World Cup 2026: Spain v Argentina countdown, Trump to attend final, England news – as it happened

Key events

• 1d ago

  Fifa introducing 'championship rings' for World Cup winners

• 1d ago

  More than 200 countries endorse Infantino for fourth Fifa term

• 1d ago

  Preamble

That’ll do for today.

Thanks everyone for joining us.

Hope you enjoy all the footy this weekend. I can’t believe we’re down to the final two games of the World Cup.

May the best teams win. Unless the team you support is actually the inferior team.

Byeeee…

Aston Villa have signed attacking midfielder Johan ⁠Manzambi from Freiburg, the Premier League club said on Friday, ⁠after the Switzerland ⁠international ​impressed at the World Cup where he finished as the ⁠country’s top goal-scorer.

From Reuters.

Ibrahima Konaté admits France’s bronze-medal match against England is “far from easy” to embrace.

“No one of us” wanted to be in Miami, he said, echoing Thomas Tuchel’s claim that nobody wants to play the third-place playoff. But Konaté insists France must still “respect the jersey” and remember how many people dream of wearing it.

Didier Deschamps, preparing for his final game after 14 years in charge, confirmed Kylian Mbappé is available and promised changes.

“The French national team,” he said, “is the most beautiful thing that has ever happened to me.”

Via PA.

A few mails:

“It is not just common people who are star struck. Sunil Gavaskar named his son Rohan after the legendary Rohan Kanhai. His contemporary Aravinda de Silva who was not familiar with first names and surnames ended up naming his son Sampras” – Krishna Moorthy

“About your CB stats. Tackles made is a very reasonable one althoug Cristian Romero’s inclusion brought to mind others, e.g., fingers wagged, ankles clipped, ribs poked, insults whispered, nipples tweaked...” – Peter Oh

“The fact that Trump will get booed like Arsenal playing at Spurs home pitch warms my heart. Instruct whoever wins that pulling the trophy away from Trump with as much force as needed will be applauded by the World.” – Mary Waltz

A busy afternoon in the transfer market.

Aston Villa are pursuing a loan move for Bayern Munich midfielder João Palhinha and have completed the signing of Johan Manzambi from Freiburg for a reported club-record £52m.

Elsewhere, Leeds have paid a reported £34.1m for Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemovic, while Burnley’s Maxime Estève has joined RB Leipzig for more than £21m.

Newcastle are in talks over Brighton goalkeeper Carl Rushworth, and Chelsea have rejected two Como bids for Trevoh Chalobah.

Loans, records and rejected offers. The summer window is properly awake.

Via PA.

It’s been an enjoyable World Cup. There have flashes of brilliance. But there have been too many controversies to elevate it to truly great.

Karim Zidan, one of the best on this, shines a light on some of the tournament’s darkest moments.

The World Cup in memes.

Do you really need me to sell that?

Click here so you can add value at your Friday night dinner party:

Wildfire smoke could impact Sunday’s World Cup final.

Air quality around New York and northern New Jersey improved on Friday after reaching hazardous levels on Thursday, but forecasters remain unsure how much smoke may return after Saturday’s rain.

Spain’s Mikel Merino said players can smell and see the haze but must “shut out external factors”. Experts were alarmed that Spain trained outdoors in hazardous conditions, while officials are expected to discuss the health risks with FIFA.

Around 80,000 fans are due at MetLife Stadium.

The weather forecast is clear but the smoke forecast is anything but.

Via AP.

Not only has Tarik Muharemovic made my entirely made-up World Cup XI, he’s just signed with Leeds.

What a day for him!

The 23-year-old centre ⁠back who made 41 clearances for Bosnia-Herzegovina joins the Premier League from from Serie A ⁠side Sassuolo ⁠on ​a five-year contract for an undisclosed fee.

The World Cup ends on Sunday. The legal scrutiny of FIFA’s ticketing may not.

New Jersey’s attorney general says her investigation will continue into allegations that FIFA raised prices, altered seating maps after tickets had been sold and created artificial scarcity. Some supporters reportedly paid for premium categories only to receive less desirable seats.

New York, California and Texas are also examining complaints. Meanwhile, a German court has described FIFA’s practices on resale platform Ticombo as “manipulative” and threatened sanctions for non-compliance.

The final whistle may sound at MetLife. The ticketing fallout could run well into extra time.

Via Reuters/Field Level Media.

Thomas Krantz shares some thoughts on tomorrow’s game:

I also have a fond memory of the bronze medal game, partly because my native Sweden delivered a bronze in 94 which was totally unexpected (lucky draw though), and partly because the players could finally let loose without too much being on the line.

