The main match of the summer: what to expect from the 2026 FIFA World Cup final
There are only a few days left until the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Izvestia article contains the date and venue of the main match of the summer, as well as analysts' forecasts for the winner of the tournament.
Date and time of the 2026 World Cup final
The final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held on July 19, 2026. The match is scheduled to start at 22:00 Moscow time.
Where will the 2026 FIFA World Cup final be held?
The final game will be hosted by Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA. The arena is one of the largest at the tournament: its capacity exceeds 82 thousand spectators.
In accordance with FIFA's policy prohibiting the use of sponsored stadium names during official tournaments, the arena is officially referred to as New York New Jersey Stadium during the 2026 World Cup.
Schedule and results of key matches of the 2026 World Cup
For the first time in history, 48 national teams participated in the 2026 World Cup — they were divided into 12 groups. According to the results of the group stage, 32 teams qualified for the playoffs: the 24 teams that took the first and second places in their groups, as well as the eight best teams from among those who finished third. Due to the expansion of the tournament, the relegation stage started for the first time from the 1/16 finals.
At the end of the group stage, the following teams stopped competing for the trophy: Turkey, Tunisia, Haiti, Jordan, Panama, Qatar, Czech Republic, Curacao, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, Iraq, Uzbekistan, Iran, South Korea, Scotland and Uruguay.
The sensation of the 1/16 finals was the departure of the German national team: She lost to Paraguay and for the first time in history lost at the World Cup in a penalty shootout. Another surprise was the departure of the Netherlands, which lost to Morocco.
The 1/8 finals stage also brought a lot of surprises. The Norwegian national team beat five—time world champions Brazil with a score of 2:1. England defeated Mexico with a score of 3:2 — two penalties were awarded in the game, and the British were shown a red card. Belgium defeated the USA 4-1 and made it to the quarterfinals. Spain snatched victory from Portugal at the very end, not allowing them to hit their own goal.
All three World Cup host teams (USA, Canada and Mexico) left the tournament at the 1/8 finals stage: Canada lost to Morocco (0:3), Mexico lost to England (2:3), and the USA was defeated by Belgium (1:4).
The matches of the 1/4 finals will be held from July 9th to 12th. France – Morocco (July 9), Spain – Belgium (July 10), Norway – England (July 12), Argentina – Switzerland (July 12) will play in them. The semi-finals will be held on July 14th and 15th.
The match for the third place will take place on July 18 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.‑Gardens (USA). The meeting starts at 17:00 (00:00 on July 19, Moscow time).
Who will win the 2026 World Cup final
According to bookmakers and sports analysts, the most likely scenario of the finals is a meeting between the national teams of Argentina and France. At the same time, most experts consider France to be the main favorite of the 2026 World Cup, while the chances of Argentina and Spain (the main competitors) are estimated to be lower. The main question is which of them will be able to reach the finals, as well as whether one of the "dark horses" (for example, Switzerland or Norway) is able to surprise.
Why France is the favorite
The positions of the French national team are supported by concrete results. After the 1/8 finals, Didier Deschamps' team demonstrated a balanced and confident game. The French convincingly beat Sweden (3-0), and then defeated Paraguay (1-0). Experts highlight the strengths of the national team: discipline in defense, effective counterattacks and stability during matches.
Argentina: Strength and vulnerability
Argentina, being the current world champion, remains one of the main contenders for the trophy. Lionel Scaloni's team shows a stable game, and Lionel Messi regularly scores in key matches and maintains a high level of performance.
Lionel Messi
At the same time, analysts note a number of vulnerabilities among Argentines, due to which bookmakers put them slightly below France. This is primarily a dependence on the leader. The creativity and effectiveness of the team have a lot to do with Messi's form: if he can't show his best qualities, it's harder for Argentina to create scoring chances.
Also, compared to its main competitors, Argentina has a relatively lower bench depth. At the playoff stage, this can become a critical factor: player fatigue accumulates, and the cost of mistakes increases dramatically.
Spain: arguments in favor of the title
The Spanish national team (the Red Fury) is also among the contenders for the trophy. Luis de la Fuente's team has significant advantages. This is stability in the playoffs, a balanced and young squad, and experience in crucial matches.
Thus, the path to the finals remains open for several strong teams, and the outcome of the tournament will largely depend on how well the national teams cope with the workload and will be able to neutralize their weaknesses.
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