The 2026 World Cup, hosted across the United States, Mexico and Canada, is heading toward a Sunday final, and much of the preview coverage points to a matchup between Spain and Argentina, two of the sport's most watched teams. The tournament opened with a ceremony in Mexico featuring the singer Shakira.

Media previews have settled on two players expected to define the match. Argentina brings Lionel Messi, who has long anchored his national team. Spain counters with Lamine Yamal, one of the youngest players to reach this stage. The matchup has drawn wide preview coverage, including a poll of writers by Daily Mail Sport whose experts were divided on which side would prevail.

Slavko Vinčić of Slovenia has been appointed to referee the final. His selection places an experienced European official in charge of a contest between one European and one South American side.

Security around the event has been visible. Over New York, fighter jets intercepted an aircraft that entered a no-fly zone established for the tournament, an incident that ended without reported harm.

The World Cup has also carried a political dimension in the host country. President Donald Trump has featured prominently in the tournament's staging and is expected to present the trophy to the winning team on Sunday. A CNBC survey found that the television audience for the event remained broadly split across party lines despite the president's role.

Across the weeks of competition, news organizations have drawn early conclusions about the tournament's character. CNN pointed to lessons emerging from the group and knockout stages, while NBC described a competition shaped by its most talked-about moments. The Atlantic devoted a feature to Messi, examining how the Argentine captain reads the game around him.

References

1. 1.Daily Mail Sport — poll of writers previewing an anticipated Spain vs. Argentina final and divided expert predictions
2. 2.Daily Mail Sport — coverage of Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal as focal players
3. 3.Tournament officials — appointment of Slavko Vinčić of Slovenia as referee
4. 4.News reports — fighter jet interception of an aircraft in a tournament no-fly zone over New York
5. 5.CNBC — survey on television audience remaining split across party lines
6. 6.CNN — analysis of lessons from group and knockout stages
7. 7.NBC — coverage of the tournament's most talked-about moments
8. 8.The Atlantic — feature on Lionel Messi's reading of the game
9. 9.Event coverage — opening ceremony in Mexico featuring Shakira; Trump's role and expected trophy presentation