By The Associated Press
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal are set to star in global soccer’s biggest match as the World Cup ends Sunday at MetLife Stadium with Argentina facing Spain in the final. Argentina is chasing its fourth World Cup title and Spain its second. It’s the 104th and last match of the biggest World Cup ever, a 48-team event that played out over the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
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Shakira performs at halftime of the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Canadian singer Justin Bieber performs during the halftime show of during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
South Korean boy band BTS perform during the halftime show of the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Spectators watch as Madonna performs during half time of the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Madonna, stands with Ronaldinho and Ronaldo, in blue, as she performs at halftime during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Entertainers perform during halftime of the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Dancers perform during the halftime shoof the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Influencer IShowSpeed performs before the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Actor Tom Cruise speaks prior to the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Dancers perform during the pregame closing ceremony at the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Singer Post Malone performs during the tournament closing ceremony before the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Mario Kempes holds the trophy before the start of the World Cup championship final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
A presidential helicopter arrives prior to the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
President Donald J. Trump stands with FIFA President Gianni Infantino before the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum, from left, first lady Melania Trump, President Donald Trump, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Leena Al Ashqar, King Felipe VI of Spain and Queen Letizia of Spain attend the World Cup championship final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney, from left, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum, first lady Melania Trump and President Donald Trump attend the World Cup championship final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Spain’s Lamine Yamal arrives for the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Spanish players huddle beofre the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Argentina’s Lionel Messi stretches with teammate Rodrigo De Paul, right, during warmup before the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Spanish players warm up before the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Argentina warms up prior to the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Argentina’s Lionel Messi (10) vies for the ball with Spain’s Lamine Yamal (19) during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Spain’s Lamine Yamal runs with the ball during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez (23) makes a save during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Spain’s Rodri, left, vies for the ball with Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez (24) and Spain’s Fabian Ruiz (8) go for a header during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Argentina’s Alexis Mac Allister, right, tries to tackle Spain’s Dani Olmo during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Argentina’s Alexis Mac Allister (20) battles for the ball with Spain’s Fabian Ruiz (8) during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez (23) makes a save during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Argentina’s Nicolas Tagliafico vies for the ball with Spain’s Lamine Yamal, right, during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Spain’s Alex Baena helps Argentina’s Lionel Messi get back on his feet after a foul during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez speaks to Referee Slavko Vincic, of Slovenia, during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni instructs his players during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Argentina’s Nico Gonzalez (15) challenges for the ball with Spain’s Pedro Porro (12) during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Fireworks go off before World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Dancers perform as colorful smoke rises above the stadium during the halftime show at the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Shakira performs at halftime of the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
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