Messi’s Argentina face Spain in the World Cup final
Sports analyst Dan Dakich previews the FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain and highlights Lionel Messi’s leadership. Dakich predicts Argentina will win and praises Messi’s consistent greatness. The discussion then shifts to WNBA star Caitlin Clark, who NBA commissioner Adam Silver called a ‘political football’ amid physical play controversy. Dakich attributes some problems to the jealousy and envy of WNBA players.
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And just like that it all comes to Spain and Argentina.
The two soccer powerhouses will try to etch their names into the history books and become world champions when they play at 3 p.m. ET Sunday at MetLife Stadium. The game will be televised on FOX.
For Argentina, they have the opportunity to become the first back-to-back World Cup winners since Brazil did it in 1958 and 1962, and just the third country to win back-to-back titles overall. Italy first won back-to-back World Cups in 1934 and 1938.
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(Left) Argentina’s Lionel Messi (10) reacts during the World Cup semi-final soccer match between England and Argentina in Atlanta, Georgia, July 15, 2026. (Right) Spain’s Lamine Yamal (19) reacts during warm-ups prior to the World Cup Round of 16 soccer match between Portugal and Spain on July 6, Dallas, Texas in Arlington, Texas, July 6, 2026. (Stephanie Scarbrough/AP Photo; Tony Gutierrez/AP Photo)
But for a long time in Argentina’s semi-final clash against England, it didn’t look like they were going to have a chance to make history. The Three Lions kept Argentina off the scoresheet for 85 minutes, but Lionel Messi sparked another electrifying come-from-behind victory.
Anthony Gordon got the scoring started when he buried a cross from Morgan Rogers to put England on the board first in the 55th minute with an acrobatic finish. Harry Kane sparked the counterattack with a long pass that left the Argentinian defense behind for the first time all game.
However, it would end up being the only true scoring opportunity of the game for the Three Lions. After England got on the board, Argentina’s pressure was relentless, but England were able to fend off the Argentine attack for around 30 minutes.
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Enzo Fernandez of Argentina celebrates his goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final match between England and Argentina at Atlanta Stadium on July 15, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)
They finally broke through when Messi set up Enzo Fernandez just outside the penalty area and the 25-year-old curled a shot around England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford into the back of the net to make it 1-1.
Lautaro Martinez then played the hero as he came off the bench and into Argentine football history by scoring the winning goal in stoppage time. In the 92nd minute, Messi recorded his second assist after he collected a loose ball and played a beautiful pass into the penalty area where Martinez was waiting unmarked. Martinez headed the ball past Pickford to send the Argentine fans into a frenzy as they completed the comeback.
It was not the first remarkable comeback in Argentina’s run to the title. In the round of 16, they scored three goals in 13 minutes to erase a 2-0 second-half deficit against Egypt to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
How to watch France vs Spain: Live stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-finals
For Spain, their run has not been quite as dramatic, but it has still been remarkably dominant.
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Mikel Oyarzabal of Spain celebrates after converting a penalty kick to score his team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final match between France and Spain at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Lars Baron/Getty Images)
They have shut out their opponents in six of their seven games and have allowed just one goal all tournament. Belgium were the lone country to break through against Spain, but the Spaniards beat Belgium 2-1 in the quarter-finals.
Against France in the semi-finals, Spain capitalized on an early error and never looked back.
Veteran French defender Lucas Digne misread the ball and challenged for a cross but instead kicked Lamine Yamal, fouling and giving Spain a penalty in the 22nd minute.
Mikel Oyarzabal stepped up for Spain and buried the penalty, giving the Spaniards a lead they would not relinquish.
Pedro Porro doubled Spain’s lead in the 58th minute when he broke through the French defense and found the back of the net after beating France goalkeeper Mike Maignan on a crisp pass from Dani Olmo.
The French desperately tried to get back into the game but the Spanish defense was too sound for them to break through and held on for the win.
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Pedro Porro of Spain celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinal match between France and Spain at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas on July 14, 2026. (David Ramos/Getty Images)
When: Sunday 19 July 2026
Where: New York/New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
TV: FOX
Current: Watch on FOX One and FOX Sports
