Spain or Argentina, who will win the FIFA World Cup? Ex-player predictions

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that predictions are building ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final between Spain and Argentina, billed as the first World Cup final meeting between the reigning European and South American champions. The match is set to decide whether Spain, Euro 2024 winners, claim a second world title 16 years after their 2010 triumph, or Argentina join the small group of nations to retain the trophy. Stats firm Opta gives Spain a 59.56 percent chance of winning in New Jersey.

Several former players cited by Al Jazeera favour Spain. Michael Owen described Luis de la Fuente’s side as a cohesive, confident team, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic said he expected Spain to control the final after their semifinal performance against France. Former England captain John Terry also picked Spain, and Iker Casillas, who captained Spain to the 2010 title, signalled support for another Spanish star on the badge.

Argentina’s case rests on resilience, experience and Lionel Messi’s influence. Alan Shearer backed the holders as the team best placed to disrupt Spain, pointing to their mentality and ability to find results under pressure. Micah Richards suggested Argentina may need to defend deep, transition quickly and involve Messi, with Julian Alvarez or Lautaro Martinez making the contest physically difficult.

Gary Lineker stayed with his pre-tournament choice of Spain but said Argentina’s grit and Messi’s presence make the final hard to call. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani declined to predict a winner, saying he was simply hoping for a strong game.