New York New Jersey Stadium will host the FIFA World Cup 2026™ final between Spain and Argentina
Seven games already played at the venue, with plenty of history created
More than 560,000 fans have passed through the turnstiles so far
There is no bigger occasion in football, and on 19 July the eyes of the world will be drawn towards New York New Jersey Stadium for the .
The showpiece between Spain and Argentina promises to be a thrilling spectacle, and ahead of the 104th contest of the biggest World Cup ever FIFA casts an eye back over the drama that has already unfolded at the historic venue.
One of the most eagerly-anticipated games of the group stage didn't disappoint, as Morocco — who became the first African nation to progress to a World Cup semi-final at Qatar 2022 — . Ismael Saibari gave the Atlas Lions the lead with a delicious looped effort midway through the first half, but Vinicius Junior struck back with a characteristically skilful attempt before half-time to ensure the points were shared.
Senegal produced one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history when they defeated France in the opening game at Korea/Japan 2002, but the feat wasn't to be repeated in this encounter as — in the process — and Bradley Barcola also got his name on the scoresheet for Les Bleus. Ibrahim Mbaye lashed in a fierce reply for Senegal, but it was to prove no more than a consolation.
Another contest to which Senegal contributed so much but ultimately left empty-handed, as Erling Haaland continued a remarkable scoring run with his second double of the competition. Ismaila Sarr struck in-between Haaland's second-half brace and again deep into injury time, but with Marcus Holmgren Pedersen having also registered for Norway it was .
Having picked up just one point from their first two games without even finding the net, this daunting fixture was do or die for Ecuador — and do they very much did. Their task wasn't made any easier when Leroy Sane gave an already-qualified Germany the lead in just the second minute, but Nilson Angulo lashed home an equaliser shortly afterwards. Gonzalo Plata then , prodding in from close range to send Ecuador into the Round of 32.
With progression already assured and Panama proving a tricky and highly motivated opponent as they went in search of their first goal of the competition, England laboured for spells in their Group L finale. As was to become a recurring theme as the tournament progressed , opening the scoring himself and then providing an assist for Harry Kane five minutes later — the latter becoming England's all-time leading World Cup scorer in the process.
France were back in New York New Jersey in the Round of 32, and as he moved outright second in the all-time World Cup scoring charts. The Real Madrid superstar went close on several occasions before breaking the deadlock with a delightful finish just before half-time, and Barcola doubled Didier Deschamps' side's lead shortly after the restart. Mbappe then wrapped things up with another clinical strike, his 18th in total at the World Cup.
Another historic occasion at New York New Jersey Stadium, as at the expense of the tournament's most successful nation. It was unsurprisingly Haaland who delivered the killer blows, with his bullet header and lethal pile-driver drawing him level with Mbappe and Lionel Messi on seven goals in the . Neymar bowed out with an injury-time penalty, but it was too little too late for Brazil.
And now it all comes down to this. The reigning European champions and the reigning world and South American champions will go . Will Spain lift the famous trophy for the second time, or will Argentina become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win consecutive editions of the World Cup?
Sources: FIFA Official
