Sports
All set as Argentina, Spain battle for football’s ultimate prize
The 2026 FIFA World Cup comes down to a meeting worthy of football’s biggest stage.
Defending champions Argentina will face European champions Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final at MetLife Stadium, with Lionel Messi bidding to lead La Albiceleste to consecutive titles while Spain’s young stars attempt to usher in a new era by reclaiming the sport’s biggest prize.
Kickoff is scheduled for 10:00 p.m. (3:00 p.m. ET) in the championship match of the first 48-team World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
It is only the second all-Spanish-speaking World Cup final in history, following Uruguay’s victory over Argentina in the inaugural 1930 decider and the first to feature the reigning champions of Europe and South America.
For Argentina, the stakes extend beyond defending the trophy they won in Qatar four years ago. Lionel Scaloni’s side are chasing a fourth World Cup title and a place alongside Brazil’s 1958 and 1962 teams as the only nations to successfully defend the championship.
Spain, meanwhile, are seeking their second World Cup crown after their triumph in South Africa in 2010, hoping to cement their status as international football’s dominant force after capturing the European Championship.
Few finals could script a richer narrative, as arguably football’s greatest-ever player, Messi, takes on his presumed successor, Lamine Yamal, with both being products of Barcelona’s legendary La Masia academy.
Argentina survives every test
Argentina’s road to the final has been defined by resilience as much as quality.
The South Americans comfortably won Group J with victories over Algeria, Austria and Jordan before navigating a demanding knockout stage that repeatedly tested their character.
They edged Cape Verde 3-2 in the Round of 32, rallied to defeat Egypt by the same score in the Round of 16, overcame Switzerland 3-1 after extra time in the quarterfinals, and produced another dramatic comeback against England in the semifinals.
Trailing late in Atlanta, Enzo Fernandez equalized before Lautaro Martinez struck deep into stoppage time to seal a memorable 2-1 victory and send the defending champions back to the final.
Argentina have relied on timely goals throughout the tournament, consistently finding another level in decisive moments. While their attack has been among the tournament’s most productive, defensive lapses have occasionally left Scaloni’s side vulnerable, making late heroics a recurring theme of its title defense.
Spain’s defensive dominance
Spain have taken a different route.
Luis de la Fuente’s squad has built its campaign on defensive discipline, patient possession and tactical control.
After opening with a scoreless draw against Cape Verde, Spain defeated Saudi Arabia and Uruguay to win Group H before cruising through the knockout rounds with victories over Austria, Portugal, Belgium and France.
The semifinal win over France further highlighted Spain’s balance, combining relentless pressing with clinical finishing while extending what has been the tournament’s most impressive defensive record.
Spain has conceded just one goal in seven matches, a remarkable achievement in an expanded World Cup featuring longer schedules and deeper fields.
Its midfield has consistently dictated matches, allowing La Roja to control possession while limiting opponents’ scoring opportunities.
Messi’s final pursuit of greatness
Even at 39, Messi remains the centerpiece of Argentina’s attack.
The captain enters the final with eight tournament goals, combining finishing, creativity and leadership in what could become the defining chapter of an already legendary international career.
Whether operating between the lines or creating space for teammates, Messi continues to shape games with moments of brilliance that few players in history have matched.
He is expected to start alongside Julian Alvarez, while Lautaro Martinez offers another elite attacking option after his semifinal winner against England.
Behind them, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister and Rodrigo De Paul provide the balance between creativity and relentless work rate that has become the foundation of Scaloni’s midfield.
Defensively, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and center backs Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez bring valuable experience, although Argentina will need greater concentration against Spain’s dynamic attack.
Spain’s new generation arrives
While Argentina leans on experience, Spain represents football’s emerging future.
Rodri anchors one of the world’s strongest midfields, controlling tempo with calm distribution and exceptional defensive awareness. Alongside him, Pedri continues to dictate play with intelligence beyond his years.
Out wide, teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams have transformed Spain into one of the tournament’s most dangerous attacking teams, combining pace, creativity and fearlessness against elite defenses.
Their movement has created space for Mikel Oyarzabal, whose composure in front of goal has been another key ingredient in Spain’s run to the final.
Behind them, goalkeeper Unai Simon and a disciplined back line led by Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsí and Marc Cucurella have formed the tournament’s toughest defense.
Contrasting philosophies
Sunday’s final offers a compelling tactical contrast.
Spain is expected to dominate possession through Rodri and Pedri, patiently circulating the ball before attacking through Yamal and Williams on the wings.
