Spain vs Argentina: how both reached the 2026 final

It’s Spain vs Argentina. The reigning European champion against the reigning world champion, one match left in the biggest tournament of the summer, kicking off today at 3:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM CT (Mexico City) at MetLife Stadium. Both teams arrived unbeaten across seven matches, but they got here in completely different ways — one in total control, the other on pure heart. Here’s how the final came together, and why today is the last pick of everyone’s pool.

Spain 2-0 France: control from front to back

Spain did it the calm way. In the semifinal against France, Oyarzabal converted a penalty in the 22nd minute after a foul on Lamine Yamal, and Pedro Porro added the second in the 58th to put the game out of reach. Unai Simón kept a clean sheet at the other end. No panic, no late scare — a 2-0 that reflected how Spain has moved through this tournament: possession, patience, and a back line that hasn’t given much away. (Source: Sports Illustrated.)

Spain now chases its second star. The way they’ve played, they’ll be many people’s pick — which is exactly why the ones who fade the favorite could separate the table.

Argentina 2-1 England: heart until the very last minute

Argentina took the scenic route. Against England they went 1-0 down and had to come from behind: Enzo Fernández leveled it in the 85th minute, and Lautaro Martínez scored the winner two minutes into stoppage time to send the reigning champions through. It was the kind of comeback that defines a tournament run — agony one minute, delirium the next. (Source: Yahoo Sports.)

If Argentina wins today, it becomes the first team to go back-to-back since Brazil in 1962 — more than 60 years without a repeat champion. That storyline alone makes this final the one people will remember.

Two ways to reach a final

That’s the beauty of this matchup for a prediction pool: two teams, two totally different paths to the same stage. Spain controlled its semifinal wire to wire. Argentina survived its own on a stoppage-time winner. Whoever you’re calling for the final, the person in your group who saw Argentina winning it in the last minute — that’s the one who actually knows ball.

Just remember this is pool ammo, not a prediction anyone can promise. Both teams arrived unbeaten in seven; a single moment decides it. That uncertainty is the whole reason the last pick of the tournament is the most fun one to make.

The last pick of the tournament

Today is the final match of the summer — which means it’s the final entry in everybody’s pool. After this, the big tournament is over and the focus shifts to league seasons kicking off around the world. But the fun of watching one scoreboard move while your whole friend group sweats every goal? That doesn’t have to end with the tournament.

If you’ve been running your pool in a group chat or a spreadsheet all summer, the final is a good moment to see how the other way works. With Quini you set up a pool in two minutes, invite everyone with a six-character code, and the live leaderboard updates itself as the goals go in — no arguing about who called the score. New to it? The how it works page walks through it, and the FAQ covers the rest. If you want to read up on the format itself, here’s what a quiniela actually is.

Get Quini at playquini.com and lock in your pick before kickoff.