FIFA World Cup: 10 things to know before Spain-Argentina final in New York
From the viral photo of Lionel Messi with baby Lamine Yamal to Donald Trump’s presence and the NFL-style half-time show. Five weeks after the start
From the viral photo of Lionel Messi with baby Lamine Yamal to Donald Trump’s presence and the NFL-style half-time show. Five weeks after the start of the biggest-ever football tournament, it’s almost time for the day billions across the world have waited for – the FIFA World Cup final. Spain, the champions of Europe, face defending World Cup winners Argentina in a title clash for the ages. For Spain, it marks the final step in their quest for a second world title, 16 years on from their maiden triumph, while Argentina are chasing history to become only the third country to lift back-to-back World Cups. Here are the top 10 things you need to know ahead of Sunday’s final in New York, United States Deja vu: Messi and Yamal meet again after two decades The moment Argentina set up the World Cup final against Spain, social media was again flooded with the now-viral photo of a young Messi bathing baby Yamal during a TV commercial. At first, many thought it was an AI-generated image, but it’s indeed real and dates back to 2007. During a UNICEF fundraising shoot at his former club, Barcelona’s Camp Nou stadium, a 20-year-old Messi met Yamal, who was only five months old at that time and accompanied by his mother, Sheila Ebana. Almost two decades on from that day, Messi and Yamal face each other in a clash of generations in the 2026 World Cup final. “It is a true miracle of destiny,” the photographer Joan Monfort told BBC Sport. Will Donald Trump attend the World Cup final? Yes. The White House has said US President Donald Trump will attend Sunday’s World Cup final – his first appearance at the tournament.
He will jointly present the trophy, along with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, to the winning team’s captain. Though Trump was not at any game of the 48-team tournament, he was still involved – rather controversially. Trump personally urged Infantino to review a decision to hand a red card to US striker Folarin Balogun. FIFA, then, broke its own rules to suspend Balogun’s one-game ban, allowing him to play in the quarterfinals, which the US lost to Belgium. The controversial decision drew criticism and once again put the spotlight on the growing influence of politics on sport. Superstitions first: Argentinian President Milei won’t attend the final It is common practice for the heads of state of the finalist nations to attend the ultimate showdown, but Argentinian President Javier Milei won’t be travelling to New Jersey. Why? Because of superstition. Milei has decided to watch the game on a TV from his presidential residence, just like he did for each of Argentina’s seven matches en route to the final. He will also be putting on the same heavy jacket he wears each time. In Latin America, and particularly in Argentina, so-called “cabalas”, or ritualistic beliefs and habits, carry unusual weight, reflecting their passion for the national team. Canadian wildfire smoke blankets New York before World Cup final Smoke from Canadian wildfires has blanketed much of the northeastern US, triggering health alerts, but a cold front expected on the weekend will help dissipate the dangerous haze in time for Sunday’s World Cup final in the New York area. More than 80,000 people are expected to attend the World Cup final at the open-air New York-New Jersey stadium, while another 50,000 are expected to watch the game from Central Park in Manhattan.
The BriefWire