07/19/26 02:08:00
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07/19 14:06 CDT The World Cup final is underway, with Argentina taking on Spain
in soccer's biggest game
The World Cup final is underway, with Argentina taking on Spain in soccer's
biggest game
By TIM REYNOLDS
AP Sports Writer
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) --- Lionel Messi and Argentina on one side. Lamine
Yamal and Spain on the other.
The World Cup final is finally underway.
Kickoff was shortly past 3 p.m. EDT at MetLife Stadium. Argentina is seeking
its fourth title, Spain its second --- and could become the first nation to
simultaneously hold the World Cup crowns in both men's and women's soccer.
Argentina made three changes from its starting 11 for the semifinal win over
England: Midfielders Rodrigo De Paul and Nico Gonzalez, along with defender
Gonzalo Montiel were in, while midfielders Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina,
along with forward Giuliano Simeone, were dropped.
Spain kept its starting 11 from the semifinal win over France untouched.
It was the 104th and last match of the biggest World Cup ever, a 48-team event
that played out over the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Because there were more
matches than any previous World Cup, it was no surprise that there were more
goals than all other editions --- 307 and counting entering Sunday.
If Argentina and Spain combine for at least two goals in the final, this World
Cup will also have the highest average number of goals per game since the 1956
event saw 3.6 per contest. (If the teams score fewer than two Sunday, it'll
still be the highest average per game since 1970's World Cup saw 2.97 goals per
game.)
The spectacle will not be limited to simply soccer.
Post Malone headlined the closing ceremony, which started about 90 minutes
before the final was set to begin and just a few minutes after Messi and
Argentina arrived at the stadium. The halftime show --- a first for FIFA ---
has Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira and BTS as fellow headliners, along with
Burna Boy, Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, the PS 22 Chorus featuring
Coldplay, and even characters from Sesame Street and the Muppets.
President Donald Trump was present as well, with plans calling for him to be
part of the trophy presentation at the conclusion of the match.
"I won't pick sides," Trump told Fox Sports in an interview released Sunday
afternoon before the final. "I just think it's very hard to bet against Messi.
He's great."
Argentina was wearing its light blue and white vertically striped jerseys for
the match, while Spain was wearing predominantly red with navy sleeves. The
officiating crew was from Slovenia --- Slavko Vincic is the referee, with Toma?
Klancnik and Andra? Kovacic his assistant referees.
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See more of AP's World Cup coverage here
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