FIFA World Cup 2026 :Canada/Mexico/United States: Discussion Thread

[Razmirraz]

At the end of the day, we have to say it was a match where the deserving team won. You could even say Argentina wasn’t really in the game. They struggled to create any chances throughout the match; it wouldn’t be wrong to say Spain completely dominated the game. I congratulate Spain, and it’s only fair to say they truly deserved it. They’d played well all the way to this point, and in the Final, they didn’t let their opponent get into the game and sealed the victory in extra time.

That final was just too strange to draw any real conclusions about either team's overall quality. I don't think I saw Argentina play that badly at any point during the tournament. They looked completely lifeless in the final and didn't manage a single shot on target in regular time. I don't know if it's just me, but it all seems very suspicious. To me, it almost looked like Argentina handed the victory to Spain.

Argentina didn't play badly in the final, but Spain didn't give Argentina any room to develop their game. Spain dominance throughout the match, with a total of 20 shots, made it difficult for Messi and his teammates to maximize their impact and build effective attacks. They failed to register a single shot on goal in the 90 minutes of normal time. Emiliano Martinez was the hero who prevented Argentina from suffering a heavy defeat, he recorded a record with 11 brilliant saves. It is clear that Spain played better than Argentina, they deserved to win the most prestigious trophy.

[babo]

Argentina played very badly, or rather, they didn't play at all
I don't know what match you saw but I only saw Spain play with an incredible ball possession
The Argentine players simply looked very tired, standing still, walking instead of running.

Messi? Non-existent, the others useless... only fouls and yellow and red cards.
From my point of view, Spain deserved the victory.

[bakasabo]

Maybe Argentine got tired during whole tournament that last for more than a month, and for the final game they did not have enough strength. All their pre-final games they were either catching up opposite team, or scored on last minutes. Or it tells us that they have problems winning their games; not as strong team as we expected. As a result we got final game where one team is one of the strongest, other is tired or not the most strong. As a result, sluggish final game, less interesting than a game for third place.

[Dunamisx]

Argentine players have the worst character in this World Cup. They have been displaying it from the beginning of the tournament and have been getting away with it because they were overlooked by some of the match officials. It was a shame to see professional players attacking opponents for no reason.

Their fans have been accused of racist behaviour. One begins to wonder what Argentine society will be like because the behaviour of these players and fans tarnished the image of the country.

I was highly disappointed saying this as well with Argentina players, it is obvious that they were being frustrated by Spain performance or through the match and this is what led to transfer of aggression, but they wouldn't have behave in such manner because it is obvious that they wanted to achieve the success by Force even when they are not in best position to get it.

The entire world saw how Spain wonderfully performed, I was surprised when I discovered that the first goal spain had by Williams Jnr was not counted, then luck also brought them the second undeniable one, which already raised more anger in Argentina players the more, right from that time, I sense the depression in Argentina and their over curiousness to play and win, but every effort being rendered was not in any way enough to give them the upper chance needed against Spain.

[Tmoonz]

At the end of the day, we have to say it was a match where the deserving team won. You could even say Argentina wasn’t really in the game. They struggled to create any chances throughout the match; it wouldn’t be wrong to say Spain completely dominated the game. I congratulate Spain, and it’s only fair to say they truly deserved it. They’d played well all the way to this point, and in the Final, they didn’t let their opponent get into the game and sealed the victory in extra time.

That final was just too strange to draw any real conclusions about either team's overall quality. I don't think I saw Argentina play that badly at any point during the tournament. They looked completely lifeless in the final and didn't manage a single shot on target in regular time. I don't know if it's just me, but it all seems very suspicious. To me, it almost looked like Argentina handed the victory to Spain.

You are comedian, handing over FIFA world cup to Spain just like that, with no even one shot from anyone of them? Like for what reason will they do such a thing, like to what end? You're meaning to tell me they played all they could to get to the final round of the tournament then all of a sudden they gave it out just like that, do you even watch the game? You know for you to even say Argentina did play too bad in that game was already a red flag to me, like what will be their reason to even give out the trophy the to Spain in the first place, it still baffles me.

