The 2026 World Cup Final is set. Spain swept France 2-0 in their semifinal without breaking a sweat. Argentina needed a 92nd-minute Lautaro Martínez winner to survive England. One team has been cruising. The other keeps escaping by the skin of its teeth. Both are here, and only one lifts the trophy on Sunday.
Predicted Spain Starting XI (FC 26 Ratings)
Spain plays a 4-3-3 with possession at the heart of everything. Here's the likely XI based on their tournament run:
| SPAIN PREDICTED XI | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | POS | OVR | PAC | PAS | DRI | DEF | PHY | Job |
| Unai Simón | GK | 85 | 84 | 76 | 85 | 49 | 84 | Six clean sheets, one goal conceded all tournament |
| Carvajal | RB | 85 | 80 | 79 | 81 | 81 | 79 | Defensive solidity, overlaps when Yamal cuts inside |
| Aymeric Laporte | CB | 82 | 51 | 74 | 70 | 83 | 77 | 83 DEF, quietly anchors the back line |
| Pau Cubarsí | CB | 82 | 70 | 66 | 77 | 84 | 76 | 84 DEF at 19 years old, future superstar |
| Marc Cucurella | LB | 84 | 75 | 79 | 80 | 82 | 79 | 82 DEF, relentless up and down the left |
| Rodri | CDM | 90 | 65 | 86 | 84 | 86 | 85 | Best CDM in the game. The reason Spain conceded once |
| Pedri | CM | 89 | 77 | 85 | 91 | 78 | 77 | 91 DRI, ball sticks to his feet under any pressure |
| Fabián Ruiz | CM | 85 | 61 | 80 | 81 | 75 | 72 | Box-to-box, scored winners earlier in the knockout rounds |
| Lamine Yamal | RM | 89 | 85 | 86 | 90 | 23 | 53 | Won the semifinal penalty. 19 years old. Defenders fear him |
| Mikel Oyarzabal | ST | 82 | 77 | 81 | 82 | 42 | 65 | Tournament top scorer with 5 goals |
| Nico Williams | LW | 86 | 93 | 80 | 87 | 36 | 66 | 93 PAC, pure threat on the left, stretches defenses |
Spain XI average OVR: 85.4
Predicted Argentina Starting XI (FC 26 Ratings)
Argentina goes with a 4-3-3 built around feeding Messi and hoping he produces magic. The likely XI:
| ARGENTINA PREDICTED XI | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | POS | OVR | PAC | PAS | DRI | DEF | PHY | Job |
| Emiliano Martínez | GK | 85 | 83 | 82 | 85 | 56 | 85 | Big-game keeper, penalty saver, world champion |
| Nahuel Molina | RB | 81 | 85 | 73 | 78 | 79 | 78 | Pace on the right, but Yamal will test him |
| Cristian Romero | CB | 85 | 80 | 72 | 76 | 87 | 86 | 87 DEF + 86 PHY, Argentina's best defender |
| Nicolás Otamendi | CB | 83 | 65 | 60 | 66 | 84 | 83 | Veteran leader, 84 DEF but 65 PAC is a problem |
| Nicolás Tagliafico | LB | 80 | 80 | 75 | 76 | 80 | 80 | Solid if unspectacular, will need help against Williams |
| Alexis Mac Allister | CM | 87 | 66 | 85 | 85 | 78 | 76 | 85 PAS feeds Messi, 78 DEF shields the back |
| Enzo Fernández | CM | 84 | 68 | 85 | 81 | 73 | 75 | Equalizer vs England in the 85th minute |
| Rodrigo De Paul | CM | 84 | 75 | 83 | 83 | 76 | 83 | 83 PHY, engine room, presses all game |
| Lionel Messi | RW | 86 | 78 | 85 | 90 | 33 | 64 | 8 tournament goals, 2 semifinal assists, GOAT |
| Lautaro Martínez | ST | 88 | 81 | 75 | 84 | 51 | 83 | 88 SHO, 92nd-minute winner vs England |
| Julián Álvarez | ST | 87 | 85 | 81 | 87 | 57 | 79 | Long-range stunner vs Switzerland, links the attack |
Argentina XI average OVR: 84.5
Key Matchup Insights
Three battles will decide who lifts the trophy:
- Messi vs Rodri: Messi's 90 DRI against the best defensive midfielder in FC 26. If Rodri can't contain him between the lines, Argentina wins. If he can, Spain controls everything.
- Yamal vs Argentina's left: 85 PAC and 90 DRI on the wing. Tagliafico (80 OVR) is the weak link Argentina can't hide. Spain will overload that side.
- Lautaro vs Spain's defense: Spain conceded one goal in seven games. Lautaro has 88 SHO and keeps scoring late. Something has to give.
Spain's average XI rating of 85.4 edges Argentina's 84.5. That gap shows up where it matters. Rodri and Pedri in midfield, a defense that hasn't leaked, and a goalkeeper with six clean sheets. Argentina has the better attack on paper, but Spain has the better team.
Winner Pick
Predicted Final Score
Spain 2-1 Argentina
Spain controls possession, Yamal wins a penalty, Oyarzabal finishes. Messi pulls one back late. Rodri holds the line.
Spain wins it. They've been the better team for seven straight games, and Rodri alone is worth a point swing in any matchup. Argentina will score because Messi always does, but Spain's defense has been too good for too long to crack twice.
