ATLANTA — The World Cup final is set, and fittingly, a clash of styles awaits. Lionel Messi — the most prolific goalscorer in the tournament’s history — and defending champion Argentina will take on Spain’s defensive juggernaut on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, to decide the title.
Spain beat France in one semifinal on Tuesday; Argentina, the comeback kings of this tournament, rallied to beat England 2-1 in the other semifinal on Wednesday.
Argentina is seeking its fourth title and looking to become the first back-to-back World Cup champions since Brazil pulled off the feat in 1958 and 1962. Spain is looking for its second title, after winning in 2010.
Argentina leads the tournament in goals scored — 19.
Spain leads the tournament in fewest goals allowed — one.
Something will have to give on Sunday, when the biggest World Cup ever — a 48-team, 104-match extravaganza spread out over the U.S., Canada and Mexico — comes to an end.
It’s not Finalissima. It’s going to be better.
South American champion Argentina and European champion Spain were supposed to meet in Doha, Qatar, back in late March in Finalissima, a showdown between the teams that are led by Messi and Lamine Yamal in a prequel of the World Cup.
That game never happened. Security became an issue because of unrest in the Middle East, with Iran intensifying its attacks on neighboring countries at that time in retaliation to the aerial attacks by United States and Israel in a war that is still ongoing. The game was called off.
So, instead of playing at Lusail Stadium, the site of the epic 2022 World Cup final where Messi and Argentina won on penalty kicks over France and Kylian Mbappé, they’ll play just outside of New York in soccer’s biggest game.
It’ll be a showdown of soccer’s present versus soccer’s future, not to mention a showdown of the teams that held the top two spots in FIFA’s world rankings entering the World Cup — Argentina at No. 1, Spain at No. 2.
There was a famous photo taken in 2007 when Messi was part of a UNICEF program and posed with a baby.
Yamal was that baby. Like Messi (who now plays for Inter Miami), Yamal would become a left-footed star for Spanish club Barcelona. It is the most improbable of stories: from a photo together two decades ago, the two stars are set to be together again to end this year’s World Cup.
A picture-perfect finish.
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ARGENTINA AND ENGLAND PATHS TO SEMIFINALS
Argentina won all three of its group stage matches to take Group J. In the knockout rounds, La Albiceleste survived scares from Cabo Verde and Egypt and defeated Switzerland in the quarterfinals.
England won two of its three group stage matches to take Group L. The Three Lions knocked out Democratic Republic of Congo and co-host Mexico before outlasting Norway in the quarterfinals.
Both teams have already won matches at Atlanta Stadium.
If Argentina advances, it will have the chance to become only the third country to win back-to-back World Cup titles. For England, making it to final would give it a shot of the World Cup “coming home” for first time since 1966.
FIFA FAN FEST ATLANTA
The FIFA Fan Fest will be open on Wednesday for the semifinal match. The gates open at 12 p.m. and the celebration will last throughout the night with a special closing ceremony.
A limited number of general admission, general admission plus and VIP passes remain here.
Decatur Watch Fest will also open for the semifinal. Fans do not need a ticket to attend. You can also find other watch parties at the Battery Atlanta in Cobb County and Mega Watchfest at Arena at Southlake in Clayton County.
ATLANTA STADIUM TICKETS AND GATES
The stadium gates will open three hours before kickoff. FIFA encourages fans to give themselves enough time to get through security and in case any ticket issues come up at the gate.
Here are the Atlanta Stadium entrances that fans can use.
- Entrance A: Postell Street, closest to the Vine City Station
- Entrance B: Northside Drive
- Entrance C: Magnolia Street
- Entrance D: Just off Andrew Young International Boulevard and Magnolia Street
- Entrance E: Andrew Young International Boulevard
- Entrance F: Centennial Olympic Park Drive (Not accessible)
- Entrance G: On the other side of the Silver Deck and entrance F (Not accessible)
There are still tickets available on FIFA’s website.
GETTING TO STADIUM OR FAN FEST
All parking passes must be pre-purchased and only people with match tickets can buy them, according to FIFA. You can find what parking is available near Atlanta Stadium here. The parking lots will open four hours before kickoff.
Atlanta Stadium will have rideshare areas on Broad Street between Trinity Avenue and Mitchell Street. There will also be accessible pickup and drop-off areas at GWCC Bus Lane C (Entrances B & C) and the Transportation Terminal (Entrance E).
If you’re heading to the match or Fan Fest at Centennial Olympic Park, you can also take MARTA.
There are two MARTA stations next to the stadium: SEC District (formerly known as CNN Center/GWCC station) and Vine City. Fans can also walk from Peachtree Center or Five Points stations to Fan Fest.
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