The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, reached its climax after five weeks of intense competition. One match remains to crown the new world champions: tonight’s final in New York (9 PM CET) will see Spain face Argentina, the reigning title holders.

France, which played last night in Miami for the small final, faced England in a 100% European showdown. In a chaotic match with a scenario Didier Deschamps had never experienced before, the Bleus were defeated by England (4-6). Trailing 0-4 at halftime, they fought back in the second half (3-4), notably thanks to two goals from Mbappé, but ultimately fell short against the Three Lions, who sealed the win (4-6). A peculiar end to Deschamps’ 14-year tenure, though his legacy remains stellar: 120 wins, 35 draws, and 30 losses in 185 games.

With ten goals, Kylian Mbappé leads the tournament’s scoring charts and becomes the all-time top scorer in World Cup history (22 goals), surpassing Lionel Messi (8 goals, 21 total). The Argentine maestro, who has the chance to extend his tally in tonight’s final, will be watching closely. France finishes fourth in the tournament, following a 2022 final and a 2018 triumph.

Argentina, led by Messi, now faces Spain at the MetLife Stadium in New York (82,500 capacity) in a final that could see them achieve the 2022-2026 double—a feat only matched by Brazil (1958-1962) and Italy (1934-1938) in distant eras.

Throughout the tournament, we’ve tracked the continent’s teams through a daily barometer, highlighting their performances and standout moments. Sixteen European nations started among the 48 teams on June 11, with three reaching the semifinals and one still vying for the ultimate prize. Each day, readers followed our updates, proving that European football can offer a fresh perspective beyond traditional narratives.

Here’s the final barometer of the 23rd World Cup, summarizing the key moments from Day 38 (July 18) and previewing today’s final showdown.

The Stats 📊

1 vs 19

Spain’s defensive mastery shone throughout the tournament, with six clean sheets in seven games. The La Roja conceded just one goal—against Belgium in the quarterfinals (2-1)—while dominating possession with near-flawless passing. No surprise that three Spaniards top the passing charts, with Rodri leading the way (694 passes) and the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner. This could be decisive against Argentina, whose attack has netted 19 goals (2.72 per game), spearheaded by Lionel Messi (8 goals, 4 assists), who seems to have rediscovered his 20-year-old form.

Quotes 🎙️

After the loss to England, the French squad paid tribute to their manager, whom they had hoped to send off with a victory. Mission unaccomplished! While the ambition was clear, the attack lacked cohesion in this wild small final, whose chaotic script will linger in memories. Deschamps, visibly emotional in the post-match press conference, focused on the positives: “I wanted to keep France at the top. Wearing this jersey is the greatest honor.” He refrained from discussing his future, simply admitting, “I have choices.” Unless surprising news emerges, Zinedine Zidane is expected to take over.

Deep Dive 🔎