I just hope the line ups will reflect this and the managers don’t play their reserves, as rumours suggest. I might actually agree with a former United player (gasp) that suggested Mainoo should say he was injured. It is a little bit insulting to suddenly start them after ignoring them for the rest of the tournament.

No one asked for it, but here it is anyway!

My World Cup XI based off entirely random, but sort of relevant stats.

I’ve gone for a 4-3-3 and picked my team using a very particular variable for each position. It’s not bad. I’m not saying it would win the World Cup, but it would go pretty far I reckon.

GK: Orlando Gill (Paraguay) 23 saves

RB: Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco) 4 blocks

CB: Tarik Muharemovic (Bosnia-Herzegovina) 41 clearances

CB: Cristian Romero (Argentina) 14 tackles made

LB: Maxim De Cuyper (Belgium) 32 ball recoveries

DM: Andrés Cubas (Paraguay) 11 interceptions

CM: Rodri (Spain) 83,802.33 metres run

CM: Declan Rice (England) 15 chances created

LW: Ousmane Dembele (France) 35 successful crosses

RW: Cristian Volpato (Australia) 6.7 dribbles per 90 mins

CF: Lionel Messi (Argentina) 19 shots on target

Max Rushden has done some Max Rushden things.

By that, I mean he’s written about hope and anguish; about why supporting England may require a trigger warning, yet can still nourish the soul.

Are PSG trying to win the league without Digne-ity?

David Wall writes in:

“I’ve just seen in the Transfer Window bulletin that PSG are about to sign Lucas Digne from Villa. Judging by his performance in the semi-final i wonder if that’s a sign that they’re getting bored with winning everything so easily over the past couple of years so are deliberately setting extra constraints for themselves to maintain their interest, a bit like the person who wrote a book without using the letter ‘e’.”

That reminds me of the time Jonathan Liew wrote a paragraph in an England match report without using the letter A:

Speaking of Spanish royalty, this just in from Cathal Chu:

“Re: Peter Oh’s assertion that he thought the King and Queen of Spain was Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz. The truth is actually odder. Queen Letizia used to be a newsreader on Spanish TV. It would be the equivalent of Fiona Bruce marrying Prince Charles in the early 00’s and is now Queen Fiona.”

My father is named after Trevor Goddard, the former South African cricket captain, so I guess what I’m about to share, via Reuters, makes sense:

Hundreds of babies in Peru have reportedly been named after Erling Haaland, while Lionel, Neymar and Cristiano each account for around 30,000 registrations. One newborn was simply called “Mundial”.

In Argentina, Enzo, Emiliano and Lionel topped the boys’ names list in Salta before Sunday’s final. In Mexico, an unverified certificate went viral for a girl named after Julián Quiñones, Gilberto Mora and Haaland.

“Haaland is now Peruvian too,” said a registry spokesman.

Football leaves many legacies. Some will be explaining theirs at school for years.

Adieu Didier. Bonjour Zinedine?

Didier Deschamps takes charge of France for the final time against England on Saturday, ending a 14-year reign that delivered the 2018 World Cup, a 2022 final and years of remarkable consistency.

Zinedine Zidane is widely expected to succeed him. The question is how much he changes. More creativity for Michael Olise or Rayan Cherki? Ousmane Dembélé dropping deeper? Even a Karim Benzema recall? Probably not that last one.

Whatever comes next, France are replacing one giant with another.

Via AP.

Not football news, but worth noting that a giant of sport has passed.

A sad day for anyone who appreciates genius on a sports field.

“I was puzzled by the unfamiliar names of the Spanish royals,” says Peter Oh.

“Celeb cam had me thinking that it was King Javier and Queen Penelope.

“By the way, was it really necessary to do a remake of Cape Fear?!”

Ha! I know this is not how royal lines work, but I’d vote for Javier to be King.

This is just lovely.

More than happy to keep the love-in between two of our readers going. Here’s Krishna Moorthy again:

Hello (Conduit) Daniel

Appreciate the appreciation from Justin Kavanagh . The MBMs and OBOs have helped lot of us to connect on this common platform with a common passion. A big shout out to all the live bloggers of TG who create that friendly atmosphere. The comments have generally been a correct mix of passion for the game, a dash of satire / humor, a common dislike of right wing fascists .

We often come back here for a reassurance that the world is not altogether a lost cause

Money doesn’t buy success in football, but it certainly helps.

Spain’s squad is valued at €1.2bn and Argentina’s at €808m. Meanwhile France and England, the two most expensive squads at the World Cup at €1.5bn and €1.4bn respectively, will contest the third-place playoff.

England’s squad was valued around €556m higher than Argentina’s; France’s roughly €300m above Spain’s.

Four of the eight most valuable squads reached the semi-finals.

