- Spain, champions of Europe, face defending World Cup winners Argentina in the final – the culmination of the biggest-ever football tournament.
- A viral photo from 2007 shows a young Lionel Messi bathing baby Lamine Yamal – now they face each other in the final.
- US President Donald Trump will attend the final – his first appearance at the tournament – and jointly present the trophy with FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
- Argentinian President Javier Milei will not attend due to superstition; he watches from his residence wearing the same heavy jacket.
- Smoke from Canadian wildfires blanketed the Northeast US, but a cold front is expected to clear the haze by Sunday’s final.
- Ticket prices for the final are the highest ever for a US sporting event, with average purchase price $11,327 according to TickPick.
- For the first time, a football World Cup final will feature an NFL-style half-time show headlined by Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira, BTS, Burna Boy, Coldplay and others, lasting about 11 minutes.
- FIFA announced a record prize fund of $727 million, with champions taking home $50 million, and the trophy will be transported in a bespoke Louis Vuitton trunk.
Defending champions Argentina will clash with Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday in New York, a match that promises to be historic.123
Spain, the reigning European champions, seeks its second world title, 16 years after its first triumph. Meanwhile, Argentina aims to become only the third nation to win back-to-back World Cups.
The final is expected to draw significant attention, with US President Donald Trump attending and presenting the trophy alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Argentina's President Milei will watch from his residence, donning his lucky jacket.78
The event will also feature a historic halftime show, inspired by the Super Bowl, with performances from stars like Madonna, Justin Bieber, and Shakira.141516
Ticket prices have reached unprecedented levels, with the average purchase price hitting $11,327, surpassing previous records for US sporting events. The champions will take home $50 million from a record prize fund of $727 million announced by FIFA.1213171819
As the final approaches, smoke from wildfires has raised health alerts in the northeastern US, but a cold front is expected to clear the air in time for the match.
“A viral photo from 2007 shows a young Lionel Messi bathing baby Lamine Yamal, who now face each other in the final. The halftime show will feature an 11-minute performance headlined by Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira, BTS, Burna Boy and Coldplay, the first NFL-style show in a football World Cup final.”
