Lionel Messi’s Argentina team pulled off another stunning comeback at the 2026 World Cup, defeating Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and England 2-1 in Wednesday’s semifinal in Atlanta. Down 1-0 after Anthony Gordon’s early second-half strike, Argentina rallied with two late goals, capped by Lautaro Martinez’s 92nd-minute winner, to deny England a first World Cup title since 1966. The defending champions now advance to Sunday’s final against Spain at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with kickoff set for 3 p.m. ET.
Spain Opens as Heavy Favorite in World Cup Final Odds
Despite reaching a third World Cup final, Messi and his teammates once again enter as underdogs. England had been a slight favorite against Argentina in the semifinal, but Spain carries an even larger edge heading into Sunday. Bet365 lists Spain as a -175 favorite to lift the trophy, while Argentina sits at +125. Meanwhile, prediction market Kalshi gives Spain a 58% chance of winning, compared to 42% for Argentina, so the World Cup final odds clearly favor La Roja over the two-time defending champion.
Spain earned its spot with a commanding 2-0 win over France on Tuesday. Mikel Oyarzabal converted a first-half penalty, and Pedro Porro added a second-half goal to complete the victory. France, which had cruised through much of the tournament, looked uncharacteristically flat throughout the match. As a result, Spain now carries significant momentum into the final and will aim to add a second World Cup title to its collection, having previously won the tournament in 2010.
For Argentina, this final represents a chance to become the first team to retain the World Cup since Brazil in 1962. Additionally, a win would give Messi his second consecutive title as captain, extending his legendary international career at age 39. Sunday’s showdown at MetLife Stadium promises to be a fitting finale for the first 48-team tournament, pitting South America’s reigning champion against Europe’s rising force, regardless of what the World Cup final odds suggest.