That is either evidence that money reliably buys success or that half of the planet’s richest teams still managed to mess it up.

So, who plays tomorrow for England?

Word is Kobbie Mainoo is part of the equation, but a former Manchester United player is suggesting the unthinkable.

“I’d just refuse to play if I was Kobbie Mainoo. I’d say I was injured.”

Nicky Butt has advised the young midfielder to boycott tomorrow’s third-place playoff after spending the entire World Cup on England’s bench.

“It’s a nonsense game, especially when you’ve been treated like that.”

Tom Garry

This just in from Tom Garry:

Aston Villa have signed the Norway defender Mathilde Harviken from the Italian side Juventus. Harviken, whose strongest position is at centre-back, represented her country at 2023’s World Cup and last summer’s Euros. She told Villa’s club website: “It’s a really good opportunity to join a club with such a big history. There are great facilities here and everything you need to perform and continue developing as a player.”

Also signing for a Women’s Super League club from Juventus on Friday was the France defender Estelle Cascarino, who has made her switch to West Ham United more permanent after enjoying a loan spell in East London during the second half of last season. Cascarino, 29, has signed a three-year contract with Rita Guarino’s team.

Arsenal have signed the 18-year-old Denmark youth international goalkeeper Isabella Damm from Brondby IF. Damn spent time on trial with Arsenal last season and she told the club’s media channels: “I’ve had the experience of training here before and I know the environment here is the right one for me to progress.”

Elsewhere, newly-promoted Birmingham City have continued their preparations for their return to the WSL with the signing of the Canada defender Marie Levasseur. The 29-year-old played 63 times in the past three seasons for Montpellier.

Swings and roundabouts.

Donald Trump will be at the final. Pedro Sánchez will be there. Javier Milei, Trump’s great political ally, will not.

The Argentina president has watched all seven victories from the same residence, apparently wearing the same oil-company jacket, and refuses to disturb the ritual now.

He may be a cretin, but this could be the most relatable decision made by any world leader.

ICYMI here’s a step through a time machine.

Spain and Argentina have met just once in the World Cup and that was back in 1966.

Cyril Chapman was reporting for the Guardian at Villa Park all those years ago.

Here is his report:

Been trawling some facts and figures and here’s one that might not bring much comfort.

Turns out England’s collapse was not merely national trauma but premium entertainment. Argentina’s 2-1 win averaged 15.1 million viewers on Fox in the US, a record for an English-language World Cup semi-final, and peaked above 22 million.

In Britain, the audience reportedly peaked at 24 million. Four passes in 19 minutes, watched by almost everyone you have ever met.

Perhaps picking up on a previous chat, Margaret Navarrete shares some punchy words:

To be fair, fans should have been alerted to Argentinian tactics after Eygpt’s exit. A shocking end after nearly 80 minutes of hoping the win was England’s, a blow landing on a bruise.

Blow landing on a bruise. Love that! If you read me using that you’ll know where I got that line. BAR!

Now that’s a headline!

And if you love some stats, this piece is ticking all sorts of boxes for you.

The numbers show Spain are on a hot streak. The hottest streak ever by a European team.

Will that be enough come Sunday?

Jack Baker-Merry has suggested his team of the tournament:

[Let’s have yours, eh?]

I‘ve gone for a very ‘finalist-heavy’ line up. I’d love to put in some players from the nations who were eliminated earlier on, like Vozinhia, Bouaddi or Manzambi, but I can’t really make a case for any
of them replacing this team. Until the semi final, Olise would have been in this team, but Bellingham pips him for me, just through his sheer force of will in dragging England through Mexico and Norway.
Simon;
Porro, Romero, Cubarsi, Cucurella
Enzo Fernandez, Rodri
Bellingham
Messi, Haaland, Mbappe

Hard to argue with that line-up.

From one regular to another. (I’m happy to be a conduit here)

This is Justin Kavanagh showing some love:

“Well done Krishnamoorthy for that splendid “away Gauls” joke. The player of the tournament for me has been Rodri, who has provided such a classy example to young players everywhere, not least yer man Yamal. As they no doubt say in Spain, in several different languages, “spare the Rodri, spoil the child.”

How are you feeling about the bronze medal match?

Always the one no one wants to play, but it’s the one no one wants to lose.

That generally means it morphs into something tasty. As Kári Tulinius points out:

I’ll watch the bronze medal match, if only as an insurance policy for the final. Most finals from 1990 through 2014 were pretty dull, but the third place playoffs were usually fun. They always start off like a Saturday kick about, then something happens to trigger the pathological competitiveness that afflicts elite footballers, and you end up with a frayed, strangely intense contest.

Have you devised your team of the tournament?