[JeffBrad12]

I really enjoyed the game final between spain vs argentina, though it comes to a disappointment for messi to miss his b2b wc title. However, it's also entertaining to see the conflict showed by both nations in that game.
So you know guys how argentina player chocked spain player. It's also reminding us the moment when Enrique was choked Pedro during the club world club. So i guess metlife stadium has to be the house of football teams that chocked each other. 

[abhiseshakana]

That final was just too strange to draw any real conclusions about either team's overall quality. I don't think I saw Argentina play that badly at any point during the tournament. They looked completely lifeless in the final and didn't manage a single shot on target in regular time. I don't know if it's just me, but it all seems very suspicious. To me, it almost looked like Argentina handed the victory to Spain.

There was nothing out of the ordinary about this final , and Spain won because they simply played better than Argentina. Spain have a strong squad and a very astute manager and because of their brilliant strategy, they managed to dominate the match . Spain not only dominated possession, but they were also extremely tough in marking their opponents , and that is why Argentina’s midfield struggled to find their rhythm , leaving little room for the ball to reach the forward line. So we know the reason why Argentina didn’t manage a single shot on target.

[Zorellian]

Argentina played very badly, or rather, they didn't play at all
I don't know what match you saw but I only saw Spain play with an incredible ball possession
The Argentine players simply looked very tired, standing still, walking instead of running.

Messi? Non-existent, the others useless... only fouls and yellow and red cards.
From my point of view, Spain deserved the victory.

Like you said Argentina did not play well yesterday, Messi didn’t play so the rest of the players can’t to that why they just decided to play poorly and make the Spain to take the trophy but I was disappointed in Argentina how they played yesterday but from the beginning I know that Argentina will not take the World Cup this time around so I was not shocked about that, what I was shocked about is France did not go for the final when they look more treating and the team with all the best players.

At young age yamal have left the World Cup contract to him and am so happy for the guy, he’s a good player also no doubt about that.

[SPIDERMAN008]

I was really sad to think that a team that won the final in the last World Cup, it is absolutely unacceptable that they would play so badly in this World Cup without losing a single match and reach the final. I could not understand where Argentina went wrong today. No matter how hard they tried, they could not get close to the spain  box due to repeated wrong passing and wrong strategy. They could not even shoot a single shot on target. Whereas Spain controlled the entire match. Spain's finishing was not good and due to Emi Martinez's incredible goalkeeping, they could not increase the goal difference. However, Spain is a much stronger team now, which they proved by winning the World Cup.

[rdluffy]

I was really sad to think that a team that won the final in the last World Cup, it is absolutely unacceptable that they would play so badly in this World Cup without losing a single match and reach the final. I could not understand where Argentina went wrong today. No matter how hard they tried, they could not get close to the spain  box due to repeated wrong passing and wrong strategy. They could not even shoot a single shot on target. Whereas Spain controlled the entire match. Spain's finishing was not good and due to Emi Martinez's incredible goalkeeping, they could not increase the goal difference. However, Spain is a much stronger team now, which they proved by winning the World Cup.

Spain has a team-oriented playing style that simply outclassed all the other teams in the World Cup
their tactical approach is actually quite easy to understand

They played as a team, and even Yamal didn't stand out that much in that system, but they won the World Cup
Even France, with its excellent team, multiple Champions League winners, world champions, and so on, was unable to overcome this tactical scheme 

[AprilioMP]

Argentina played very badly, or rather, they didn't play at all
I don't know what match you saw but I only saw Spain play with an incredible ball possession
The Argentine players simply looked very tired, standing still, walking instead of running.

Messi? Non-existent, the others useless... only fouls and yellow and red cards.
From my point of view, Spain deserved the victory.

In addition to a poor performance that made them look like a team incapable of playing soccer, Argentina displayed a poor attitude after Spain won the match.
It seemed as though Argentina was a team unwilling to accept defeat and gave the impression that they had been favored by the referees all along.
Rodri’s short passing game overwhelmed the Argentine players physically in the sweltering heat. Indeed, Spain’s quality was far superior, and they deserved to win the 2026 World Cup trophy.

Once the 2026 World Cup is over, Messi’s career will come to an end, and the current generation of Argentine soccer players will struggle to win titles for an indefinite period until a new generation emerges. Just like Brazil is right now.

