After 39 days of excitement and competitiveness in the largest edition in World Cup history, the identity of the 2026 World Cup champion will be decided when Argentina faces Spain at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with President Donald Trump in attendance.

The final draws the curtain on the first edition of the tournament featuring 48 teams, after the teams played 104 matches across 16 cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The winner's rewards are not limited to lifting the trophy; the champion receives $50 million, along with gold medals and the first commemorative rings ever awarded by FIFA to world champions.

Friday, July 17, 2026

Defending champion

Argentina, the defending champion, enters the final seeking its fourth title, having won the World Cup in 1978, 1986, and 2022.

The Argentine team aims to retain the title, becoming the first team to win the tournament twice in a row since Brazil, champion of the 1958 and 1962 editions.

In contrast, Spain aspires to add a second star to its jersey, after its only triumph in South Africa in 2010, when it defeated the Netherlands in the final.

The match pits defending champion Argentina against European champion Spain, after the former overcame England 2-1 in the semifinal, while the latter qualified with a 2-0 win over France.

Champion's prize

The 2026 World Cup champion receives $50 million, compared to $33 million for the runner-up, as part of a performance-related prize pool of $655 million, a 50% increase over the previous edition.

FIFA also allocated $29 million for third place and $27 million for fourth place, while each team reaching the quarterfinals receives $19 million.

England received the third-place prize of $29 million after beating France 6-4 in a match that saw a flurry of goals, while France received $27 million.

Participation in the tournament guarantees each national association at least $10.5 million, including $9 million for participation and $1.5 million to cover preparation costs before the start of the competition.

Most expensive player

The final not only brings together the world and European champions but also includes the third most valuable squad in the world.

Spain's squad market value is about €1.22 billion, compared to €782.5 million for Argentina, according to Transfermarkt data.

Lamine Yamal leads Spain's players with a market value of €200 million, making him the most expensive player in the World Cup along with Norway's Haaland, followed by Pedri at €150 million, while Julián Álvarez tops Argentina's list at €100 million.

Friday, July 17, 2026

Champion's rings

Players of the winning team will receive commemorative championship rings, a move implemented by FIFA for the first time in World Cup history, inspired by a longstanding tradition in major North American sports leagues such as the NFL, NBA, and MLB.

FIFA produces 30 rings for members of the champion team; the team captain and coach receive temporary versions during the award ceremony before the final versions are manufactured according to the recipients' sizes, with the champion's identity engraved on them.

The rings feature a replica of the World Cup trophy and details of the triumph, and belong to a limited edition of 2,026 pieces, of which 30 rings are allocated to the winning team, while 1,996 pieces are offered for sale to the public as an officially licensed product, reflecting FIFA's focus on enhancing the commercial and marketing aspects of the tournament.

Trump attends

U.S. President Donald Trump will attend the final alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino and several world leaders and officials.

The final marks the first 2026 World Cup match Trump will watch from the stadium, having missed previous matches of the tournament co-hosted by his country with Canada and Mexico.

The U.S. president is expected to participate in the award ceremony and trophy presentation, amid high-level political attendance including King Felipe VI of Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

Ticket prices

Strong demand has driven some official final tickets to around $32,000, while the average price on resale platforms exceeded $11,000, indicating the growing commercial value of the final match.

Between Argentina's experience seeking a fourth title and Spain's ambition for a second star, the New Jersey final not only decides the world champion but also grants the winner $50 million and the first rings ever awarded to World Cup champions.