most needed, making it an incredibly rewarding pursuit.

“Seeing how a single ball can bring joy to so many children gives you perspective on how much can be achieved,” he adds.

Djorkaeff’s work with FIFA means that he works alongside FIFA chief Infantino, a figure who could charitably be described as a ‘polarising’ individual in the game.

So what has it been like to work with such an individual during times of controversy?

“Before the 2022 World Cup, Gianni asked me to become his advisor, at a time there was criticism about Qatar, playing in December and much more,” Djorkaeff continues.

“I thanked him for trusting me, but said I wouldn’t just be someone posing for photos. We talk about a lot: improvements we could implement, academies we have built, and the Club World Cup we launched – it had such an impact we’ve been asked to hold it every two years.

“Now, I spend 99 per cent of my time working alongside him.”

The World Cup Final is here and, sadly, one of the most interesting battles from an English perspective is which broadcaster wins your attention.

That's because both the BBC and ITV are showing the competition's finale, to be contested between Spain and Argentina.

But who's running the latter's coverage?

Who are the pundits, commentators and presenters for Spain vs Argentina?

In Lionel Messi vs Lamine Yamal, we have a proper master against apprentice clash; a properly tasty tie.

The action kicks off at 8pm BST in New Jersey, and we now know who'll be on the ground reporting for ITV.

Hosting the coverage, as he has done for many of the major games throughout, is lead ITV presenter Mark Pougatch.

And it's a bumper team along with him to provide expert insight, with no less than four pundits in the form of Roy Keane, Karen Carney, Gary Neville and Ian Wright.

Heavyweight line-up, indeed.

Meanwhile, on commentary duties, it's top dog Sam Matterface heading a triple threat also containing fan favourite Ally McCoist and the ever-present Lee Dixon.

For all our referee insights, the broadcaster will be throwing it over to Christina Unkel.

During his 15-year playing stint, Alan Smith would enjoy a distinguished career that saw him win two league titles, represent his country and plunder more than 200 goals.

He would play with some of the best forwards of his era, but one early strike partnership left a huge impression on him.

When Smith arrived at Leicester City in 1982, he was paired with another promising young English striker in Gary Lineker, with the duo quickly learning how to bring the best out of each other.

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Alan Smith on his Gary Lineker partnership

Smith joined the Foxes as Lineker was establishing himself in the first team, but the former Alvechurch forward soon noticed something special in his new team-mate.

“Gary was great, but he didn’t really like training,” Smith tells FourFourTwo. “He never even used to go out for the warm-ups.

“We’d all go out, but he’d stand in a hot bath and do a few stretches, then he was ready. He just had this natural talent for scoring goals.”

Lineker was two years Smith’s senior and the pair soon realised that their talents complemented each other.

“I was fortunate that my first partnership was with someone who naturally gelled with my style,” he continues. “We didn’t have to work too hard at it.

“Gary was one of those who loved to hang on the last line of defence and use his speed to get onto the end of things, while I played with my back to goal, flicking it on or holding it up. Our respective styles naturally clicked.”

Smith and Lineker’s club partnership ended in 1985 when the latter moved on to Everton, but they would again cross paths when Smith was called up to various England squads at either side of the turn of the decade.

And indeed, the pair would both make their final England appearances at Euro 92 against Sweden, when Smith controversially replaced his former club team-mate, who was just one goal shy of the Three Lions all-time scoring record.

“Graham Taylor and Gary didn’t really see eye to eye,” he recalls. “During the match, I was sitting on the bench and Graham was having a go at Gary for not holding the ball up. Then I was told to warm up. We needed a goal, and I naturally thought I was going on to partner Gary. When his number went up, I was surprised.

“But you’re just thinking about getting out there and doing your job for your country – it was a big moment for me. It’s only afterwards you think about the ramifications. I do think it was a strange substitution by Graham, given that we desperately needed a goal.”

There are a few ways that a Leeds United player can endear himself to the Elland Road faithful.

Passion, commitment and adherence to Billy Bremner’s ‘side before self’ motto are some of the ways to do this on the pitch.

Another way is to show your disdain for the Whites’ bitter rivals from across the Pennines by turning down any overtures from Manchester United, which was one of many ways that Lucas Radebe was able to win over the hearts and minds of Leeds fans.

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Lucas Radebe on turning down Manchester United

The former South Africa international was one of the most respected centre-backs in the Premier League during the late 1990s and early 2000s, as he overcame a slow start to his Elland Road career following his 1994 move from Kaizer Chiefs to become the club’s captain four years later.

This put him on the radar of a number of Europe’s top clubs, including a Manchester United side in their Sir Alex Ferguson turn-of-the-millennium pomp.

“It was tempting when Sir Alex Ferguson put the £10 million price tag on me,” Radebe admits to FourFourTwo. “But Leeds showed a commitment in not forcing me out of the club.”

Rather than cashing in on one of their most valuable assets, Leeds put the ball in Radebe’s court, which turned out to be a gamble worth taking.

“They left the responsibility to me to make a decision,” Radebe continues. “They understood the decision I made, accepted it and we moved on.

“If I had left Leeds for Manchester United, I don’t know what impact I would have made. Back then, they were top of the league and winning with a great manager and world-class players.”

While that serves up the obvious ‘what if…’ question for the 70-time South Africa international, Radebe was not one to priotise the promise of silverware over loyalty.

“I don’t know if my contribution would have been for as long as the 12 years I spent at Leeds.

“I would have probably made history by winning silverware at Man United, which seemed guaranteed, but for me it wasn’t all about the accolades. My values were loyalty and respect for the club.

“Leeds were the club that changed my life and it gave me the feeling of belonging as an individual, which was what I valued the most.”

It's World Cup final day and we have a belter of a quiz for you!

While you warm up for the showpiece event, you can test your football knowledge by naming us every World Cup finalist - men's and women's - since the first edition of the tournament in 1930.

Overall, there is 62 teams to name, but with there being several duplicates, we have given you just five minutes to complete this one!

It should get you right in the mood for the big one later!

Don't forget to let us know how you got on and send it to your friends so they can have a go as well!

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

Playing for your country once is a special feeling, but it's even more special doing it 50 times. Can you name every England player ever to achieve over 50 caps?