[yenerbatmaz]

I really enjoyed the game final between spain vs argentina, though it comes to a disappointment for messi to miss his b2b wc title. However, it's also entertaining to see the conflict showed by both nations in that game.
So you know guys how argentina player chocked spain player. It's also reminding us the moment when Enrique was choked Pedro during the club world club. So i guess metlife stadium has to be the house of football teams that chocked each other. 

Paredes should have been sent off yesterday, but Vinčić was lenient with him.
Enzo Fernández went in hard on his opponent, received a second yellow card, and was sent off.
I didn't understand why Paredes was so tense. He had come on as a substitute; had it been early in the match, he likely would have been sent off as well.
Argentina and Brazil are no longer the "footballer factories" they used to be. That era of production will come to an end with Messi and Neymar.

[$crypto$]

Argentina played very badly, or rather, they didn't play at all
I don't know what match you saw but I only saw Spain play with an incredible ball possession
The Argentine players simply looked very tired, standing still, walking instead of running.

Messi? Non-existent, the others useless... only fouls and yellow and red cards.
From my point of view, Spain deserved the victory.

Too bad for Argentina, during the match running 120 minutes there was no shot on goal which means that indicates it's bad right?

The Argentine players are locked up by Spain, whether it feels unable to face him or indeed the Argentine players are deadlocked because it is difficult to penetrate the super strong Spanish Defense.

Because Spain played the ball for too long, Argentina felt frustrated that in the end they played rough with emotion, no matter how Spain deserved to win.

[banana33]

I was convinced Argentina would win, though I have to admit that yesterday in New York it was really hot during rush hour, and that didn't help the Argentinian team, which was already struggling due to a low rotation in players and having played one extra match in the knockout stages, not to mention the various periods of extra time. As for the rest, congratulations to Spain, who deserve credit for being a huge team brimming with energy and a great coach.
Unfortunately, yesterday Messi was more of a liability on the pitch than an asset, a bit like Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal.

I continue to maintain that the 2 legends cannot in any way be seen as "weights". Yesterday Argentina's only counterattacks, at least the dangerous ones all passed through Messi's feet, even the crosses in the middle etc.. he created more than one assist which was not exploited by his teammates so it would be unfair to blame him.

[babo]

Too bad for Argentina, during the match running 120 minutes there was no shot on goal which means that indicates it's bad right?

The Argentine players are locked up by Spain, whether it feels unable to face him or indeed the Argentine players are deadlocked because it is difficult to penetrate the super strong Spanish Defense.

Because Spain played the ball for too long, Argentina felt frustrated that in the end they played rough with emotion, no matter how Spain deserved to win.

the siege can be broken with pressing
If you press, the players make mistakes in their passes. You can be the best in the world but they are human beings, not robots. Given the final, given the tiredness, given not wanting to make mistakes, pressing would have worked.
but since they are old guys, they didn't run... they walked

If this is what you think is playing football... then you don't understand what it means to play in a World Cup final.

In addition to a poor performance that made them look like a team incapable of playing soccer, Argentina displayed a poor attitude after Spain won the match.
It seemed as though Argentina was a team unwilling to accept defeat and gave the impression that they had been favored by the referees all along.
Rodri’s short passing game overwhelmed the Argentine players physically in the sweltering heat. Indeed, Spain’s quality was far superior, and they deserved to win the 2026 World Cup trophy.

Once the 2026 World Cup is over, Messi’s career will come to an end, and the current generation of Argentine soccer players will struggle to win titles for an indefinite period until a new generation emerges. Just like Brazil is right now.

They practically didn't play, they woke up only after conceding the goal, then they started playing a little with the strength of desperation... but first the total emptiness


-- final --

For me it was a horrible, unwatchable match... one of the worst finals I've ever seen in my life.

[Jatiluhung]

I was really sad to think that a team that won the final in the last World Cup, it is absolutely unacceptable that they would play so badly in this World Cup without losing a single match and reach the final. I could not understand where Argentina went wrong today. No matter how hard they tried, they could not get close to the spain  box due to repeated wrong passing and wrong strategy. They could not even shoot a single shot on target. Whereas Spain controlled the entire match. Spain's finishing was not good and due to Emi Martinez's incredible goalkeeping, they could not increase the goal difference. However, Spain is a much stronger team now, which they proved by winning the World Cup.