Argentina is more comfortable absorbing pressure before striking quickly in transition, with Messi orchestrating attacks and Alvarez stretching opposing defenses with his movement.
The midfield battle could ultimately determine the outcome.
If Spain establishes control through Rodri and Pedri, Argentina may spend long stretches defending. If Fernandez, Mac Allister and De Paul disrupt Spain’s rhythm, Messi will receive the space needed to influence the match.
Spain’s disciplined defensive structure will also face its toughest challenge against an Argentina side that has repeatedly delivered in high-pressure moments.
History awaits
The nations have rarely met in meaningful competition.
Argentina won their only previous World Cup meeting 2-1 during the 1966 group stage, while Spain’s memorable 6-1 victory in a 2018 friendly remains one of the most lopsided results between the two sides.
After their scheduled meeting in the canceled Qatar Finalissima never materialized, Argentina and Spain now have the chance to write a far more significant chapter on football’s biggest stage.
For Argentina, victory would secure back-to-back World Cup titles and further strengthen the country’s place among football’s greatest powers.
For Spain, lifting the trophy would confirm the arrival of another golden generation capable of dominating international football for years to come.
Mohamed Salah has a new coach at Trabzonspor after the Turkish Süper Lig club on Thursday hired Thomas Reis, who cited the lure of working with the former Liverpool star.
Trabzonspor said the German coach signed a two-year contract to leave Bulgarian club Ludogorets. He replaces Fatih Tekke, who resigned early this month after the team suffered two losses and were eliminated from the Europa League.
Salah is the marquee signing at Trabzonspor this season following a stellar nine-year spell at Liverpool, working mostly with German coach Jurgen Klopp. The Egyptian star has scored four goals in five league games so far.
“Working with a player of his caliber is perhaps one of the best things that can happen to a coach,” Reis said in a club statement, adding he would give Salah “freedom in attack.”
Reis previously coached in the Turkish league, taking unheralded Samsunspor to a third-place finish two seasons ago behind Istanbul powerhouses Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe.
“I know this place and I know how intense the games are here,” the coach said.
Ludogorets said in a statement that they were surprised by the offer to take Reis, who expressed a wish to work at Trabzonspor with talents like Salah, Fabinho and goalkeeper Andre Onana.
The Black Sea club will pay Ludogorets 900,000 euros ($1.06 million) in compensation for terminating the 52-year-old coach’s contract.
Reis will receive a guaranteed salary of 1 million euros for the 2026-27 season and 1.2 million euros for the 2027-28 campaign, the club said.
Trabzonspor, which won the last of their seven Turkish league titles in 2022, are ninth in the standings after five rounds.
Trabzonspor lost 1-0 to Konyaspor last week and will face Galatasaray this Saturday.
The team start a six-game program in the Conference League in Finland at KuPS Kuopio on Oct. 15.
Beşiktaş turned a tense opening half into a commanding European night Thursday, scoring three times after the break to dismantle French side Olympique Marseille 4-1 at Tüpraş Stadium and open their UEFA Europa League campaign with three points.
Ilhan Fakılı fired the Black Eagles ahead in the 15th minute after Junior Olaitan sent him through on goal, but Keyliane Abdallah struck back for Marseille on the half-hour mark to send the teams into the break level at 1-1.
Backed by a vocal home crowd, Beşiktaş seized control after the restart.
Vaclav Cerny restored the lead with a stylish finish in the 56th minute before Amir Murillo struck just three minutes later, heading home from a corner against his former club to make it 3-1.
Ernest Poku completed the rout in the 81st minute, scoring his first goal for Beşiktaş after coming off the bench 10 minutes earlier.
Fakılı nearly added another when his 68th-minute effort struck the post. The young winger, filling in for the absent Leandro Trossard, has now scored three times this season and registered his first goal in European competition.
Cerny’s goal was his fourth of the campaign as the Czech international continued his strong start under coach Vincenzo Italiano.
Italiano also made a precautionary change at halftime, replacing Emmanuel Agbadou with Tiago Djalo after the defender had been booked in the 10th minute.
The victory extended Beşiktaş’s perfect home record this season to seven matches across the Süper Lig and Europa League. The Black Eagles have scored 19 goals and conceded just three at Dolmabahçe during that run.
Beşiktaş have also won four consecutive matches across all competitions, beating Çorum FK, Fenerbahçe and Erzurumspor FK before Thursday’s European victory.
