Argentina was literally five minutes from packing their bags, but an absolutely wild comeback means the defending champions are headed to another World Cup final. England led 1-0 in the 85th minute of Wednesday’s semifinal before Enzo Fernández popped in the equalizer. Then, Lautaro Martínez completed the stunning turnaround in stoppage time. That 2-1 victory sends Argentina to its second consecutive World Cup title match.
The Champs Just Don't Quit
Can anyone actually hold these champs down? It certainly appears not! La Albiceleste won in comeback fashion again, this time over England, which is just insane. This team has now qualified for a seventh World Cup final, tying Brazil for second-most all-time, with Germany having eight. On top of that, the quest is very real for Lionel Messi and his crew to become the third repeat World Cup winner and the first team ever to win four straight major titles. And get this: Messi hasn't even scored in the past two games! Instead, he's dished out three assists, including setting up both goals in that incredible win over England. The odds for them to advance were +134, with their moneyline at +270.Spain's Unbreakable Wall Rolls On
Waiting for them in the final is Spain, who absolutely took care of business against France, winning 2-0 in Tuesday’s semifinal. Spain enters this final unbeaten in a staggering 37 matches since March 2024, rocking 28 wins and nine draws. That run matches Italy’s 2018-21 streak for the longest unbeaten stretch in men’s international soccer. Back when the 2026 FIFA World Cup odds dropped in 2022, only two teams were ever the favorites: Spain and France. Now, only Spain remains, having knocked off France and advancing to its second-ever World Cup final. La Roja has Les Bleus' number, too, beating them eight times in 11 matches over the last 20 years. All-time, Spain is 19-7-13 against France across all competitions, outscoring them 73-44. In single-elimination matches, they are 4-4, but Spain has won four of the last five. That defeat by Spain finally ended France’s streak of World Cup title berths, after making the final in 2018 (win) and 2022 (loss). Spain’s odds to advance were -154, and their moneyline was +130. So, here we go, World Cup Final time: Argentina versus Spain. An incredible comeback story meets an absolutely insane unbeaten streak. Who lifts the trophy? We are about to find out!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.