Argentine President Javier Milei said Thursday he will not attend the World Cup 2026 final in the United States, preferring to continue watching his country take on Spain from home.

Spain's prime minister Pedro Sanchez and U.S. President Donald Trump are set to meet again at Sunday's World Cup final, as strained relations between the two leaders over defence spending and the war with Iran continue to simmer.

Before boarding Argentina's flight from Kansas City to New York on Friday, the Chelsea midfielder once again cupped his hands behind his ears in the famous "Topo Gigio" celebration--the same gesture he produced after scoring against England in the World Cup semifinal.

Football's global governing body FIFA will assess match reports before deciding if they take any action over Argentina's players holding up a banner reading "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" (The Falklands are Argentine) following their 2-1 victory over England.

Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic will officiate the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina on Sunday.

The winners of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final on Monday will not only lift football's most coveted trophy but also receive championship rings for the first time in the tournament's history.

Football has long celebrated "Fergie Time", while Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid became synonymous with dramatic late comebacks in the UEFA Champions League. Scaloni's Argentina now belong in that conversation.

Until the 85th minute of Thursday’s semifinal, Argentina were trailing England by a goal, and a spot in the final seemed to be slipping away. The clock seemed to be carrying Lionel Messi away with it.

They drift through the tournament with the emotional weather of a commuter stranded at Farmgate in the rain, watching every bus except theirs crawl past.

Pedro Porro has turned Spain's right flank from a vacancy into a personal runway, capping a dazzling World Cup charge by helping shackle France's flying attackers and scoring a thunderbolt in Wednesday's 2-0 semifinal win in Dallas.

Fox Sports continued a record-breaking week in TV soccer viewership when Argentina's narrow victory over England on Thursday was the most-watched World Cup semifinal in English-language history, Variety reported.

Built in 1979, the famous farmhouse planted the seeds of the beautiful final that is to come.

It appears the coaches of the losing semifinalists were guilty of underestimating their oppositions’ strengths while being overconfident of what had worked for them in the tournament.

Lionel Messi turned 39 during the course of this World Cup. Yet the things he has done, the numbers he has produced, and the sheer excellence he has displayed in North America continue to defy age and time.

The unanswered question is whether, when history finally presents the moment they have spent decades waiting for, they are brave enough to trust the football that got them there.

Spain's priority is to ensure Yamal, Porro and the rest of the squad are as fresh as possible for the final.

For much of the 2026 World Cup, Argentina's journey has appeared to rest on the timeless brilliance of Lionel Messi. Yet, as the defending champions stand one game away from retaining their crown, it has become increasingly clear that Lionel Scaloni's side have found heroes beyond their captain.

The 39-year-old Argentina captain provided assists for Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez in the dying minutes of Wednesday's highly charged clash at Atlanta Stadium as the world champions came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory.

The connection between Maradona and Messi goes far beyond shared celebrations. Both grew up in a football culture where every child dreams of wearing the No.10 shirt. On dusty pitches, with worn-out boots and endless passion, they learned to play the Argentine way -- with creativity, courage, and the ball always at their feet.

Hampered by Tuchel's cautious substitutions, England squandered a golden opportunity to reach their first World Cup final since 1966, blowing the lead as Argentina scored twice in the closing minutes to snatch a 2-1 win on Wednesday.