They simply failed to adapt to the Spanish players’ pace from the start. Just look at how, as soon as the Argentine players started controlling the ball, the Spanish players immediately became very aggressive. And very often, we saw the Argentine players’ intended passes immediately anticipated and blocked by the Spanish players.
Spain’s defense is indeed the best in this World Cup. only Belgium managed to break through their defense with one goal, aside from Belgium, no other team did. Portugal and France also lost without scoring a single goal against Spain.

But Argentina seemed to have a much harder time. however we remember that in stoppage time, Messi put pressure on the Spanish defense several times with his unpredictable passes. Spain was well aware that if Argentina controlled the ball, it would be very dangerous, just as it was when Messi did it at that moment. as a result the Spanish players really put pressure on the Argentines to prevent them from passing freely and the Argentines even lost their composure when they got the ball, leading to frequent mistakes. I liked Spain’s aggressiveness, and they truly deserved to win with their outstanding performance.

[Yabani]

Argentina played very badly, or rather, they didn't play at all
I don't know what match you saw but I only saw Spain play with an incredible ball possession
The Argentine players simply looked very tired, standing still, walking instead of running.

Messi? Non-existent, the others useless... only fouls and yellow and red cards.
From my point of view, Spain deserved the victory.

Too bad for Argentina, during the match running 120 minutes there was no shot on goal which means that indicates it's bad right?

The Argentine players are locked up by Spain, whether it feels unable to face him or indeed the Argentine players are deadlocked because it is difficult to penetrate the super strong Spanish Defense.

Because Spain played the ball for too long, Argentina felt frustrated that in the end they played rough with emotion, no matter how Spain deserved to win.

Argentina resorted to rough play from the very beginning of the match.
Had they played attacking football against Spain, such a dull game would not have ensued.
Argentina's aim was to take the match to penalties and win the trophy, but Spain did not allow that to happen.
Ferran Torres came off the bench and became the player who secured the trophy for Spain.

[AprilioMP]

[edited out]

For me it was a horrible, unwatchable match... one of the worst finals I've ever seen in my life.

I agree. This was the worst final and the most controversial match of the entire tournament. Everyone who followed the tournament felt that way. I think FIFA, under Gianni Infantino’s leadership, needs to be investigated. Fortunately, the final was played fairly. Argentina should have lost to Egypt. It was a match full of oddities, including their game against England.
Spain made up for it all.

[Smartvirus]

Argentina played very badly, or rather, they didn't play at all
I don't know what match you saw but I only saw Spain play with an incredible ball possession
The Argentine players simply looked very tired, standing still, walking instead of running.

Messi? Non-existent, the others useless... only fouls and yellow and red cards.
From my point of view, Spain deserved the victory.

You can qualify Argentina with any negative phrase after their performance in this World Cup final and it would stick. They weren’t on the pitch, weren’t visible with the exception for the patches of white and blue that the Spanish team had to weave through. They weren’t there to play football and they didn’t, they were just there to show their dirt and nastiness to the world and they did that in the 120minutes of game play and even after the match. It was way too difficult for them to accept and obvious defeat after a brutal humiliation from the Spanish team. The best team won and football won.

[knowngunman]

Argentina played very badly, or rather, they didn't play at all
I don't know what match you saw but I only saw Spain play with an incredible ball possession
The Argentine players simply looked very tired, standing still, walking instead of running.

I agreed with the bold part they didn't play at all 

I didn't enjoy the match because it was Spain playing against themselves. Argentina hardly held ball for ten seconds, they'll hand it over to Spain. I really don't know what was wrong with Argentina team but they never played like it was a world cup final.

Messi? Non-existent, the others useless... only fouls and yellow and red cards.
From my point of view, Spain deserved the victory.

Messi's victories are always immense, and his defeats are always humiliating. I never wanted Argentina to win but I felt bad seeing Messi crying. Spain deserved the victory in the regular 90 minutes.