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FIFA president Gianni Infantino described Sunday’s World Cup final between Spain and Argentina as “a blessing from the football gods”, calling it the perfect end to what he believes was the greatest World Cup in history.Speaking in an exclusive way interview for MARCA Ahead of the final at the New York New Jersey Stadium, Infantino said football could not have asked for a bigger opportunity, with reigning world champions Argentina led by Lionel Messi against Spain led by teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.For Infanta, the match represents much more than a fight for a trophy. It is, in his opinion, the meeting of football’s greatest icon with a player who many believe could define the next generation of the sport.
“Blessing of the Football Gods”
Infantino made no attempt to hide his excitement as he looked ahead to Sunday’s showdown.“This final is a blessing from the football gods” Infantino told MARCA.He highlighted the unique story surrounding Messi and Yamal as one of the key images of the tournament.“We have Messi, Lamine Yamal and many other exceptional players. It’s incredible.”
Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates with his teammates at the end of the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina in Atlanta, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
The FIFA president believes the finalists fully deserved their places after negotiating what he said was an extremely demanding tournament.“They are the two best teams. They deserve to be in this final and they played extremely well.”“It was not easy to get here. There were 48 teams, incredible matches and a very challenging World Cup.” Infantino added, referring to the expanded competition of 48 teams.
Messi and Yamal are at the head of football’s biggest stage
While acknowledging the quality that permeates both teams, Infantino repeatedly returned to the symbolic image of Messi versus Yamal.The Argentina captain, now 39, is preparing for what could be the last World Cup game of his remarkable career. On the other side will be 19-year-old Yamal, who is considered one of the brightest young football stars.
Spain’s Lamine Yamal (19) celebrates at the end of the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Spain and Belgium in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Friday, July 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
For Infantino, that contrast perfectly evokes the occasion.“There is Messi, there is Lamine Yamal and there are many other exceptional footballers. But there is also that photograph. It is incredible.”It is believed to refer to the now-popular photograph from 2007 showing a 20-year-old Lionel Messi bathing five-month-old Lamine Yamal in a plastic tub at the Camp Nou. The moment was captured during a photoshoot for a charity calendar organized by FC Barcelona and UNICEF, and resurfaced in 2024, garnering a lot of global attention as Yamal rose to fame.
Soccer star Lionel Messi, 20, helps bathe Lamine Yamal, then just six months old, during a September 2007 photo shoot in the locker room of the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
He believes the game transcends football itself, bringing two generations together in one key moment.
“The World Will Stop”
Infantino predicted Sunday’s final would attract a huge global crowd.“It’s going to be like fireworks. It’s going to be amazing. The world is going to stop.”“Three billion people will be watching how this World Cup ends.” He added.The FIFA president also praised the atmosphere during the tournament, saying the scale of the event exceeded even his own expectations.“I imagined it would be big, but not like this. Not on this scale, with this atmosphere, this celebration and this energy.”According to Infantino, fans from all over the world turned the competition into a global celebration.“There is a feeling of happiness all over the world. Of course, when you lose you are sad, but people came from all over to celebrate football.”
Why Infantino believes this was the greatest World Cup ever
Infantino did not hesitate when asked how he would rank the tournament.“The World Cup is absolutely spectacular, unique and incredible.”He continued:“The best players, the best teams, the people, the stadiums are packed and it’s a total celebration.”For the FIFA president, the tournament delivered everything the governing body had hoped for, while also laying the groundwork for future editions.“The world stops and watches. It’s the best of history, past and present, and it also prepares us for the future.”He also highlighted what he described as a calm atmosphere created during the month-long tournament.“We didn’t have any incidents. People came from all over the world and everyone celebrates football.”Infantino concluded by praising football’s traditional powers and emerging nations for contributing to the spectacle.“All the champions played, but also new teams and new countries. We saw stories that only football can write and turn into legends.”Before ending the interview, he reiterated his assessment in unmistakable terms.“This is the best World Cup in history.”
The tournament was not without controversy
Despite Infantino’s glowing assessment, the 2026 World Cup has also been marred by several high-profile controversies.FIFA faced criticism for a series of refereeing decisions during the tournament, particularly in matches involving defending champions Argentina. Disputed VAR calls and referee decisions have fueled the viral social media moniker “VARgentina”, although FIFA’s refereeing department and Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni have consistently rejected suggestions of favoritism and defended the integrity of the competition.Infantino also faced scrutiny over FIFA’s relationship with United States President Donald Trump after the governing body overturned the suspension of United States forward Folarin Balogun following Trump’s public intervention. Human rights organization FairSquare subsequently filed a complaint with the International Olympic Committee’s Ethics Commission, alleging a breach of political neutrality, while UEFA and the Belgian Football Association are among critics of the decision.
President Donald Trump speaks as FIFA President Gianni Infantino listens at a reception at Trump Tower in New York, Friday, July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Separately, FIFA is also evaluating disciplinary reports after Argentina players displayed a post-match banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” following their semi-final win over England. FIFA confirmed that its independent Disciplinary Committee is reviewing the relevant match reports before deciding whether any further action is required under the FIFA Disciplinary Code.However, none of those questions changed Infantino’s outlook on the tournament.The World Cup Final between Argentina and Spain will be held at the New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium) in East Rutherford, New Jersey, starting at 12:30 am IST on Monday, July 20, 2026. Infantino remains convinced that the competition has produced the perfect ending, with the sport’s greatest champion sharing the stage for the last time with a player who many believe could determine the future of the tournament.
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