World Cup final: What to know

What the report says

The Independent Uganda, citing Xinhua, reports that Spain and Argentina will meet in Sunday’s World Cup final at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET (1900 GMT). The match brings together FIFA’s top two ranked teams, with Argentina first and Spain second, and closes the first 48-team World Cup, staged across 16 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico since opening in Mexico City on June 11.

Spain reach the final unbeaten, with six wins and one draw, 13 goals scored and only one conceded. Their route included knockout victories over Austria, Portugal, Belgium and France. Argentina have won all seven matches, scoring 19 and conceding seven, after group-stage wins over Algeria, Austria and Jordan and knockout wins against Cabo Verde, Egypt, Switzerland and England.

Key players include Lionel Messi, 39, who has been involved in 12 of Argentina’s 19 goals and is tied with Kylian Mbappe on eight goals in the Golden Boot race. Enzo Fernandez has also contributed decisive late goals for Argentina. For Spain, Lamine Yamal remains a major attacking threat, Rodri leads midfield, Mikel Oyarzabal has five goals, and goalkeeper Unai Simon set a World Cup record with 650 consecutive minutes without conceding.

The final also carries historical weight. Spain and Argentina have each won six of their 14 previous meetings, with two draws, and Argentina won their only prior World Cup encounter in 1966. A win would make Argentina only the third team to retain the trophy, after Italy and Brazil. FIFA’s tournament prize pool is reported at $871 million, with $50 million for the champion.