World Cup 2026: Spain v Argentina countdown, Trump to attend final, England news – live | 2026 World Cup
Important events
Donald Trump will attend Sunday’s World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt said Thursday.
“We’re looking forward to the final game on Sunday, and I know the president is looking forward to being there,” Leavitt said. “This is a fitting end to a tournament that has demonstrated America’s ability to host the world on the grandest stage.”
Keir Starmer is backing the idea of FIFA investigating Argentina players who displayed a banner suggesting their country was going to the Falklands Islands after their World Cup semi-final win over England, Downing Street said.
Jeff Rueter
double quotation mark As is true for many The Albicelestethe white and blue pull turns Romero into one of the 11 bleeding hearts that leave the yard uncovered and no seat unshown for good reason. Partnered with Lisandro Martínez, he is a relative strong man, often the last barrier between the striker and Emiliano Martínez. Apart from Lionel Messi and the Aston Villa goalkeeper, Romero has arguably been Argentina’s most consistent player on the way to their third World Cup final in four tournaments.
Aaron Timms
Over in America, Fox’s World Cup coverage is going under the microscope as it enjoys the final whistle.
double quotation mark Farewell to Geoff Shreeves, Fox’s middle-aged Oliver Twist chirping aside for the approval of his American masters. Farewell to Tom Rinaldi, his pocket squares and his “musical” meditations on balls and planets and stars and whatever. Farewell to Chef Nick, who is now forced to neglect his original contributions (kangaroo corndogs, fufu chicken tikka masala) when faced with the four contestants who lost surprisingly. And farewell to Jameis Winston, Fox’s fan correspondent, whose sad stadium delivery and oppressive sweats gave him the consistent look of a man electrocuted during baptism.
We’ll start with the newcomers from the England camp.
Thomas Tuchel is attached. Maybe he’ll download Football Manager and avoid the temptation to go Ultra Defensive.
It’s no wonder that players have become frustrated with the tactics they’ve seen fail.
Barney Ronay points to the bigger problems facing England than the young, naive players.
Why everything went wrong … with numbers.
Background
We can all be sure that England’s post-mortem will go on for a while longer, even if there is the absurdity of Saturday’s bronze medal game to look forward to. Thomas Tuchel’s strange switch does not seem to have cost him his job, so we can’t put off that discussion for too long.
Hopefully, the main attractions of this good Friday are the excitement of the final. Lionel Messi v Lamine Yamal and all that jazz. It should be an exciting matchup between one very good team and another very good one, you decide which one.
We’ll bring you all the latest and probably run into a few curveballs again.
