Argentina face Spain in World Cup 2026 final as Jamaica tunes in

Argentina and Spain will contest the FIFA World Cup 2026 final on Sunday at the New York–New Jersey stadium, with kickoff set for 2 p.m. Jamaica time. A closing ceremony of roughly 10 minutes was scheduled for about 12:30 p.m., before three-time champions Argentina chase a fourth title against Spain, winners once before in 2010 and appearing in their second final.

Watch parties drew fans across Kingston and the rest of Jamaica, including gatherings at Jamaica College on Old Hope Road and the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. On Television Jamaica’s final-day coverage, analysts Craig Butler, Oral Tracy, Tony and Jamaica Football Federation technical director Andrew Peart reflected on a tournament that had stretched from a 48-team field to Championship Sunday.

Favourite moments on the panel ranged from Lionel Messi’s right-footed delivery that set up a memorable World Cup strike against England — Tracy called it among the most memorable squares in tournament history — to a debutant side’s equaliser against Germany that lit up the stands. Peart, who admitted he once doubted Argentina’s staying power, pointed to the same Messi cross and to a side he said plays with a rebellious refusal to accept defeat.

Weather had threatened the venue in recent days, with smoke from Canadian wildfires leaving air quality unhealthy for sensitive groups and heavy Saturday rain causing flooding in New York. Morning checks, however, pointed to sunshine and blue skies, and the panel expected the final to proceed.

Spain named an unchanged XI from their semi-final win over France, with Rodri again anchoring midfield and 19-year-old Lamine Yamal in the front line. Argentina made three changes from their semi-final, bringing in Depaul, Nico González and Gonzalo Montiel among the adjustments, while retaining a core that included eight starters from the 2022 final against France — among them goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez — in a 4-4-2 with Julián Álvarez and the 39-year-old Messi.

Coverage also revisited a 2006 UNICEF photo shoot in which Messi was pictured bathing infant Yamal after the child’s mother won a raffle tied to Barcelona’s shirt sponsor. Coaches Luis de la Fuente and Lionel Scaloni share a personal link: de la Fuente lectured when Scaloni earned his badges, and Scaloni has described him as a mentor.

Cape Verde emerged as one of the tournament’s feel-good stories — the second-smallest nation by population to qualify, unbeaten in regular time against elite opposition including both finalists, before falling to Argentina in extra time. Panel predictions for the final split: Argentina by a goal after extra time or 2-1, and Spain by 2-0 or 1-0.