France narrowly missed out on their fifth ever final after defeat to Spain, but we want you to name every player to have ever played in a World Cup final for Les Bleus!

Spain are in their first final in 16 years, and with none of the players from the 2010 final still active, we want you to name the XI that made history for La Roja in Johannesburg.

And then to finish it off we want you to go one further. Spain won three major international tournaments in a row, Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012. To really get the juices flowing, can you name every player from those three squads? Give it a go!

To ensure you stay one step ahead of the late tactical shifts as the knockout rounds loom, subscribe to our newsletter for your daily afternoon briefing of hand-picked trivia. To truly secure your legacy this summer, make sure you've joined The Club, our free membership hub that serves as your digital dugout, where you can unlock secret hints for the toughest quizzes, fight for the top of the global leaderboards, and join the debate in the comments section as the tournament drama unfolds.

During his decade-long stay at West Ham, Michail Antonio chipped in with plenty of memorable goals among the 83 strikes he netted for the Hammers.

But often his celebrations would generate as much attention as his finishes ever did, whether it was the Jamaican international jumping on the latest trend, or producing elaborate props.

For Hammers fans, there were two celebrations that really stood out.

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Antonio on his most famous celebrations

Antonio did his homework when it came to celebrations, even if it meant not all of his team-mates were on the same wavelength.

A point in case comes when he is asked to name his favourite goal celebration from his West Ham days.

“It would have to be the first one, Homer Simpson – that was quality,” Antonio recalls to FourFourTwo. “The night before, I think The Simpsons Movie came on, and I saw Homer doing it, spinning in circles on the ground.

“I thought, ‘If I score tomorrow, I’m going to do that’. I told the boys, and they went, “Shut up, you’ll never do it! But I managed to put it into the bottom corner, ran over and started doing it!

“Aaron Cresswell had no clue what I was doing, he managed to kick me in the back of the head. He was looking at me, so confused!”

Antonio would go on to become West Ham’s record Premier League goalscorer when he bagged a brace in the Hammers’ 4-1 win over Leicester City in August 2021, using this as an opportunity to pull out another classic celebration.

This time it involved him running to the sub’s bench and hoisting up a cardboard cutout of himself above his head in the style of Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing.

“In lockdown, I had an idea and thought, ‘Because there are no fans, I’m going to make two cardboard cut-outs of myself, put them in the crowd and when I score, I’ll jump into the stand, sit next to them and applaud myself.’ On the day of the game, I was told I wasn’t allowed to go into the stand, it would be an automatic red card, so the cut-outs were just sat in my house for two years. I was thinking, ‘What am I going to do when I break the record?’ Then I thought of that. I’ve got a very imaginative mind!”

Antonio’s creativity was curbed in recent seasons however, as football’s most controversial modern development gave the nay-sayers another reason to rally against it.

“When VAR came in, it ruined my celebrations,” he adds. “I couldn’t run off and do the worm or something, knowing the goal could then be ruled out…”

Michail Antonio’s autobiography 'Humans Not Robots', published by HarperCollins, is available now

It's Pre-Match Poser time…

What connects the following: a legacy of Pele; Europe’s elite clubs during the 2000s; Italy's and Ivory Coast’s last trophies; and matchgoers in the top four divisions in England during COVID-19?

We'll reveal the answer this time next week in the next edition of The Pre-Match Poser – stay tuned for that – but for now, here's the answer to last week's conundrum…

Q. Since plans to move Qatar’s Stadium 974 to Uruguay for the 2030 World Cup look to have been shelved, which is the only arena to have seen two men’s World Cups in the 21st Century?

A. Bruce Arena, who coached the United States in 2002 and 2006.

More football quizzes we know you'll love

Great work on that one, we thought the Pele thing might stump a few of ya. Let's pivot to some more quizzes though, this time powered by Kwizly, as we shift focus from cryptic clues to the sheer statistical and historical weight of the English and European game.

We’re starting with a massive audit of the most lethal finishers to ever grace the pitch and the record-breakers of the modern era. We want you to demonstrate your archival depth by naming every Champions League hat-trick scorer ever, a task that requires you to track the most dominant individual performances in continental history. Once you’ve conquered Europe, it’s time to bring it home to the English top flight: can you name the top 100 scorers in Premier League history?

If your expertise is more about the emotional transitions of the game or the romance of a classic underdog story, try to name the starting XI from Michael Carrick's last-ever match as a player, or pivot to the modern-day shocks by naming every FA Cup giantkiller since 2020. From the stars who shared the pitch with a United icon during his Old Trafford curtain call to the lower-league heroes who have defied the odds in the current decade, let’s see if your scouting network can handle both the sentimental and the sensational.

To lower your heart rate after that heavy statistical lifting, find a quiet spot for FourFourTwo’s Weekend Crossword 62, featuring a clinical mix of shocks, sharp-shooters, and schadenfreude. To ensure you’re always first to the team news, join our newsletter for your daily afternoon briefing of curated trivia and hand-picked long reads, and make sure you've joined The Club, to unlock hints, fight in global leaderboards, get involved in the comments.

It's time for another FourFourTwo World Cup quiz!

We've gone through the archives for this one, wanting to test even the people with the most extensive ball knowledge.

This century there has been seven World Cups, with eight quarter-finalists at each tournament. That means there's been 48 teams in the quarter-finals since the year 2000, and we want you to name them all.

You have 10 minutes to complete this quiz, and don't forget to tell us how you got on!

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

Now you've flexed your ball knowledge with all quarter-finalists in the 21st century, we want you to name every Golden Boot winner at the World Cup. Maybe a slightly easier task after the last one!

Fancy something slightly different. Well don't worry, we've got you sorted with our World Cup Wordsearch, with this one themed around Heroes of the 1980s.

Spain are waiting for their date with destiny as they qualified for the 2026 World Cup final, but in the meantime can you name all Spanish players with over 50 caps?

And then to finish it off it's a sprint finish. The 150th edition of our Quickfire Quiz, can you answer the 10 questions in 90 seconds? Let us know how you get on!

To ensure you stay one step ahead of the late tactical shifts as the knockout rounds loom, subscribe to our newsletter for your daily afternoon briefing of hand-picked trivia. To truly secure your legacy this summer, make sure you've joined The Club, our free membership hub that serves as your digital dugout, where you can unlock secret hints for the toughest quizzes, fight for the top of the global leaderboards, and join the debate in the comments section as the tournament drama unfolds.