The result marked Beşiktaş’s second win over Marseille in three meetings. Their previous encounters came in the 2007-08 Champions League group stage, when Marseille won 2-0 in France before Beşiktaş responded with a 2-1 victory in Istanbul.
The Black Eagles also improved their overall record against French opposition to six wins, two draws and four defeats in 12 European matches.
For Marseille coach Bruno Genesio, it was another difficult trip to Istanbul against Beşiktaş. He previously lost 2-1 at Dolmabahçe while coaching Olympique Lyon in the 2016-17 Europa League.
Marseille’s defeat extended their losing streak to four matches across all competitions after setbacks against Monaco, Paris FC and Rennes.
Beşiktaş will next travel to Germany to face Hoffenheim on Oct. 15 in their second Europa League match.
AC Milan suffered their first defeat under Ruben Amorim, losing 2-0 at home to Benfica as the Europa League began Wednesday, while Sunderland won on their return to European competition after a 53-year absence.
Seven-time European champions Milan had won two and drawn two of their opening four Serie A games, but were given a reality check by Benfica on the opening day of the Europa League league phase.
Milan were profligate in front of goal and were made to pay by the visitors, who maintained their unbeaten start to the season.
“I change all the time, we need to start with a base, we have two months of work,” Amorim, who said before the game that he does not “know if I’ll have the time needed,” told Sky Sport Italia when asked if he would change tactics.
“We lost tonight, but we will find the solutions to adapt to these games, because we need to create an idea, but we also need to win, so of course we can adapt,” he added.
Benfica, who lost to Milan in the 1963 and 1990 European Cup finals, were able to enjoy their first-ever win over the Italian giants.
Marco Silva’s side grabbed a 16th-minute lead through a superb individual goal from Dodi Lukebakio, as the Belgian cut inside from the right and unleashed a left-footed drive into the far bottom corner.
The Portuguese powerhouse extended their advantage eight minutes after the interval when Jakub Kaminski slammed in Souffian el Karouani’s left-wing cross.
Sunderland back with bang
Regis Le Bris’s Sunderland clinched a 1-0 victory over AZ Alkmaar at a raucous Stadium of Light in their first European match since the Cup Winners’ Cup second round in 1973.
Sunderland were the stronger team in the first half but failed to take their chances, with Enzo Le Fee going closest when he struck the post.
The Black Cats were awarded a penalty 20 minutes after the restart for Weslley Patati’s foul on Le Fee.
The Frenchman, who had a penalty saved by David Raya in Saturday’s Premier League loss to Arsenal, stepped up to slot the spot-kick into the corner.
Sunderland were indebted to goalkeeper Robin Roefs when he made an excellent save to deny AZ attacker Valdemar Byskov an equalizer in the 81st minute.
“Now that we are here I’m just trying to enjoy every moment,” said Sunderland defender Trai Hume.
“We have a great team, great staff and unbelievable fans. We fully deserve this moment and we are going to keep pushing this season.”
Lyon put some of the disappointment of their dramatic Champions League play-off loss to Fenerbahçe behind them with a 2-1 victory at Anderlecht.
The visitors quickly took control in Brussels as Noah Nartey put them in front after less than eight minutes.
Keito Nakamura’s deflected strike doubled the lead midway through the first half and gave the Japan winger his first Lyon goal since signing from Reims.
Anderlecht pulled one back through teenage striker Mihajlo Cvetkovic’s header after halftime, but Lyon held on under severe pressure.
Bayer Leverkusen saw off spirited Slovenian champions Celje 2-0 in Germany.
Leverkusen forged ahead when Celje midfielder Svit Seslar put through his own net in the 15th minute and Argentina international Facundo Medina made the points safe with 16 minutes remaining.
Elsewhere, Olympiacos came from behind to beat Poland’s Jagiellonia 2-1, while Sparta Prague brushed aside Ararat 4-1 in Armenia and Cypriots Omonia edged out Celta Vigo.
Istanbul will host the 2027 Spanish Super Cup from Feb. 2 to Feb. 6, bringing Spain’s premier four-team tournament to Türkiye for the first time following a five-year run in Saudi Arabia, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) announced Thursday.
The introductory meeting for the high-profile tournament was held at the TFF Hasan Doğan National Teams Camp and Training Facilities. The press conference featured prominent political and sports dignitaries, including Youth and Sports Minister Osman Aşkın Bak, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, TFF President Ibrahim Hacıosmanoğlu, Istanbul Gov. Davut Gül, Saudi Arabian Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Saudi Royal Court Advisor and General Entertainment Authority Chairman Turki Al-Sheikh, Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) President Rafael Louzan, and World Ethnosport Union President Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan.
