Spain and Argentina, the world's top-ranked football nations, prepare to contest the World Cup final in New Jersey, with Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic overseeing the encounter. Spain enjoys a marginal advantage through an extra day's recovery time, a pattern that has favoured the fresher team in 13 of the past 14 major tournament deciders. Argentina's president maintains a longstanding practice of watching from home rather than attending in person, honouring a superstition that traces back to a shock defeat in 1990 when a presidential visit preceded defeat.

The match presents a classic strategic contrast: Argentina's free-scoring tournament (19 goals) against Spain's defensive fortress (conceding just one). A victory for Argentina would make them only the third nation to win consecutive World Cups and the first to do so in the 21st century, whilst Spain would secure their second major-tournament double, adding this World Cup to their recent Euros title and joining France and West Germany's achievement.