And that’s why England have to build around Jude Bellingham.

That is why Thomas Tuchel has to trust more in his No 10. England were again struggling to protect a World Cup lead, a crazy game teetering at 5-4 when Bellingham did what he does best. This force of nature, this powerhouse of a footballer, picked up the ball and destroyed a defence with quick feet, quick mind and superb strength and technique.

A bonkers, breathless football match, the greatest close-run affair between England and France since Waterloo, ended in a tennis score. Thanks to Bellingham. No Englishman has ever scored more than his seven at a World Cup. And he’s only 23. Cherish him.

HENRY WINTER: 'Cherish Jude Bellingham'

England have good players. One of the narratives following England’s World Cup heartache against Argentina was that the talent was insufficient. Nonsense. England have the players like Bellingham. They were just let down by Tuchel’s substitutions.

As well as the prodigy Bellingham, another reminder of the talent at Tuchel’s disposal was the sight of Bukayo Saka opening up France’s defence time and again with his rapidity and boldness of movement. He was named Man of the Match, inevitably for his hat-trick.

The Arsenal winger, their 'star-boy', spoke afterwards at his frustration of not playing more in the World Cup. He’d been ignored by Tuchel against Argentina.

“There was a reason, an in-game decision against Bukayo,” Tuchel said on the eve of this third-place play-off. “We decided for a more physical approach with Morgan Rogers.’’ Rogers created Anthony Gordon’s goal, which allowed Tuchel to argue the decision was vindicated – Rogers "proved us right” - but he clearly did not use Saka enough.

Being so professional and team-minded, Saka responded in the way he knows best, in style, in prolific fashion.

But Bellingham is the heart and soul of this England team, the re-energiser, the next captain when Harry Kane stands down. He came on when England were risking throwing away a lead and another World Cup game. Déjà vu as their opponents would say. Not on Bellingham’s watch. He drove past Maxence Lacroix, easily eluded Dayot Upamecano and drilled his shot past Mike Maignan. England could breathe easily.

It’s folly to suggest there isn’t talent. England’s starting front six against Argentina had cost more than £600m. Morgan Rogers is the subject of a £117m interest from Chelsea. Marcus Rashford promptly nutmegged Warren Zaire-Emery as this mad, fun third-place game kicked off. The lions were rampant, beating France in a competitive game for the first time since 1982, at the World Cup in Bilbao when Bryan Robson set the tone very early.

Tuchel is a very proud man, a flaw when situations require some reflection, even introspection.

His name and picture on the giant screens were briefly booed before kick-off. And then his team went 4-0 up. Good players. France didn’t know what hit them. Sacre bleu. That was more like it. England played on the front foot, free from fear, encouraged to go out and play. There was little at stake, the crowd had an MLS feel, enjoying some pre-season fare. But those England diehards, the masochists with air miles who had stayed on, were rewarded in style. Some of them had got in on the act, and taken the French fans apart 12-3 in a friendly near Miami Beach.

The players followed suit, Declan Rice leading the way as captain, scoring, assisting and sending a message that England do have good players. Saka initially shone in comparison to the great Kylian Mbappe. A show of force, of goals, a show perhaps also to their manager that they should be trusted.

Rice bestrode the first half, picking off Desire Doue’s pass, being too quick for Malo Gusto and Zaire-Emery, and then using Ibrahima Konate as a shield to mask intentions from Mike Maignan, and finish powerfully: 0-1. Rice then curled in a corner, Ezri Konsa was too strong for Adrien Rabiot, and headed past Maignan: 0-2. The men with three lions on their shirt were rampant, unstoppable, seizing a third when Rashford and Saka combined, Maignan went walkabout, and Saka finished: 0-3. Arsenal’s “star-boy” then ran on to a pass from Eberechi Eze and shot low past Maignan: 0-4.

As Rice and Mbappe were swapping shirts in the tunnel at the break, Didier Deschamps was making more than a wardrobe change. Theo Hernandez, Rayan Cherki, Ibrahima Konate and Desire Doue were hooked. Lucas Digne, Upamecano, Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele came on and immediately made a difference. Upamecano outmuscled Ollie Watkins, who’d replaced Rashford on the left, Michael Olise angled a through ball for Mbappe, whose left foot placed it past Henderson; 1-4. Mbappe now played the creator, guiding Barcola into space. He was too quick for Konsa, too clinical for Henderson; 2-4. Olise then released Mbappe through England’s shell-shocked defence: 3-4. Chasing the Golden Boot, Mbappe moved two clear of Lionel Messi on 10.

The second-half hydration break arrived at the perfect time for Tuchel, briefly halting France’s momentum, and giving him an opportunity to bring some composure and organisation to his troubled team. Olise wasted three chances at least.

FIFA announced the crowd of 64,478, celebrating that with “FULL HOUSE” which must have been a surprise to those sitting next to the couple of hundred empty seats. Many of the fans had been rhythmically chanting “Mbappe, Mbappe” but soon had Bellingham to cheer. England’s No 10 was loudly cheered on as Tuchel sought to set France a challenge. Anything to relieve the siege. Elliot Anderson also ran on to regain control of midfield. Ivan Toney and Eze departed. With five minutes remaining, England had a chance to kill the game off. Djed Spence raced past Gusto, who slid in and clipped the Tottenham man’s trailing left foot. Angling his penalty low past Maignan, Saka converted the 16^th of the 20 he has taken: 3-5.

The madness resumed, Dembele beating Dean Henderson: 4-5. Nerves bit deep before Bellingham decided to kill France off: 4-6. England departed with bronze medals, with doubts remaining over Tuchel but utterly convinced in the importance of Jude Bellingham.

Picture this: England are one of the last teams playing in the World Cup. It’s third against fourth in the world rankings, and the Three Lions have raced into a 4-0 first-half lead against one of the pre-tournament favourites.

A one-man Declan Rice band is putting France’s midfield to shame, Bukayo Saka is farming TikTok comp clips from the right flank, and Kylian Mbappe can’t make a dent in a Dean Henderson-shaped wall.

Life's good, right? No, it’s bloody awful.