The four-team marquee competition will feature global powerhouses Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, and Real Sociedad. The tournament will unfold across three of Istanbul’s primary football venues.
The first semifinal between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad will take place on Feb. 2 at Fenerbahçe’s Şükrü Saracoğlu Sports Complex, while the second, featuring Barcelona and Atletico Madrid will follow on Feb. 3 at Beşiktaş’s home ground.
The final match will be held on Feb. 6 at Galatasaray’s Ali Sami Yen Sports Complex.
Speaking at the launch event, TFF boss Hacıosmanoğlu emphasized Istanbul’s growing stature as a global capital for international sporting events, citing the city’s successful track record in staging major UEFA fixtures.
“We have successfully completed many major organizations, especially the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League finals,” Hacıosmanoğlu said. “Most recently in May, we hosted football fans from all over the world in Istanbul as part of the UEFA Europa League final. Now, we will put all our experience forward for the 2027 Spanish Super Cup. The Spanish Super Cup, which has been held in Saudi Arabia for five years, will take place in Istanbul between Feb. 2 and Feb. 6,” he said.
He noted that the tournament will be broadcast live in more than 150 countries, offering significant global exposure for Türkiye and its sporting infrastructure. Domestically, the matches will be broadcast on HT Spor.
“The Spanish Super Cup will reach millions of football fans by being broadcast live in more than 150 countries worldwide,” Hacıosmanoğlu added. “In this respect, the organization will make a significant contribution to Türkiye’s international visibility and brand value. Football fans coming to Istanbul will not only witness the struggle of world stars, but also have the opportunity to closely experience our country’s thousands of years of history, unique culture, and strong passion for sports.”
Expressing his appreciation to political leadership and international partners, Hacıosmanoğlu extended gratitude to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Saudi officials, and RFEF leadership for facilitating the agreement. He also thanked host clubs Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş and Galatasaray for providing their stadiums and training facilities.
Saudi Arabia holds the hosting rights to the expanded Super Cup format under a multi-year agreement with the RFEF.
Turkish sports authorities underscored that full administrative capabilities will be mobilized to ensure seamless hospitality for visiting teams, officials, and international supporters.
With Ballon d’Or voting set to close in less than two weeks, top contenders are mounting unusually public campaigns for football’s biggest individual prize.
This self-promotion is a relatively recent development in a team sport where, until a few years ago, the top individual prize went largely unnoticed until it was time to present it.
But now, the Ballon d’Or dominates the football conversation during the months when the new European season is still finding its feet.
The trophy will be presented on Oct. 26, while the final sprint began on Sept. 8 when France Football, the award organizer, released the list of 30 candidates to succeed Ousmane Dembele.
The ceremony will be in London, even though only five of the 30 nominees play in the English Premier League.
The award carries no cash prize, but it has become worth increased income and status to players and their teams.
Many stars have related bonuses in their boot contracts while the award also increases their overall marketing value and that of their club.
The two all-time leading Ballon d’Or winners, Lionel Messi, who has picked up the trophy eight times, and Cristiano Ronaldo, who won five times, both have annual sponsorship income estimated by Forbes at more than $65 million.
Clubs can expect to sell more merchandise if one of their players wins.
Some 100 invited journalists – one representative from each of the top 100 countries in the FIFA rankings – will cast votes.
With no clear favorite, the stars and their PR agencies are stepping up their campaigns. Achievements are shamelessly paraded to scrape together votes.
‘I deserve it’
“For me, Mbappe and I, we’re the two best players in the world,” Lamine Yamal, who has won the World Cup and La Liga in 2026, said in an interview on Movistar Plus.
“I honestly think that, as the best in the world, maybe there are two of us, and this year I deserve it because of what I’ve won,” the 19-year-old added.
He was responding to the Frenchman, who days earlier had emphasized the award’s individual nature – after a year in which he won no trophies with either Real Madrid or France, who lost a World Cup semifinal to Spain, but scored 10 World Cup goals to take his tally to an all-time leading 22.
“Being the all-time top scorer in World Cup history, overtaking all the great legends in the history of the sport in the most important tournament there is, is something that really stands out, a global event. Who am I voting for? Myself,” said the striker, who was also the top scorer in last season’s Liga and Champions League.
