So it comes down to France, Spain, England or Argentina. With the , we now know for certain that the 23rd edition of the will not see a first-time winner. The trophy could go to England or Spain, both of whom are looking to add a second star to their crest; France, who seek to become three-time champions; or Argentina who could be the first team since 1962 to retain the trophy and claim their fourth triumph overall.
Each of them has a major challenge to overcome ahead of a date with destiny at New York New Jersey stadium on 19 July, but we now have a clearer picture of how the final might shape up. There are four possible fixtures – a mouth-watering cross-Channel clash between England and France, a repeat of the incredible final at Qatar 2022, an exciting rerun of the EURO 2024 final, or a clash between the holders of the World Cup and the European Championship.
If and Les Bleus overcome Spain and Thomas Tuchel’s side defeat Argentina, New York New Jersey stadium will play host to a first World Cup final between these two European titans. The Three Lions have only reached the final once, when they took on West Germany on home soil in 1966, beating them 4-2 after extra time. France, meanwhile, could secure a third consecutive final berth after 2018 and 2022.
It would be a tie that pits team-mates from two of the world’s biggest clubs against each other for one unforgettable evening. Real Madrid stars Mbappe and Jude Bellingham would cross swords for a chance to lift the glittering trophy, while Bayern Munich’s and Michael Olise would also be on opposing sides.
England would also be keen for revenge against a France side that knocked them out of the Qatar 2022™ tournament in the quarter-finals.
This match would mark a repeat of the thrilling final of Qatar 2022™, a contest that many have been hoping to see play out all over again. Three and a half years since the Albiceleste got the better of France on penalties after a 3-3 draw at Lusail Stadium, the two sides could once again do battle to win football’s biggest prize. Les Bleus would be looking for payback against the opponents who handed them such a bitter defeat, while Argentina’s goal would be to add a fourth star to their crest and become the first team to retain the trophy since Brazil in 1958 and 1962.
Regardless of the result, this would be a mouth-watering encounter between Mbappe and Lionel Messi, the tournament’s joint-top scorers on eight goals apiece. Looking back a little bit further, the game would not only be a rematch of the 2022 final, but the decider in a best-of-three series. Four years before the epic final in Qatar, a France side inspired by a teenage Mbappe beat Argentina 4-3 in the round of 16 at Russia 2018™ on their way to lifting the trophy.
If Spain overcome France and England get past Argentina, the World Cup 2026 final would be a rematch of the UEFA EURO 2024 showpiece. Two years after La Roja claimed a 2-1 win over the Three Lions in the final of EURO 2024, Harry Kane and co. would have the chance to get revenge. England and Spain have only reached the final once, in 1966 and 2010 respectively, both going on to lift the trophy.
A World Cup match between the two would be a rare event in and of itself. While these European giants have clashed several times in continental competitions, they have only ever come up against each other twice at the World Cup. They first met in Brazil in 1950, with La Roja enjoying a 1-0 victory in the group stage. More than three decades later they met in 1982 and played out a goalless draw which meant both teams were eliminated from the second group stage.
Forty four years later, a meeting in a World Cup final could be on the cards.
If Spain and Argentina clear the last hurdle on the road to New York New Jersey, we would be witnessing an all-Spanish-speaking final, and one which has been a rare occasion at the World Cup, but not without precedent.
If it does come down to La Roja and La Albiceleste, it would be the first clash between the two since the group stage of the 1966 tournament in England, when the South Americans won 2-1.
Another major appeal of the tie is that it would be the first ever World Cup final to be contested by the champions of Europe and the champions of the world.
Should Spain triumph, they would draw level with France and Uruguay on two titles, while an Argentine victory would be their fourth, and put them on par with Germany and Italy, and one behind Brazil.
Another dimension to this potential tie would be that it would bring together two superstars from different generations in Messi and Lamine Yamal on different sides.
Sources: FIFA Official
