World Cup 2026: What you need to know about Spain vs. Argentina

How these teams got here

Spain: The 2024 European champions have mastered the best way to go undefeated in a soccer tournament: Don't allow your opponents to score a goal. Through seven games, Belgium is the only team to score against Spain, and that was just a single goal by Charles De Ketelaere.

Every other opponent has been shut out, and that includes a France team that entered the semifinals with 16 goals through six games. Spain has bossed the midfield against every opponent and will look to do the same against Argentina.

Sure, the group stage was a bit rough. Spain opened with a draw against Cape Verde and then needed a blunder from Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera to win its final group game. But Spain has looked especially good in the knockout rounds and hasn't felt in danger of losing a game for a single minute this tournament.

Argentina: Argentina has been the opposite of Spain. Sure, it keeps winning games at the World Cup too. But there have been numerous times where Argentina has been pushed to the brink in the knockout rounds after an incredibly easy group stage.

By now, you know how often Argentina has sweated out games in the knockout rounds — and we'll go through all of them in a second. But the win over Switzerland in the quarterfinals is the team's only multi-goal win of the knockout rounds. In the group stage, Argentina outscored its opponents 8-1.

FIFA via Getty Images

The masters of late goals

All four of Argentina's game-winning goals in the knockout rounds have come in either second half added time or extra time. Against Cape Verde, Argentina got a 111th-minute own goal to win. In the Round of 16, Enzo Fernández's game-winner came in the 92nd minute for Argentina's third goal in 13 minutes. It was the first time a team trailing 2-0 after 75 minutes had gone on to win in regulation.

In the quarterfinals, Julián Álvarez's golazo from outside the box came in the 112th minute before Lautaro Martinez sealed the deal with minutes to go. And on Wednesday, Martinez's header came in the 92nd minute after Fernández tied the game 1-1 in the 85th minute.

Spain cannot match Argentina's propensity for scoring late. No one can. But Spain might be the team in the tournament that has come the closest thanks to super sub Mikel Merino.

Merino scored the winner in the 91st minute in the Round of 16 against Portugal. The game felt destined for extra time and penalty kicks before Merino was introduced late in the second half. His inclusion ensured that Spain wouldn't have to play 30 more minutes of soccer.

Merino then did it again against Belgium. After the game was tied for much of the second half, Merino immediately made an impact and scored the winner in the 88th minute to push Spain into the semifinals.

CHARLY TRIBALLEAU,ROBERTO SCHMIDT via Getty Images

Will the torch pass from Lionel Messi to Lamine Yamal?

Regardless of who wins the final, Sunday's game feels like a generational shift. This is certainly the 39-year-old Messi's last World Cup. Even as he proves he's still one of the best players in the world and one of the best payers to ever play soccer, the chances of him appearing in the 2030 World Cup are slim at best.

Yamal, meanwhile, has as good a chance as anyone of matching the record of six World Cup appearances set by Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Guillermo Ochoa at this tournament.

The 19-year-old hasn't been exceptional through six games. Yet. But his impact on Spain's matches is obvious. Opposing defenses are drawn to him. And it's entirely fair to wonder if Spain doesn't open this World Cup with a draw against Cape Verde if Yamal is completely healthy and able to start after suffering a hamstring injury late in the season at Barcelona.

You've assuredly seen the picture of a 20-year-old Messi with Yamal as an infant in recent days. It's a photo that's unwittingly depicting soccer's current generation of superstars and the players who are ready to take their places in the coming years. While Messi may still have more MLS games ahead of him, he's likely never going to play on a stage as big as this again. Yamal still has the whole soccer world in front of him. Especially if Spain wins its second World Cup.

Players to watch

Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernández

Fernández has rebounded from a tumultuous year at Chelsea to be — once again — one of Argentina's most indispensable players. He's played all over the midfield for Lionel Scaloni's squad. He officially started out wide to the left against England, before moving to the middle after Leandro Paredes was subbed off in the second half.

Paredes is also an incredibly important part of Argentina's midfield and will be vital in keeping Spain from dominating that part of the field. But Fernández is more versatile and offers more in attack. Behind Messi, the only other player who may be more important to Argentina's success is goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez.

Spain midfielder Dani Olmo

Mikel Oyarzabal is Spain's goal leader with five. Merino and right back Pedro Porro have two each. But Olmo has been vital to Spain's success. He provided the assist to Porro's goal that clinched the game against France, and has been Spain's main creator in the middle of the field.

Rodri will be imperative to help keep Messi in check, especially if Messi drifts inside more often on Sunday. But Olmo will need to win against Paredes and center backs Lisandro Martínez and Cristian Romero to help create space for Oyarzabal to drop deep and Yamal to make runs on the wing.