England so strong, yet so painful

That’s because this is, of course, the dreaded third-place play-off game, the prize being a bronzed box on your nation’s World Cup Wikipedia page.

Former England international and BBC pundit Danny Murphy argued before the game, through gritted teeth, that a win in this Miami meeting could potentially be “a tiny consolation” for crashing out in the semis against Argentina.

I’d have been minded to agree before the first whistle blew, fully expecting Mbappe’s Golden Boot campaign to reach a dubiously successful conclusion - and it still did, but that didn't account for SIX England goals.

As Rice, Ezri Konsa, Jude Bellingham and Saka (thrice) whistled the ball past Mike Maignan, all I could muster was a bitter chuckle. Nothing about this was consoling.

I didn’t think the bronze-medal battle could get any worse, until I saw it go well.

Where was this version of Rice, the one we all know, in the previous rounds? How does Saka look like he’s never been scathed by injury in his life? Why have we saved this for the world’s most pointless fixture? And how are we pulling it off without Harry Kane or Jude Bellingham (for most of it, at least)?

Yes, okay, I concede we may not have witnessed a vintage Les Bleus, who no doubt would have presented a more lethal version of themselves had the trophy been on the line, but if we can make the 2018 victors look like minnows, in Didier Deschamps' farewell ceremony, what more were we capable of?

Watching Marcus Rashford fire off rockets incumbered by pressure, seeing Eberechi Eze glide across the pitch picking up pockets of space as he does so well, and witnessing Djed Spence shuttle up and down like an Avanti West Coast train, I think I know the answer. And that’s why this performance, which should ordinarily be a disposable, forgettable game, feels so painful.

All the parts might have been there; we just didn’t put them together.

One glimmer of hope comes courtesy of the age of many of those involved, who will be hitting their prime as the 2030 edition rocks around, but forgive me for postponing that sober analysis for now.

Thomas Tuchel’s future as England boss has been the talk of the nation following a disappointing semi-final exit at the hands of Argentina.

The Three Lions had one foot in the final when Anthony Gordon smashed home the opener just shy of the hour mark in that last-four clash.

But Enzo Fernandez’s leveller, followed by a crushing stoppage-time winner from Lautaro Martinez – with Lionel Messi omnipresent throughout – confined England to the dreaded third-place play-off.

Thomas Tuchel compared to Gareth Southgate in BBC pundit rant

Much of the criticism levelled at Tuchel surrounded his perceived approach to going a goal up, bringing off goalscorer Gordon for defender Ezri Konsa as his side retreated ever closer to Jordon Pickford.

For former Three Lions international Danny Murphy, it was all too reminiscent of regimes gone by.

“It was a terrible performance second half,” Murphy fumed in the BBC’s pre-match build-up to England’s bronze-medal meeting with France. “I think they went out with a whimper rather than on their shields.”

And there was no doubt in his mind who was responsible, with calls for Tuchel’s sacking following shortly after, despite predicting the German head coach keeping his job.

With what can only have been at least a partial nod to previous incumbent Gareth Southgate – who was similarly criticised for his cautious approach – Murphy made the case for change.

“He’s failed, and he’s failed in the same way we’ve failed before,” the former Liverpool man continued. “It’s the biggest tournament in the world and he had his opportunity, and I think, as I said, I think he probably will get the vote of confidence, but I think we should make a change.

“I think [the players] will be so devastated. They were so close. They had the game in their hands, they had control. They’re missing out on the World Cup final tomorrow because of the tactics.”

What FourFourTwo can agree on is that Tuchel will lead England into the next tournament, as right now it’s not clear who’s ready to step into the breach.

Yes, Pep Guardiola is sat with his feet up following his Manchester City departure, with rumours he's been interested in the gig previously, but is he really going to want to jump straight back in? And he’s not immune to overthinking big tournament games himself…

Tuchel got the semi-final wrong, but when the dust settles, we might be better placed to recognise the green shoots from this summer.

The New York New Jersey Stadium is set to host the World Cup Final on Sunday with fans of Spain and Argentina hopeful of seeing their country lift the famous trophy.

Spain are vying for a second World Cup title, whilst Argentina are bidding to go level with Germany and Italy on four apiece.

Plenty has been made of the conditions in which the 2026 World Cup has taken place this summer with games such as France-Iraq and Mexico-England delayed due to thunderstorms and shelter-in-place orders issued.

World Cup Final weather report

Now, ahead of the tournament's showpiece finale, New York City residents were warned to avoid travel unless 'fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order' on Saturday afternoon.

Thunderstorms rolled through the city, instigating a downpour of biblical proportions, turning roads and subway stations into makeshift streams.

The National Weather Service's alert read: "Imminent Threat Alert - A FLASH FLOOD WARNING is in effect for this area until 3:30pm EDT. This is a dangerous and life-threatening situation.

"Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order."

Adidas closed their fanzone at Brooklyn Bridge Park due to the inclement conditions on World Cup Final eve, too.

The weather forecast for Sunday afternoon, when the final is scheduled to kick-off at 3pm local time, is much improved. Meteorologists expect temperatures of 29°C at the New York New Jersey Stadium with light winds and clear skies.

Favourable conditions will ease the concerns of tournament organisers FIFA, who have arranged a bumper half-time show in the middle of the contest, which will feature the likes of Justin Bieber, Madonna and Shakira.

A downpour of Saturday's kind would certainly have dampened the ensemble cast's performance, or delayed it altogether if lightning strikes were present in the area.

Spain take on Argentina at the New York New Jersey Stadium at 3pm local (8pm BST) on Sunday afternoon.

England and France are playing in the World Cup game that no one wants to compete in - the Bronze final.

Both sides would have fancied their chances of reaching the final, but came out on the wrong side of their semi-finals - Spain beat France and Argentina came from behind to beat England.

So, who do the BBC have in the punditry and commentary roles covering England versus France?

Who are the pundits, commentators and presenters for France vs England?

France vs England will kick off at 10pm BST, broadcast by the BBC with the full line-up of pundits, commentators and presenters now revealed.

Both teams would rather be in New York preparing for Sunday's final, but know that this game is a chance to bow out on a high.

Presenting will be Jason Mohammad, one of the BBC's most experienced radio and television broadcasters.

