FIFA World Cup 2026 LIVE updates: Lionel Messi’s Argentina meet Spain in final

Key Posts4.42amTrump backs Messi to triumphBy Michael KoziolIn a pre-game interview with Fox, Donald Trump said he was trying not to get involved in picking winners, but it was difficult to bet against Lionel Messi. “I watched that pass, I guess you’d call it a pass, it was exactly perfect,” Trump said.“The way he got away from the defender - he was very well defended, all of a sudden he’s standing by himself.4.37amOur verdict on the show before the showBy Robert MoranThe pre-show happened, and let’s just say I could’ve slept in. Besides being an obnoxious anti-Messi troll, YouTuber IShowSpeed showed off his other talent, singing and dancing to a song titled Champions that should win him the next Rock Eisteddfod.IShowSpeed performs during the closing ceremony.Getty ImagesPost Malone popped up in a cowboy hat and the tightest Canadian tuxedo you’ll ever see to perform his new song Chrome Heartbreaker, a return to his rap roots after going country, before bringing out Swae Lee for the Spiderverse hit Sunflowers.And… that was it? No sign of Tom Cruise yet, but judging from the promo tie-in he just dropped for his upcoming movie Digger, maybe he’s just warming up.Post Malone wears a T-shirt that reads “I just hope both teams have fun” as he performs before the final.Getty Images4.33amDonald Trump flies over the stadium in his helicopterBy Michael KoziolDonald Trump just completed a couple of laps around the stadium in Marine One, the presidential helicopter.Some people in the crowd seemed aware of what was happening but it was hard to tell whether they were cheering or booing.Trump flew in from his golf club in Bedminster New Jersey.The Marine One helicopter carrying President Donald Trump flies over the stadium before the matchAP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin4.32amThe warms-ups are completeBy Lionel Messi stretches with Rodrigo De Paul.AP Photo/Ashley LandisAnd gives the crowd a wave.AP Photo/Ashley LandisSpain get warmed up.AP Photo/Seth Wenig4.30amStorms clear bushfire air pollutantBy Michael KoziolThe stadium is starting to fill up, with under an hour to go until kickoff.We’ve really had some good luck with the weather – the storms that rolled in yesterday cleared out the smoke from those Canadian bushfires, and the air quality today is actually pretty good.FIFA and the White House had been in talks over the past 48 hours about contingencies if the air quality remained as bad (and potentially dangerous) as it was a few days ago.But it has cleared right up and the air quality index here in East Rutherford, New Jersey currently reads 53, which is right at the low end of “moderate” on the pollutant scale.And it’s a lovely, sunny 27 degrees.4.30amCan Messi still win the golden boot?By Yesterday, during the third-place play-off, France’s Kylian Mbappe scored two goals to surpass Messi in both the golden boot race and all-time World Cup goal scorer count.Messi will need to find two goals himself to take back the all-time record, and play for more than 57 minutes, to win the golden boot. That way, he and Mbappe will be tied on goals scored, assists and just the minutes played will separate the two.4.17amDelfina flew from Melbourne to watch Argentina play in the finalBy Elias VisontayAfter watching Argentina’s semi-final win over England on a cold Melbourne morning last Thursday, Delfina Moresco booked a flight to the United States. Within hours, she was on a plane to New York.The Argentinian-Australian had already burned through her savings travelling to the US for the South American nation’s first four matches at the World Cup, and had barely recovered from the jet lag since returning home and navigating early morning kick-off times, before she turned around to fly back.Melbourne-based Argentinian-Australian Delfina Moresco has travelled to the 2026 World Cup twice – and says despite costing her thousands, it’s the best thing she’s ever done.“The vibe on the street, the parties after the match, it’s genuinely the best thing I’ve done in my life,” the 26-year-old told this masthead from New York.This World Cup has been branded the most expensive sporting event in history, but the eye-watering cost of tickets and outlay on travel didn’t stop Australians, whether supporting the Socceroos or other nations, from attending. It is also claimed to be the most lucrative sports event ever for organiser FIFA, whose projected revenues are set to exceed $15 billion, partly due to an expanded 48-team format.Read the full story by Elias Visontay, here.4.16amThe Messi and Lamine Yamal bath photo explainedBy Danny RussellNineteen years ago, a young Lionel Messi gingerly held a five-month-old baby in a bath as part of a promotional photo shoot.In four days time, that baby – now a bona fide Spanish star – poses one of the greatest obstacles to the Argentinian champion laying his hands on a second successive FIFA World Cup. Both have been named to their teams’ starting XIs this morning.Lionel Messi, then aged 20, helps to bathe Lamine Yamal, who was five months old.APThe incredible snapshot shows a long-haired Messi bathing a cherubic Lamine Yamal.It was taken in December 2007, and resurfaced again this week as Argentina and Spain prepare to clash for team sport’s most coveted trophy.4.12amMessi the link between Argentina and Spain’s colliding contrastsBy Emma KempIt has been 10 years and 21 days ago since Lionel Messi retired from international football. He had just missed his penalty in a shootout against Chile to decide the 2016 Copa America Centenario champions, could not comprehend that Argentina had lost a fourth major final in nine years, and called it quits immediately.Messi arrives at the stadium for the final.AP Photo/Pamela SmithHe was 29, but by then had spent so many years in pursuit of an elusive international achievement to match his resplendent club career (he had won, by then, five of his eight Ballons d’Or). The 2014 World Cup final loss to Germany – he missed a one-on-one with Manuel Neuer – only intensified the criticism in Argentina, including accusations he prioritised Barcelona over national duties and lacked the yearning and leadership of Diego Maradona.“I’ve done all I can. It hurts not to be a champion,” he told media after the loss to Chile at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. “It’s been four finals – I tried. It was the thing I wanted the most, but I couldn’t get it, so I think it’s over. I think this is best for everyone.”In Buenos Aires, a 15-year-old River Plate academy player named Enzo Fernandez did not think it was best for everyone. One day after that final on June 26, 2016, he posted an open letter to Messi on his Facebook page.4.10amThe pre-show performance so farBy The view from the bleachers.AP Photo/Seth WenigInfluencer IShowSpeed performs before the World Cup final.AP Photo/Frank Franklin IIPost Malone sings before the final. AP Photo/Frank Franklin IIDancers perform during the pregame closing ceremony.AP Photo/Matt Slocum1 of 2