Hours before Spain and Argentina meet in the final, Tariq Panja joins Natalie Kitroeff to recap the biggest World Cup ever played — 48 teams across three countries — and set up the matchup. The tournament's great underdog story was Cape Verde: they held Spain in the group stage, and 40-year-old journeyman goalkeeper Vozinha became a folk hero before Sidney Lopez Cabral's stunning strike against Argentina nearly toppled the eventual finalists — a goal Panja experienced while being launched into the air by a Cape Verdean fan in a Houston fan zone. Erling Haaland punched Norway through to the quarterfinals in his first World Cup and left the U.S. carrying a stuffed raccoon off the plane home.
The low point: after U.S. striker Balogun was sent off against Bosnia, President Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino, the one-match suspension was overturned, and the American team went from feel-good story to tournament villain overnight. Add mounting anger at video review — including a disallowed Egypt goal against Argentina that would have been among the tournament's best — and the competition's integrity questions ran alongside record viewership.
Then the final itself. Spain is process over stars: a possession style drilled through the federation's academies from childhood, which shut out a France side stacked with two rosters of attacking talent in the semifinal. After being 'figured out' following their 2008–2012 dynasty, coach Luis de la Fuente added pace and power on the wings around 19-year-old Lamine Yamal, who has yet to fully ignite this tournament but could own the final. Argentina is the opposite: a team built entirely around Lionel Messi, who opened the tournament with a hat trick that tied the all-time scoring record at nearly 40 years old, and whose teammates form a posse of bodyguards whenever an opponent fouls him. Argentina have suffered through comeback after comeback — against England, Switzerland and Egypt — while Spain has coasted without breaking a sweat. System versus passion, decided this afternoon.
“It is honestly an absolute privilege to have been around at the time of Lionel Messi.” Tariq Panja · at 22:22 —
“Lo siento, amigos. Argentina will lose against the first good team they play.” Tariq Panja · at 26:18 —
New York Times global sports reporter who has covered the tournament from the stadiums and fan zones — his third appearance on the show in five weeks, and he'll be at the final.
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The World Cup Final Is Here