Everything is on the line as Argentina and Spain prepare to meet in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final in just a few hours, with the winners set to lift football’s most prestigious trophy, earn a record financial reward and secure their place in sporting history.

Record prize money

For the first time, the FIFA World Cup champions will receive $50 million in prize money, the biggest payout ever awarded to the winners of the tournament.

The runners-up will take home $33 million, meaning there is a $17 million difference between winning and losing the final.

The 2026 World Cup features a record $655 million in performance-based prize money, with every one of the 48 participating nations also receiving $1.5 million to help cover tournament preparation costs.

More than just money

While the financial rewards are significant, both teams have their sights set on lifting the iconic FIFA World Cup trophy.

Argentina is chasing a fourth World Cup title, having previously triumphed in 1978, 1986 and 2022. Victory would see Lionel Messi add another World Cup winner’s medal to an already remarkable career and cement Argentina’s status among football’s greatest nations.

Spain, meanwhile, is aiming for its second World Cup crown after winning the tournament for the first time in 2010. A victory would confirm Spain’s return to the summit of world football.

Individual honours still up for grabs

Several prestigious individual awards will also be decided after the final whistle.

Golden Boot – Awarded to the tournament’s leading goalscorer. France’s Kylian Mbappé currently leads with 10 goals, while Argentina captain Lionel Messi has eight and still has a chance to catch him in the final.

Golden Ball – Presented to the tournament’s best overall player. Messi is among the favourites, although several Spanish stars remain in contention depending on the outcome of the final.

Golden Glove – Awarded to the tournament’s outstanding goalkeeper, recognising the best performances between the posts throughout the competition.

Best Young Player Award – Presented to the standout player aged 21 or younger who has impressed during the tournament.

FIFA Fair Play Award – Awarded to the team with the best disciplinary record while demonstrating respect for opponents, referees and the spirit of the game.

A place in football history

Beyond the trophies and prize money, tonight’s winners will earn something priceless – a permanent place in football history.

For Argentina, victory would mean back-to-back World Cup triumphs and another chapter in the nation’s rich football legacy.

For Spain, it would mark a return to the top of the global game and a second world title.

When the final whistle sounds, one team will walk away with $50 million, the FIFA World Cup trophy, and the honour of being crowned the 2026 FIFA World Cup champions.

Football fans across Afghanistan won’t want to miss a moment of the action as Argentina and Spain battle for the biggest prize in world football. The 2026 FIFA World Cup final preview show starts at 10:00pm Kabul time live and exclusively on Ariana Television. The match kicks off at 11.30pm.

From the pre-match build-up and team line-ups to the trophy presentation and celebrations, viewers can catch every moment of what promises to be an unforgettable night of football. Tune in to Ariana Television and be part of the excitement as the world crowns its new champions.

Lionel Messi will have more than the FIFA World Cup trophy on his mind when Argentina takes on Spain in tonight’s final, with the Argentina captain also chasing the tournament’s Golden Boot after Kylian Mbappé surged to the top of the scoring charts.

Mbappé moved into the lead on Saturday by scoring twice in France’s thrilling 6-4 defeat to England in the third-place playoff. The two goals took the French striker’s tournament tally to 10 goals, putting him two clear of Messi, who has eight heading into the final.

The result means Messi now faces a difficult task if he is to reclaim the award for the tournament’s top scorer.

To draw level with Mbappé, Messi must score twice against Spain. If both players finish on 10 goals, FIFA’s tiebreakers would come into play. With both players currently credited with four assists, the Golden Boot would then be decided by the player who achieved the tally in fewer minutes on the pitch. Messi is believed to hold the advantage in that category.

To win the Golden Boot outright without relying on tiebreakers, Messi would need to score a hat-trick, finishing the tournament with 11 goals.

Despite the challenge, few would rule out the Argentina captain. The 39-year-old has once again delivered on football’s biggest stage, producing decisive performances throughout the tournament to lead the defending champions back to another World Cup final.

While individual honours are at stake, Messi has repeatedly said his focus remains on helping Argentina retain the World Cup. Victory over Spain would secure a fourth world title for Argentina and further cement Messi’s legacy as one of the greatest players in football history.

Mbappé, meanwhile, can only watch and wait after France’s campaign ended in the third-place playoff. His 10-goal haul has set a formidable benchmark, but with one match still to be played, the Golden Boot race remains alive.

Tonight’s final will determine not only the world champions but also whether Messi can produce one last remarkable performance to add another individual honour to his glittering career.

England secured third place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a thrilling 6-4 victory over France, recording their best finish at the tournament since lifting the trophy in 1966.

The Three Lions stormed into a 4-0 half-time lead through goals from Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa and a first-half brace from Bukayo Saka, leaving France facing a four-goal deficit at the break for the first time since 1930.

France mounted an impressive comeback in the second half as Kylian Mbappe scored twice, with Bradley Barcola also finding the net to reduce the gap to 4-3. Mbappe’s brace took his overall  World Cup tally to 22 goals, moving him ahead of Lionel Messi as the competition’s all-time leading scorer.

England regained control late in the match when Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after Djed Spence was brought down inside the area. Ousmane Dembele responded in stoppage time to make it 5-4 before Jude Bellingham sealed the victory with England’s sixth goal in the 98th minute.

Saka became only the second England player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup knockout match, following Geoff Hurst’s famous treble in the 1966 final.

Bellingham also enjoyed a memorable tournament, finishing with seven goals — the most ever scored by an England men’s player at a single World Cup.

The 10-goal encounter set a new record as the highest-scoring third-place play-off in World Cup history, while England also became the first team to score six goals against France in a World Cup match.