Serving as reporter on the ground is Kelly Somers, another experienced interviewer and football correspondent for the BBC, whilst Stephen Warnock is on punditry duties.

The match's main voice is Jonathan Pearce, a regular of the BBC's major tournament output over the past few tournaments.

Joining him as co-commentator for the clash in Miami is the former England defender Matthew Upson.

Here is FourFourTwo's prediction for the match, as well as details on the match referee and his officiating team.

France and England will contest the game that no one wants to play in - the third and fourth place play-off in Miami.

Both France and England were fancied to win their semi-finals and meet in the final, but were beaten respectively by Spain and Argentina in the semi-finals.

This will be Didier Deschamps final game in charge of France as he will leave his role after this World Cup and question marks hang over England boss Thomas Tuchel after the way in which the Three Lions lost to Argentina having been 1-0 up.

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Referee confirmed for France and England clash

Ahead of the game, Deschamps described the mood in the France camp, saying: "The best for France and England would be for this match not to exist."

While England manager Tuchel had a similar views, he said: "None of our players and none of the French players want to play this match."

But the game is going ahead and so who will be refereeing the 103rd game of this World Cup in Miami?

Jesus Valenzuela has been appointed as the match official for this clash.

The Venezuelan took charge of three World Cup group encounters this summer in Australia's win over Turkiye and Bosnia and Herezegovina's dismantling of Qatar and then the Round of 16 game between Norway and Ivory Coast.

He also oversaw two matches at the 2022 edition in Qatar as England and USA played out a goalless draw while France put Poland to the sword in a 3-1 victory.

Valenzuela boasts further international tournament experience after officiating in three Copa America, the Olympics as well as the FIFA Club World Cup twice.

But the 42-year-old is known for a ruthless disciplinary streak after doling out 1,909 yellow cards and 115 sendings-off in his 387 games as a professional referee.

He will be assisted by fellow Venezuelans Jorge Urrego and Tulio Moreno, with Morocco’s Jalal Jayed serving as the fourth official. Zakaria Brinsi - also of Morocco - will be the reserve assistant.

This will be the final game that both these teams play at the 2026 World Cup. Just the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina remains after this game.

During his two-decade-long career, Youri Djorkaeff played with some of his generation’s greatest talents.

At club level, he counts the Brazilian striker Ronaldo, who he played with at Inter Milan as his greatest-ever team-mate, while on the international front it, most neutrals would rank his midfield partner Zinedine Zidane as another of that era’s greats.

Less than four years after he assisted Zidane’s crucial second goal in the 1998 World Cup final, Djorkaeff’s career took an eye-raising handbrake turn, when he found himself playing alongside the likes of Dean Holden and Michael Ricketts at Bolton Wanderers.

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Djorkaeff on his Bolton team-mates

Djorkaeff wasn’t the only exciting foreign import that was intreguied by boss Sam Allardyce’s ambition, as the likes of Jay-Jay Okocha and Ivan Campo joined the 82-time France international in the north-west.

“We were all in the same boat,” Djorkaeff recalls to FourFourTwo. “If you play for Liverpool or United, the boat is huge. Ours was more like a little rowing boat!” he laughs.

“If one of us leaned too far left, we’d all fall in the water.”

The Trotters quickly built up a reputation as a team who were intent on upsetting the status quo and the ‘little rowing boat’ Djorkaeff speaks of underlines that group’s underdog mentality.

While Bolton were not able to spend in the same manner as their illustrious neighbours in Manchester, or further away in Liverpool, the character and experience of the veterans brought in by Allardyce excelled in leadership roles.

“Campo and Okocha had more experience than most, so they helped me to lead that project,” Djorkaeff adds.

But while Djorkaeff has previously been happy to compare the likes of Zidane and Ronaldo, he believes that to do that with his former Bolton team-mates missed the point.

“You can’t compare them – it wouldn’t be fair,” he replied when asked if there were any areas where Kevin Nolan was better than Zidane.

“Maybe he was the better warrior? But then again, so was Zidane. Bolton was like Asterix and Obelix in their small village standing up to the Roman Empire.

“All of us were great fighters, battling against the rest.”

The 1998 World Cup winner did not hold back in his assessment of Mbappe in that semi-final tussle with La Roja, and believes the 27-year-old failed to step up to the plate.

Speaking exclusively to Freebets.com, Leboeuf said: "I'm not a big fan of the Ballon d'Or - I don't like individual awards in a collective sport. But Mbappe is a great individual player with great skill and incredible confidence.

“If he doesn't understand that he has to work for the team, he will never get the Ballon d'Or because his team will never win anything.

'Mbappe will never win a Ballon d'Or if he doesn't work for the team'

“You win competitions like the World Cup and Champions League through team effort - everybody sweats for each other.

“During this World Cup, Mbappe was coming back into position, winning the ball - everything was perfect. But in that game against Spain, there was individual failure.

“Maybe he has changed his attitude and maybe it will work out the way he wants to for Real Madrid. But if he wants the Ballon d'Or, he needs to help his teammates and that's what will make Real Madrid better."

Leboeuf then reflected generally on a France side which ultimately fell short at this year’s finals, but believes many of these players are still young enough to make an impact in 2030.

When asked whether this France team ranked amongst sides that failed to win the World Cup, he replied: "Mbappe answered that question just before the loss against Spain. He said: 'We have a great team, but so far, we've won nothing. It's only when we win the World Cup that maybe you can say we're the greatest.'

“I put it to my colleagues at ESPN - watching them play, I said this may be the best team ever. But they have to win. We talked about England's and Belgium’s golden generations — they won nothing and won't be remembered. That's sad, but they won't be remembered.

“I really hope this France team will take over. They have some very good young players on the bench. That team will keep on growing and will be a very big threat for the 2030 World Cup."

It was a sad end to an otherwise glittering spell in charge of Les Bleus for Didier Deschamps, but Leboeuf spoke glowingly about his 14 years at the helm.

"I will never criticise somebody who played two World Cups, won one, and won a European Championship. Since '98 we've played four World Cup finals — that's insane for a small country like us,” he explained.

“Since Deschamps took over in 2014, the worst position he was in was the quarter-final. It says a lot about what he brought. He was helped by a great generation of football players, with so many progressing through French academies.

