EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Lionel Scaloni broke into tears and left his postmatch press conference early after diving into his current thoughts on returning as Argentina's manager. The 48-year-old revealed he will speak to the Argentina FA's President, Claudio 'Chiqui' Tapia, about his future soon, but acknowledged that the pressure of reaching the levels of previous success could be difficult to manage.
Argentina's World Cup title defence ended in chaotic fashion as Leandro Paredes was sent off for his role in a mass brawl following their final defeat to Spain. Enzo Fernandez had already been dismissed before the final whistle, while post-match violence overshadowed Spain's historic triumph and drew strong criticism from pundits.
A chippy World Cup final between Spain and Argentina got ugly once the final whistle confirmed La Roja as champions. Several La Albiceleste players tried to confront the champions' players on the pitch. Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni had to play peacekeeper as he broke up several skirmishes on the pitch.
As time ticked on and the shadows continued to envelop the pitch in New Jersey, Argentina kept waiting. Surely, the moment would arrive, right? It always does? For the last two World Cups, there was always a Lionel Messi moment of magic, and it always seemed to arrive when Argentina needed it most.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has arguably been the busiest man at the 2026 World Cup, clocking up a staggering mileage that would see him circle the globe more than twice. As the tournament prepares for its grand finale between Argentina and Spain in New Jersey, the full scale of the president’s exhaustive itinerary has been revealed.
For the first time in football history, the winners of the World Cup will be presented with American-style championship rings following the final in New Jersey. FIFA has confirmed that a limited run of these luxury mementos will also be made available to the public, though the staggering price tag has already raised eyebrows across the globe.
David Beckham found himself in the unusual position after being vocally booed by a live audience during a high-profile public appearance. The former England captain found himself in the crosshairs of a frustrated crowd while discussing the upcoming World Cup final between Argentina and Spain.
Spain striker Borja Iglesias has injected some humor into the build-up to the 2026 World Cup final by joking that he only intends to shake hands with Donald Trump to avoid ending up in a jail cell. The Celta Vigo forward is part of the La Roja squad preparing to face Argentina at the MetLife Stadium, where the United States President is expected to be part of the official trophy presentation.
Lionel Messi and Argentina are readying themselves for a historic World Cup final showdown against Spain, but the defending champions may have a superstitious hurdle to overcome. Rapper Drake has publicly backed the Albiceleste with a massive financial wager, sparking fears among supporters that the infamous "Drake curse" could strike.
The 2026 World Cup final is set to be a historic occasion both on and off the pitch as Argentina and Spain battle for global supremacy at MetLife Stadium. FIFA has pulled out all the stops for the tournament's first-ever official half-time show, bringing together a collection of the world's biggest musical icons.
Kylian Mbappe has reached the summit of World Cup history, but the France captain is fully prepared to see his stay at the top lasting less than 24 hours. Despite surpassing Lionel Messi to become the competition's all-time leading scorer with 22 goals, the Real Madrid forward remains certain that his former PSG team-mate will have something to say in Sunday's final against Spain.
Lionel Messi has sparked fresh speculation about his international future after releasing a powerful and emotional statement just hours before the 2026 World Cup final. The legendary forward, who has led Argentina to the brink of consecutive global titles, described the upcoming clash against Spain as part of a journey that has already secured its place in the history books.
The World Cup final is finally upon us, and Sunday's showdown between Spain and Argentina in New Jersey promises to be an absolutely enthralling encounter between the two best teams in the tournament - with the emphasis very much on 'teams'.
Preparation for the biggest match in world football has been thrown into disarray after Spain were forced to cancel their final training session before Sunday's World Cup final. Luis de la Fuente’s side, along with their opponents Argentina, were hit by severe weather conditions in the New Jersey area that made outdoor work impossible.
The political fallout from Argentina’s dramatic victory over England has reached the highest levels of government. While FIFA weighs up potential sanctions for a controversial banner, the White House has unexpectedly waded into the sovereignty dispute to defend the players' right to free speech. The incident has reignited old tensions between London and Buenos Aires on the world’s biggest sporting stage.
The upcoming international showpiece in America will see a fascinating generational battle unfold as the Albiceleste captain Lionel Messi prepares to encounter La Roja's breakout winger Lamine Yamal. Having closely monitored the teenager's spectacular developmental trajectory at Camp Nou, the veteran playmaker expressed immense admiration while plotting to stop him.
Former Spain international Joan Capdevila has made a direct plea to US President Donald Trump after being denied entry to the United States ahead of Sunday's World Cup final. The 2010 winner had planned to fly out with his children to support La Roja at MetLife Stadium before his travel authorisation was suddenly rejected by border officials.
Spain legend Andres Iniesta has warned his national team that stopping Lionel Messi completely in the World Cup final is a near-impossible task. The 2010 hero believes the key to victory lies in imposing their own rhythm rather than obsessing over the brilliant Argentina captain.
Marc Cucurella has revealed he will retire from international football if Spain beat Argentina in the World Cup final. The defender believes that winning both the European Championship and the World Cup would complete his journey with La Roja, while also making an unusual promise to honour head coach Luis de la Fuente.
Lionel Scaloni has refused to speculate on Lionel Messi's international future ahead of Argentina's World Cup final against Spain. The Argentina boss insisted only the captain knows whether he will continue beyond the tournament as retirement speculation intensifies.
Barcelona sporting director Deco has admitted he faces a deep conflict of loyalties ahead of Sunday's World Cup final between Spain and Argentina. The former midfielder has travelled to New York for the showpiece event, which will prominently feature both Catalan club icon Lionel Messi and a strong contingent of current Blaugrana players.
United States President Donald Trump has offered an unlikely critique of Thomas Tuchel's tactics following England's dramatic World Cup semi-final exit against Argentina. The American leader questioned the decision to drop captain Harry Kane into a deep defensive role after the Three Lions surrendered a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1 in Atlanta.
Lionel Scaloni hailed Lionel Messi as the greatest player in football history after Argentina reached the World Cup final. The Argentina boss urged supporters to cherish the 39-year-old's remarkable career as the reigning world champions prepare to face Spain in Sunday's showpiece.
Lamine Yamal has always looked up to Lionel Messi. The Barcelona legend was - and remains - his one and only idol. "I never had another," Yamal admitted to Tuttosport. "I once took a photo with him. I was unknown." He wasn't just unknown, though; he was still only a baby, just a few weeks old when he and his mother partook in a 2007 photoshoot organised by SPORT for a charity calendar.
Argentina president Javier Milei has confirmed he will not travel to the MetLife Stadium for the World Cup final against Spain. The controversial leader explained that his shocking absence from the showpiece event in New York is entirely down to deep-rooted football superstition, having watched the previous seven victories from his home.
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