Meet the match official
Slavko Vincic will become the first referee from Slovenia to take charge of a World Cup final. He previously officiated the 2024 Champions League final at Wembley, where Real Madrid defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-0, and handled Spain’s 2-1 victory over France in the semi-finals of Euro 2024. The 46-year-old’s World Cup debut came with Argentina’s upset loss to Saudi Arabia in the opening round of 2022. During this tournament, he sent off Ecuador’s Piero Hincapié in the 95th minute against Mexico for placing a hand over his mouth. His average across matches stands at 2.33 yellow cards.
Does Spain have the edge?
In 13 of the last 14 men’s and women’s World Cup and European Championship finals, the team that played its semi-final earlier has gone on to lift the trophy. The only exception occurred when both last-four ties were staged on the same day. The sequence began when Spain’s men defeated Italy 4-0 in the Euro 2012 final. Argentina also profited from the pattern before the 2022 final, enjoying four rest days to France’s three. This time Spain have benefited from the longer recovery period.
Presidential absence
For 36 years, no Argentine head of state has attended a World Cup fixture in person, and the incumbent, Javier Milei, is continuing that tradition. He has followed all seven matches from the presidential residence, telling a Buenos Aires radio outlet there is “no way” he will travel to New Jersey. The superstition began in 1990 when Carlos Menem visited the squad shortly before their shock opening defeat to Cameroon; ever since, a president’s presence at a World Cup game has been considered a jinx. Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, intends to be at the match, as does King Felipe VI.
Records within reach
Should Argentina win, they would become the third nation to claim consecutive World Cup titles and the first to do so this century, after Italy in 1934 and 1938 and Brazil in 1958 and 1962. A Spanish victory would make them the fourth men’s team to hold the European and world crowns simultaneously, following West Germany (1972, 1974), France (1998, 2000) and Spain themselves, who were the first men’s side in history to win three major tournaments in a row (Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012).
A clash of styles?
Argentina lead the scoring charts by a distance with 19 goals, while Spain sit fourth on 14. Yet Spain have been the tournament’s tightest defence, conceding only once, compared to the seven goals Argentina have let in.
Championship rings await
As if four quarters and a half-time show were not enough, the winners will also receive commemorative rings. Presenting rings has been a custom in American sport since the 1922 World Series. There is a commercial incentive too: 30 rings will go to the world champions, with another 1,996 made available to the public. One side of the design features a miniature World Cup trophy, while the opposite face will, according to Fifa’s website, “reflect the identity of the winning team”. Players and coaches will receive temporary rings on the day, allowing bespoke versions to be personalised and delivered later.
Scrapped Finalissima
The two teams were originally slated to meet in the Finalissima in Qatar this year, with Argentina hoping to defend the title they won against Italy in 2022. The fixture was called off because of conflict in the Middle East, with Uefa stating: “After much discussion between Uefa and the organising authorities in Qatar, we can announce that due to the current political situation in the region, the Finalissima cannot be played as hoped in Qatar on 27 March.” No alternative arrangement could be agreed upon, and the match was cancelled.
International success without club pedigree
The final will bring together two managers who have never coached a top-division club side. Luis de la Fuente was let go after only 11 games with third-tier Alavés and has since worked with various Spain youth teams from 2013 onwards. Lionel Scaloni’s coaching career has been almost entirely with the Argentina national setup, save for six matches in charge of the Under-20s. With a European Championship, a Copa América and a World Cup already between them, the pair have demonstrated that elite club experience is not a prerequisite for international management.
Playing time comparison
Beyond the extra day of rest, Spain may also be fresher because all of their matches were decided inside 90 minutes. Argentina have gone to extra time twice and have accumulated 794 minutes of action, against Spain’s 717. The South Americans found themselves in a similar position in Qatar, where they needed an additional 30 minutes in the quarter-final. With a squad that is largely four years older, will they have the necessary energy in reserve?
An unfamiliar open-air test for Spain
Although extreme heat is not forecast, the US National Weather Service did issue an air-quality advisory because of wildfire smoke drifting from Canada. Conditions had reached “very unhealthy” levels in New York City on Thursday, according to the local emergency management office, though the air has since improved markedly. Throughout the tournament Spain have been relatively shielded from such factors, with only one of their seven games played in a completely open-air venue. Argentina, by contrast, have played outdoors three times, twice in temperatures of 32C.
Past World Cup meeting
The nations have met once before at the World Cup, when Argentina won 2-1 in 1966. Both goals for the South Americans came from Luis Artime, and a contemporary match report can be read online.
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