“Deschamps made sure that players understood a national team is not just a selection - you have to behave like you're in a club. That is what Aime Jacquet did with us, and that is Deschamps' legacy. If he'd won this World Cup, he would have been named the greatest of the greatest."

Deschamps’ final match in charge will be the third-place play-off against England on Saturday, and it is fair to say that Leboeuf is hardly looking forward to the game.

"I never understood the third-place game in football,” he added.

“The players who lost are devastated - they wanted the final. They don't have any thoughts whatsoever for a game like that. You can get injured and you're fed up with football.

“You just want 10 days before thinking about your club again. I don't understand that game. I have sympathy for the players on both sides."

The only place to start this week is England’s semi-final defeat to Argentina. At 1-0 up, they were in control of the game, and if Thomas Tuchel had brought on some attacking players, it might’ve worked out, instead of just sitting back. And if you give world-class players like Lionel Messi time and space, then they’re going to hurt you.

I thought England managed the game really well up until about the 60-minute mark, but you have to question Tuchel’s approach from that point. Making those defensive changes is something he’s done against Mexico and Norway, but you can’t do it against teams like Argentina, who have the best player in the world.

Clinton was speaking on behalf of Freebets.com home to the best betting sites.

'If Gareth Southgate made those changes, he would’ve been crucified' - Clinton Morrison

If Gareth Southgate made those same changes, he would’ve been crucified by the whole nation. So I’d expect Tuchel to get plenty more stick over the next few months. Do I still think he's a good manager? Of course he's a good manager, look at his CV.

But I think when he sits down and thinks about it, he's got to realise he got it wrong at the end. When you're 1-0 up and you don't get that second goal, you can’t sit back, because you attract more pressure. And they've got good players who can unlock the door.

I can understand it if you're sitting back against a team with no quality, but Argentina have good players. When you're defending on your six-yard line, it's inevitable that they’re going to score. And sometimes having too many defenders on is counterproductive. When Lautaro Martinez scores, he's got a free header in the six-yard box with that many defenders around him. It baffles you.

The game was won and lost in those substitutions. Argentina's subs came on and made a big difference.

I understand Reece James had to come off because he was struggling with his hamstring and cramp. If you want to go to a five at the back, then you can do that. But the sub which surprised me was when Declan Rice was taken off and he brought on Nico O'Reilly.

We know O’Reilly can play midfield, but couldn't someone like Kobbie Mainoo come on, who can drive you up the pitch? He’s had no minutes at these finals. And towards the end, we needed someone like Ollie Watkins that could stretch the play in behind and give us an outlet.

Argentina have that never-say-die attitude though, and that is why they're world champions. I’m gutted for the England players and the fans, because they were so close to reaching a final and facing a very good Spain team. But at the end of the day, if you look at the whole game, the best team won.

I still think Tuchel is the right man to lead England. I know a lot of people are calling for him to be sacked, but if you're going to sack him, who's out there? A lot of people are saying Pep Guardiola.

If Pep becomes available, you grab it with both hands because he is the special one. But I just don't see The FA making a change at the moment. Zinedine Zidane’s name was bandied about, but it looks like he’s going to France with Didier Deschamps leaving. People were also talking about Jurgen Klopp, but he’s getting the Germany job. So Pep is probably the one out there, if England decided to make a change.

More immediately, England now have to prepare for that third-place game which no one really wants to play in. I don't know why that game is still part of the tournament, as it’s meaningless in my opinion. Some of those players just want to go on holiday now, recharge and get ready for the season.

If I'm Tuchel, I play the players that haven't had much game time. The likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Ollie Watkins, while Bukayo Saka hasn't played as much as he would’ve liked. You can rest your midfield though, as Rice has been carrying an injury. I know he's not going to fully change the team, but you can give other players an opportunity to say they experienced playing at a World Cup. You still want to win and beat France, but I'd give some of the players who've been on that long journey a rest.

All eyes will then be on the World Cup final, and I do think Spain’s midfield is stronger than Argentina’s, even though Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister have had good tournaments. I think Spain will dominate possession. Messi likes to float in from that right-hand side, and I don't think Marc Cucurella will give him the time or space to get crosses into the box. Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martínez also love a scrap, and I think Lamine Yamal against Nicolás Tagliafico would be a great battle too.

Spain are my favourites, but I have a sneaky feeling Argentina are going to produce something magic. I just want it to be like the final we saw four years ago, where it was end-to-end between France and Argentina. Let's hope it'll be a game to remember.

As Argentina get set for their third World Cup final out of the past four tournaments, Lionel Scaloni only has to look back to the 2022 final for inspiration.

That clash between La Albiceleste and France was perhaps the best final in the tournament’s history, a pulsating 3-3 draw which was settled when Argentina won on penalties.

While Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe’s personal duel took the headlines, there was one key moment in which neither of the modern-day icons were involved on which the entire match rested

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Javier Zanetti on the key moment in the 2022 World Cup final

Argentina looked to be closing in on their second ever World Cup title after goals from Messi and Angel Di Maria had put them in a commanding position, deep into the second half.

But with just ten minutes of normal time remaining, Mbappe would net twice in two minutes to force the extra period, where the French striker would complete his hat-trick in the 118th minute to cancel out Messi’s extra-time goal.

Yet there was still time for more drama, including a chance that Argentina legend Javier Zanetti, who was watching inside the Lusail Stadium in Qatar, will never forget.

“Life stopped in that moment,” the 145-time Argentina international tells FourFourTwo.

The incident Zanetti refers to came deep in stoppage time of the second period of extra time, when goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez made a stunning save from Randal Kolo Muani, stretching out his leg to prevent what looked to be a last-gasp late winner.

“It’s a moment we’ll remember for the rest of our lives,” former Inter Milan stalwart Zanetti continues.

“In a second, everything could have changed. France were inches from the World Cup.”

The save was a classic example of the final margains on which tournaments can be settled at this level and a reminder of how careers and even lives can be shaped in the blink of an eye.

While Zanetti will no doubt be watching on Sunday evening when Argentina look to become the third side to win back-to-back World Cup titles, the clash against Spain will do well to compete with the 2022 classic.

“It was a wonderful final – a rollercoaster of emotions,” he continues. “Of all the finals I’ve seen and experienced, it was undoubtedly the best.”

