​US President Donald Trump appeared alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino at a reception at Trump Tower in New York, as excitement built ahead of Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The showpiece match is set to bring the largest World Cup in history to a dramatic close, with more than 80,000 fans expected to attend one of the most anticipated finals in recent memory.
Spain and Argentina are preparing for a high-stakes battle in New Jersey, although tournament organizers have said they are closely monitoring smoke from wildfires in Canada that has affected air quality across large parts of the United States. Officials confirmed that the situation remains under review ahead of the final, with weather and safety teams assessing conditions as matchday approaches.
Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House World Cup task force, said organizers were paying close attention to the wildfire smoke. “There’s been discussion about it, and we have somebody with the National Weather Service sitting in FIFA headquarters, so we’re monitoring closely,” Giuliani told reporters during a briefing.
The 2026 World Cup final will be attended by US President Donald Trump, marking the only match of the tournament he has watched in person. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is also expected to be present after receiving an invitation from Trump. The tournament has been jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, making it the first World Cup staged across three countries.
Trump praised the competition on Friday, describing it as “the most successful sporting event perhaps in the history of the world” during his New York reception with FIFA chief Gianni Infantino. The event highlighted the political and sporting significance of a tournament that has drawn massive global audiences and record crowds across North America.
On the pitch, Argentina will be chasing history. Led by Lionel Messi, the reigning champions are aiming to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cup titles. Messi, now 39, guided Argentina to glory in Qatar in 2022 and has once again been central to their run to the final. Another triumph would further strengthen his status as one of football’s greatest-ever players.
Spain, meanwhile, are seeking their second World Cup crown after winning the tournament for the first time in 2010. The European champions have impressed throughout the competition with their technical quality, tactical flexibility and balance across the squad. Sunday’s Spain vs Argentina World Cup final is expected to be a clash of styles, with Spain’s controlled possession game facing Argentina’s intensity, experience and physical edge.
Spain captain Rodri said he expects a demanding and physical contest against Argentina. The Manchester City midfielder, who won the 2024 Ballon d’Or, believes the final will be very different from the matches Spain have played so far in the tournament.
“I think Sunday’s match will be quite different,” Rodri told reporters. “It will be more physical, and we must be prepared. But if there is one thing this national team is known for, it is that we know how to adapt to different kinds of games depending on the situation.”
Rodri added that Spain are capable of adjusting their approach when required, whether that means defending deeper, playing on the counterattack or dominating possession. “We can adapt to defending, counter-attacking and attacking. We are a very complete team, and that is why we are here,” he said.
Asked whether he expected Argentina to use provocative tactics during the final, Rodri played down the issue. “That’s part of football,” he said, suggesting Spain would focus on their own performance rather than being drawn into confrontation.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni urged supporters to appreciate the opportunity to watch Messi lead his country in another World Cup final. Scaloni praised the former Barcelona forward as a legend of the sport and said his achievements would be remembered for generations.
“He has made history. He is a legend,” Scaloni said of Messi, who played a defining role in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup victory in Qatar. For Argentina, Sunday’s final represents not only a chance to defend their title but also a possible final World Cup chapter for their iconic captain.
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez also spoke emotionally about Argentina’s journey and the effort behind their continued success. The Aston Villa goalkeeper said he sometimes becomes overwhelmed when thinking about what the team has achieved together.
“Honestly, sometimes I cry to myself thinking about what we have achieved,” Martinez said. “My message to my teammates is that they should enjoy this moment and prepare with smiles on our faces. This is something we will remember forever.”
While the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina will dominate the weekend, England have arrived in Miami to face France on Saturday in the third-place match between the two beaten semi-finalists. That game will decide who finishes third at the tournament before attention turns fully to the final in New Jersey.
With Lionel Messi chasing another historic triumph, Spain seeking a second world title, Donald Trump and other world leaders in attendance, and organizers monitoring wildfire smoke ahead of kickoff, the 2026 FIFA World Cup final is set to be a major sporting and global event.