The stage is set for a World Cup final that’s equal parts historic and unfamiliar. Defending champions Argentina will face European champions Spain on Sunday at New York New Jersey Stadium, and for the first time ever, neither fan base has any previous memory of this matchup deciding the sport’s biggest prize.
Argentina punched their ticket in Atlanta with a comeback that felt both inevitable and stunning. Lionel Messi’s team trailed England late before pulling off a rally that kept their bid for back-to-back titles alive. The last team to defend a World Cup was Brazil in 1958 and 1962. That’s a long time. This Argentina team has a chance to end that drought.
Spain got there first, beating France in Dallas on Tuesday in an epic semifinal. The 2010 champions looked composed when it mattered most, and now they’re one win away from their second title in program history.
What time does the final kick off?
Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. BST, which is 3 p.m. Eastern on Sunday July 19. The game will be broadcast on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, ITV1 and ITVX for viewers in the UK.
Before the match, there’s a Closing Ceremony starting at 6:30 p.m. BST (1:30 p.m. ET). That’s 90 minutes before kickoff, so plan your refreshments accordingly. Tom Cruise, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams and IShowSpeed are all scheduled to perform.
First halftime show in World Cup history
This final comes with something new: an official halftime show. For the first time ever, fans watching the World Cup final will get a halftime performance. It’s 11 minutes long and curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay (who will also appear). The lineup includes Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, Burna Boy, BTS, Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus.
Yes, that’s a lot of names for 11 minutes. But it’s a first, so expect it to be packed.
The game nobody wants to play
Before the main event, there’s the third-place playoff on Saturday July 18. England vs. France at Miami Stadium in Florida, kicking off at 10 p.m. BST (5 p.m. ET). It’s the game that decides who finishes third, which is essentially the consolation prize. But with names like these, it might still draw a decent crowd.
Argentina’s Lautaro Martinez scored the winner against England and celebrated with Messi in a moment that’s already been clipped and shared a thousand times. Expect plenty more of that if Argentina bring the trophy home on Sunday.
Leave a Comment