Saturday's third-place play-off is the World Cup 2026 match nobody wanted to be involved in, but here they are nonetheless.

France and England will make many of the right noises about third place being better than fourth and treating every game as if it matters as much as the last, but there's no denying that this is one prize neither will be all that bothered about.

The World Cup showpiece is the final between Spain and Argentina on Sunday. The third-place play-off – the bronze medal match, to give it its official label – will struggle to draw a television audience with such a dearth of jeopardy.

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France vs England betting odds from BOYLE Sports

• France WIN - 5/6
• Draw - 14/5
• England WIN - 11/4

France vs England prediction

France won the World Cup in 2018 and reached the final in 2022, but their designs on a third successive final this year ran out of puff when they were handsomely beaten by Spain in their semi-final on Tuesday.

England didn't get ahead of themselves until they entered the last 10 minutes of their semi-final against Argentina on Wednesday with a lead. They were already holding on. They didn't hold on for much longer.

In all likelihood, England would need to be at the very top of their game to beat this France side, perhaps even beyond what we understand that limit to be. They might have been able to pull that off in a World Cup final.

Whatever the teams say about Saturday's third-place play-off in Miami, it's not a final for either of them and there won't be much pretending it is by the time kick-off rolls around. Teams tend not to punch above their weight in that situation.

England do have a score to settle. Their last meeting with Les Bleus was in the quarter-final of World Cup 2022, a 2-1 win for France on their way to the final. Harry Kane scored one penalty and missed another in the last-eight game in Qatar.

The England captain's interest in the Golden Boot might be fizzling out but his opposite number is level with Lionel Messi on eight goals, not to mention one behind in the all-time World Cup goalscoring charts.

Kylian Mbappe will eventually take that title from the Argentina captain. He would do so, at least temporarily, with a couple of goals against England.

Score prediction: France 3-0 England

Mbappe needn't look any further for inspiration than the first of England's previous two third-place play-off matches.

In 1990, Italy defeated England thanks to a late winning goal from the late Toto Schillaci. He claimed the Golden Boot as a result of his sixth goal of the tournament

How to watch France vs England

You can watch France vs England in the World Cup 2026 third-place play-off for free. All the information you need is in our how to watch guide.

The match will be broadcast live on BBC in the UK, Fox in the United States and SBS in Australia.

What's your France vs England prediction? Let us know below...

Watch Manchester United vs Wrexham today as Michael Carrick's side face Championship opponents in Helsinki in their opening pre-season friendly, with FourFourTwo bringing you all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

Carrick is preparing for his first season as United's permanent manager, having been appointed on a full-time basis after guiding the club back into the Champions League during his spell as interim head coach.

Meanwhile, Wrexham are readying themselves for another shot at promotion to the Premier League after they narrowly missed out on a place in the Championship play-offs last term.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Manchester United vs Wrexham online and from anywhere.

Can I watch Manchester United vs Wrexham for free?

Unfortunately, Manchester United vs Wrexham is not being broadcast free-to-air.

Read on as we show you how to watch the game online from anywhere.

Abroad for Manchester United vs Wrexham? Use NordVPN to unlock your stream from anywhere in the world.

Watch Manchester United vs Wrexham from anywhere

Away from home right now? You don't have to miss Manchester United vs Wrexham. The solution to your geo-restriction nightmares is a Virtual Private Network (VPN), a piece of software that can set your devices to appear to be in any country in the world.

FourFourTwo’s tech-obsessed office-mates over at Tom's Guide know everything there is to know about VPNs, and they rate NordVPN as the best VPN you can buy.

How to watch Manchester United vs Wrexham

Manchester United vs Wrexham will be shown live on MUTV and wrexhamafc.co.uk.

MUTV is United's in-house television channel and costs £7.99/month or £29.99/year.

It is available to stream on MUTV Digital and the official Manchester United app, as well as on Sky (Channel 418) and Virgin Media (Channel 526) in the UK - but you must pay an extra £7/month to watch it on linear TV.

MUTV is also accessible via beIN Sports in countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines.

You can also watch the game at wrexhamafc.co.uk by purchasing a match pass for £4.99. Pre-registration is required if you have not previously created an account for streaming.

Manchester United vs Wrexham: Preview

Nearly eight weeks on from their final fixture of the 2025/26 season, Manchester United's preparations for the new campaign move up a notch with their opening friendly of the summer against Wrexham in Helsinki.

There is plenty of optimism at Old Trafford heading into 2026/27 as the club return to the Champions League after three years away following an excellent second half of last term under Michael Carrick, who arrived as interim manager in January and guided the Red Devils to third in the Premier League.

Carrick will no doubt have been hard at work since May as he looks to build on his strong start, with United's first batch of players returning for pre-season last Thursday.

Harry Maguire, Mason Mount and Luke Shaw are among those who could be involved against Wrexham, but several stars are yet to join up with the squad due to their involvement in the World Cup, with the likes of Argentina's Lisandro Martinez and England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo still in North America.

SEE ALSO How to watch the World Cup for FREE

On the face of it, Wrexham's meteoric rise up the English pyramid slowed a little last season - but it was still a positive campaign for Phil Parkinson's men.

The Red Dragons were unable to achieve a fourth successive promotion, yet a seventh-place finish in their first season back in the second tier after 43 years away showed they have every reason to continue looking up in 2026/27.

Phil Parkinson's men kicked off their pre-season fixture schedule last Saturday with a 0-0 draw against Wisla Krakow in Poland, in which goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo saved a penalty.

This summer tune-up at Helsinki's iconic Olympic Stadium should be another useful test for Wrexham, who beat United 3-1 when the sides last met in a pre-season friendly in 2023.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Manchester United 1-1 Wrexham

With both clubs very early in their pre-season schedule, the two managers will be most concerned with getting minutes into the legs of their players.

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Few international teams in modern football history have been able to capture the imagination like Jack Charlton’s Republic of Ireland side of the early 1990s.

Under the former Leeds United lynchpin, Ireland qualified for their first ever World Cup in 1990, reaching the quarter-finals in Italy, and soon proved that not to be a one-off, as they again reached the last-eight in the USA four years later.

Striker Tony Cascarino was a key member of Charlton’s team, and his memories of these two tournaments are dominated by his former boss’s larger-than-life personality.