His manager, Jose Mourinho, did not hesitate to back up the argument: “We know who has made history this summer and he’s not from PSG or the Spanish national team.”
In 2024, Real Madrid boycotted the ceremony after learning just before they were due to travel that none of their seven nominees had won.
This year, Paris Saint-Germain have a record 10 nominees, after retaining the Champions League.
That number, and also the side’s reputation for collective team spirit, may count against them.
Their leading candidates are Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Fabian Ruiz, the only player on the list to have won both the Champions League and the World Cup this year.
‘Why not dream?’
“Why not dream?”, the unassuming Spanish midfielder told French television.
PSG are refusing to pick one individual while arguing that the winner has to be one of their players.
“Kvara and Doue are incredible players. For me Kvara could win the Ballon d’Or, as could Dembele and others,” said coach Luis Enrique.
Dembele told France Football that he would not try to influence the poll.
“May the best player win; in any case, it’s not us who are voting,” he said. “I never sell myself. It’s up to them to decide.”
Meanwhile, England captain Harry Kane, who scored 73 goals while leading Bayern Munich to a German domestic double and his country to third in the World Cup, remains quiet.
Bayern are speaking up for their leader, putting together a video in which team-mates said that Kane should win.
“He deserves to win it, 100 per cent, without a doubt,” said Colombian Luis Diaz, who is also on the shortlist.
Beşiktaş host French side Olympique de Marseille Thursday to open their UEFA Europa League campaign, looking to extend a flawless home record and welcome back star striker Dusan Vlahovic.
The Black Eagles enter the newly structured league phase on strong footing under manager Vincenzo Italiano, boasting a fully healthy squad with no reported injuries.
Central to Italiano’s attacking setup is Vlahovic, who returns to the lineup after serving a one-match domestic suspension in the Süper Lig following a disciplinary sanction stemming from the derby victory over Fenerbahçe.
The 26-year-old Serbian international missed Beşiktaş’s recent domestic fixture against Erzurumspor, but he has been in clinical form this season, scoring four goals across five appearances in all competitions.
The Istanbul powerhouse earned their place in the Europa League’s main stage through a grueling qualifying path, successfully navigating three rounds.
Beşiktaş initiated their European campaign in the second qualifying round with 1-0 and 2-0 victories over Danish side Midtjylland before eliminating Czech club Hradec Kralove with consecutive 1-0 wins in the third round.
In the play-off round, Beşiktaş secured a 3-0 home victory against Lithuanian club Kauno Zalgiris before dropping the return leg 1-0 away, advancing comfortably on aggregate.
Across six European qualifying fixtures this season, Beşiktaş compiled a 5-1-0 record, conceding just a single goal while scoring eight. Marseille, by contrast, qualified directly for the competition’s league phase.
Dominance on home soil has been the defining feature of Beşiktaş’s season thus far. The Istanbul club have won all six of their home fixtures across the Süper Lig and European play at Tüpraş Stadium, traditionally known to supporters as Dolmabahçe
In addition to their three European victories, Beşiktaş have registered domestic wins at home against Eyüpspor (1-0), Çorum FK (6-2), and Erzurumspor (3-0), outscoring opponents by a combined 15-2 margin on home turf.
Beşiktaş also carry strong overall momentum into Thursday’s match on the heels of a three-game winning streak. After suffering consecutive 1-0 setbacks against Alanyaspor in domestic play and Kauno Zalgiris in the second leg of the play-offs, Italiano’s squad rebounded with victories over Çorum FK, Fenerbahçe, and Erzurumspor.
Italiano has submitted a deep squad to UEFA for the campaign, anchored in goal by Alexander Nübel alongside Doğan Alemdar and Mehmet Tuğra Yeşilyurt. The defensive unit features Emmanuel Agbadou, Tiago Djalo, Rıdvan Yılmaz, Kassoum Ouattara, Taylan Bulut and Amir Murillo.
In midfield, Beşiktaş possess extensive depth with Wilfred Ndidi, Orkun Kökçü, Leandro Trossard, Vaclav Cerny, Fabio Miretti, Salih Özcan, and Junior Olaitan. Upfront, Vlahovic leads an attacking group that includes South Korean forward Hyeon-gyu Oh, Ernest Poku, and Turkish international Semih Kılıçsoy.
The opening-round fixture at Tüpraş Stadium is scheduled for a 10 p.m. local kickoff, with Italian official Andrea Colombo appointed to referee the match.
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