While taking my infant for a stroll this morning, I thought of mine.

But after the usual names popped up, I thought I’d have a bit of fun with it. And I need your help.

Playing a 4-3-3, I thought I’d use crude metrics to determine my XI of the tournament.

Unless you suggest otherwise (and let’s have the deadline for these at 5pm) I’m going with:

GK: Shots saved
RB: Blocks
CB: Headers won
CB: Tackles made
LB: Ball recoveries
DM: Interceptions
MF: Metres run
AM: Key passes made
LW: Successful crosses
RW: Dribbles completed
CF: Shots on target

Any tweaks you’d make?

Thanks Martin. Another top shift from you.

Afternoon everyone. Glad to be here on the day before the day before (unless you’re England or France, in which case this is indeed the day before the day).

Loads of talking points to get through but the one that’s caught my eye concerns little gold ring.

Are they a nonsense? A cheap commercial trinket? Or something that will improve our beloved game?

Jacob Berman shares his thoughts:

At first, on seeing this news, I thought it was a nice gesture to North America’s championship ring tradition. A championship ring is the ultimate prize, after all. But of course, FIFA managed to take something wholesome and unique about North American sports, and turn it into a shameless, tacky cash grab.

Selling most of the “championship rings” to the public is downright offensive. A championship ring is something you earn, not something you can just buy in the gift shop.

And with that I am off. I will be back here on Monday to help pick the bones out of the final weekend of the 2026 World Cup. In the meantime, I will pass you on to Daniel Gallan.

Andrew Beasley brings this analysis of whether Spain can lift the trophy (and get those precious new Fifa championship rings) on Sunday against Argentina.

It looks like there is a betting scandal brewing in Turkey. AP reports Turkish authorities have detained 17 soccer club officials as part of an investigation into alleged illegal betting and match-fixing. Those detained included four executives from top-tier Istanbul clubs, Galatasaray and Beşiktaş.

This design seems more advisable than the guy who had England as 2026 winners tattooed. At least Lionel Messi has already won it once.

Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez has confirmed he will be attending the final on Sunday, setting up a potentially awkward meeting with US president Donald Trump, who has been highly critical of Spain in recent weeks, including threatening at one point to cut off all trade.

The Spanish royal family, including King Felipe, Queen Letizia and their daughters, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia, have also confirmed they will attend the final.

In non-World Cup news – not least of which because Thomas Tuchel didn’t take him – West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen has said he intends to remain with the team after the club’s relegation to the Championship.

Fifa introducing 'championship rings' for World Cup winners

I genuinely had to do a double-take when the picture desk sent me this, but Fifa are introducing “championship rings” to the World Cup final, which they say – and I quote – is “bringing [an] iconic American sporting tradition to global football.”

It won’t just be the players who get them, though. They are being made in a limited edition of 2,026, of which 30 go to the winning team, “while 1,996 will be made available to fans worldwide as an Official Licensed Product™, allowing supporters to own a unique piece of FIFA World Cup 2026 history”. Good lord, my eyes.

The Fifa press release continues “Immediately after the final, the captain and head coach of the winning team will receive temporary rings to commemorate the occasion. Each of the 30 rings for the winners will then be customised before being officially presented at a later date, ensuring the perfect lifelong fit for an achievement that will echo through eternity.”

The press release does not indicate how much they are charging for the rings.

Philip Cornwall

An absolute humdinger of trivia from Mr Cornwall here …

My most interesting fact – OK, my only interesting fact, and maybe of interest only to me – about the third-place playoff is that for every World Cup from 1982 to 2002, the winners came from Europe but then failed to qualify for the next European Championship:

• 1982 Poland – third in Euro 84 qualifying group (six points behind sole qualifier)

• 1986 Belgium – third in Euro 88 qualifying group (two points behind sole qualifier)

• 1990 Italy – second in Euro 92 qualifying group (three points behind sole qualifier)

• 1994 Sweden – third in Euro 96 qualifying group (six points behind second qualifier)

• 1998 Croatia – third in Euro 2000 qualifying group (one point behind a playoff spot)

• 2002 Turkey – second in Euro 2004 qualifying group, lost in playoff to Latvia (one point behind qualifier)

Germany broke the sequence by qualifying for Euro 2008 (and reaching the final).

Rather more serious than my analysis of UK broadcasters is Ed Aarons’s examination of why England always seem to England it at tournaments.

Martin Belam

Good afternoon / morning / evening. I shall start by immediately plugging my own piece comparing aspects of ITV and BBC coverage of the World Cup, which you can all no doubt tell me I am wrong about in the comments.

Martin Belam is here to inject some energy into this live blog.

Will you watch the third-place match? I may look at the lineups and make a decision after that.