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Cascarino on Big Jack

Cascarino looks back at his time at the 1990 and 1994 World Cups with enormous affection and credits the squad’s camaraderie to Charlton.

“The lads were phenomenal and the manager, Big Jack, was hilarious,” the former striker recalls to FourFourTwo.

As a player, Charlton was known for his uncompromising style of play and his infamous ‘little black book’ and his managerial style could be equally as old-school.

“If you were having a Coke at dinner the night before a match he’d say, ‘What are you doing with that s**t? I’d rather you had a beer’,” Cascarino adds.

For Charlton, there was logic in going against the sports scientists and nutritionists.

“He felt it’d help you sleep better,” Cascarino explains.

Even when the stakes were at their highest on the eve of the biggest match in Irish football history, Charlton stuck to his guns.

“He used that tactic with us against Italy in the quarter-finals of Italia 90,” Cascarino continues.

“His line was, 'Look, you’re playing Italy in Rome. The referee won’t give you a thing, and you’ll be going home the next day, you may as well have a drink.' He wanted to take the pressure off us.”

It's time for another World Cup quiz from FourFourTwo and this one's for the football historians.

As the World Cup goes on, the pressure gets more and the opponents get tougher, and thats exactly the case with our latest quiz offering.

We want you to name every player to have played in a World Cup final this century.

They could have started the game, they could have come on as a sub, so long as they played a minute of World Cup Final football, we want you to name them.

Now, this is some task, so you will get 20 minutes to name all 172 players to have been given the honour of representing their country in a World Cup final.

You may want to get a drink and a pen and paper for this one...

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

With World Cup fever almost running its course, we want you to test how much you know about football's biggest tournament. To get you started we want you to name every nation to have hosted a World Cup in order. That is seriously tough.

To test your knowledge even further, we want to know every city to have ever hosted a World Cup game. You'll have to seriously dig through your brain to complete this one!

Moving onto England specifically now. We want you to do is name every men's England player who has been to three or more major tournaments with the national team. That's 77 players in total to call to mind.

To finish it off, we want to test your knowledge of one of the 2026 World Cup finalists. Take on the Big Spain Football Quiz! Can you get 20 correct answers?

To ensure you stay one step ahead of the late tactical shifts as the knockout rounds loom, subscribe to our newsletter for your daily afternoon briefing of hand-picked trivia. To truly secure your legacy this summer, make sure you've joined The Club, our free membership hub that serves as your digital dugout, where you can unlock secret hints for the toughest quizzes, fight for the top of the global leaderboards, and join the debate in the comments section as the tournament drama unfolds.

During his decade-long tenure at West Ham United, Michail Antonio’s time at the club was defined by versatility, resilience and a willingness to do whatever was required for the team.

The Jamaica international would eventually settle up top, but for all his shifting around the pitch, there was one position that he never embraced.

That came when Antonio was required to fill in at right-back, a spell which was followed by a dressing room row, a managerial change and the eventual move up front.

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Antonio on his ill-fated right-back stint

“All the right-backs had got injured, it was just me,” Antonio recalls to FourFourTwo. “I did well, I think I got seven goals from right-back and a few assists, I had a couple of clubs looking at me. Antonio Conte wanted me at Chelsea, he was looking at me as a wing-back, the same as Victor Moses, but nothing came to fruition."

But despite these early successes in defence, it was not a role he enjoyed.

“I hated playing there, though,” he admits. “Coming back for pre-season at West Ham, I was thinking, ‘All right, we’re going to sign some right-backs’, but Slaven Bilic did the opposite – he sold the right-backs, thinking I was going to play there!

“He told me, “I’m going to make you the best right-back in Europe”, but I was like, “I don’t want to be, I’d rather be an average Premier League winger. He said, “Trust me”, but there was a game at Chelsea, I tried to lift the ball over Eden Hazard to pass it out wide, they blocked it and I gave up a penalty.

“Slaven pulled me up about it – after the game, I went in and he was saying, 'If I need you to play somewhere, you play there!' I said, “'’ll never play there again, I don’t want to play in that position ever again!' Mark Noble started arguing with me, so I stormed out of the changing room and got a taxi home.”

Antonio soon began to move into a more advanced role, as he went from a classic right winger to a traditional centre-forward role.

“That was Manuel Pellegrini,” he continues. “We were struggling, and I think I’d just come back from injury. The manager went from 4-5-1 to 4-4-2, with me and Seb Haller up top. Then, when Seb wasn’t playing the best because we weren’t playing to his style, he threw me up there.

“I played four games up front and did well. When Pellegrini got sacked, David Moyes came in and that was me, I was the number nine from then on.”

During this time West Ham had a habit of signing underwhelming big-name strikers, only for Antonio to see them off, amid talk of a curse on the number nine shirt.

“That’s exactly what it was before I moved up front,” he adds. “Every striker came in and didn’t score much, then I went from winger to striker. I think because I was already at the club, the curse didn’t get me!”

Michail Antonio’s autobiography 'Humans Not Robots', published by HarperCollins, is available now

We've got another quiz for you.

The 2022 World Cup had some truly memorable moments. The final was sensational, but it was full of surprise knockouts and incredible group stage drama.

It was also full of goals, and before the 2026 World Cup and its expanded format, was the highest scoring tournament of all-time

We've dug through the archives and found every player who scored two or more goals at the tournament and we want you to name them.

You have to name all 31 players on the list in eight minutes, but to help you out slightly we have given you their nation, don't say we aren't kind!

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

Now you've named every player to score two or more in 2022, can you name every player to score three or more at the World Cup this century? That's seven different tournaments!

After that, we want you to name every stadium that has been used at the World Cup since this century and there have been some beauties.

Then, if you're up for it, can you name every manager to win the World Cup?

To finish off, we want to really test your knowledge and see if you can tell us all the sovereign nations that are NOT a member of FIFA. It's a tough one, so don't say we didn't warn you!

To ensure you stay one step ahead of the late tactical shifts as the knockout rounds loom, subscribe to our newsletter for your daily afternoon briefing of hand-picked trivia. To truly secure your legacy this summer, make sure you've joined The Club, our free membership hub that serves as your digital dugout, where you can unlock secret hints for the toughest quizzes, fight for the top of the global leaderboards, and join the debate in the comments section as the tournament drama unfolds.