By Mitchel Obi, Lagos

As anticipation builds ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, veteran sports commentator Mitchel Obi has tipped Spain to emerge champions, predicting heartbreak for Lionel Messi and Argentina in what is expected to be the Argentine captain’s final World Cup appearance.

Obi believes Messi has already achieved one major objective by leading Argentina to a second consecutive World Cup final, but argues that the journey will end in disappointment against a Spanish side that has impressed throughout the tournament.

Drawing a parallel with the late Diego Maradona, who guided Argentina to the 1990 World Cup final only to suffer defeat against West Germany, Obi predicts a similar fate for Messi.

“Mission accomplished getting to the final,” Obi wrote. “And like Diego Armando Maradona in 1990, Lionel Messi will end up in tears of defeat as the pain from Spain will leave him only with the top scorer’s honour.”

Messi has been one of the standout performers of the tournament and remains among the leading contenders for the Golden Boot. However, Obi believes individual accolades will provide little consolation if Argentina fail to retain the title they won in Qatar four years ago.

Spain, meanwhile, are seeking to add a second star to their jersey, 16 years after lifting their first World Cup trophy in South Africa in 2010. Obi pointed to what he described as a series of symbolic coincidences favouring La Roja’s quest for glory.

“Spain will have their second star on their shirts 16 years after the first on African soil,” he noted. “Do the numbers — 1 plus 6 equals 7. This is July, the seventh month.”

The World Cup final will take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, just outside New York City, where Spain hope to complete a remarkable campaign and reclaim football’s biggest prize.

While predictions and numerical interpretations may carry little weight once the match kicks off, Spain’s impressive run to the final has convinced many observers that Luis de la Fuente’s side possess the quality and composure to challenge Argentina’s dream of back-to-back world titles.

For Messi and Argentina, the final represents an opportunity to further cement their legacy. For Spain, it is a chance to return to the summit of world football after a 16-year wait.

The answer will come under the lights of MetLife Stadium, where one of football’s most coveted prizes awaits and where, if Obi’s forecast proves correct, Spain will reign once again.

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Argentina players held up a political banner declaring “Las Malvinas Son Argentinas” (“The Falklands are Argentine”) ​after their 2-1 World Cup semifinal victory over England on Wednesday, in ‌apparent contravention of FIFA rules.

FIFA’s Stadium Code of Conduct bans “banners, flags, flyers, apparel and other paraphernalia that are of a political, offensive, and/or discriminatory nature” inside stadiums.

World soccer’s ruling body did ​not immediately reply to a request for comment. British business minister Peter Kyle ​said the incident must be formally investigated, stressing that politics must be ⁠kept separate from the World Cup.

“I’m really proud of our team … the dignity ​that they showed, and that was in real contrast to what we saw with ​the Argentine team last night,” Kyle told BBC Radio on Thursday. “I really do hope that FIFA do a proper investigation into it.”

The question of sovereignty over the islands in the South Atlantic, known ​to the British as the Falklands and the Argentines as the Malvinas, has ​been a long-running sore in relations between the countries.

They fought a short conflict over the islands ‌in 1982, in which 649 Argentine soldiers and 255 British combatants died. Britain ultimately retained control of the islands, and the vast majority of residents have said they wish to remain part of Britain.

But Argentina has long argued that it inherited the islands from Spain after ​its independence in 1816, ​and that Britain ⁠took control in 1833 through an illegal colonial act.

Lisandro Martinez and Giovani Lo Celso held up the banner, grinning, and waved ​to fans in the stands. It was unclear where the ​banner had ⁠come from.

It is not the first time the question of political banners has come up during this World Cup. Last month in Los Angeles, Iranian-Americans waved pre-revolutionary flags that are ⁠symbols ​of protest against the Tehran government when Iran ​played. Those matches proceeded without incident.

-Reuters

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA

It is not football that is “coming home.” Rather, England are going home.

Defending champions Argentina staged another dramatic comeback to defeat England 2-1 and book their place in a second successive FIFA World Cup final, extending the Three Lions’ long wait for a return to football’s biggest stage.

England, whose only World Cup triumph came on home soil in 1966, have now gone 60 years without reaching another final and must wait at least four more years for another opportunity to end decades of frustration.

The result also ensured that one of football’s oldest World Cup traditions remains intact. Since the inaugural tournament in 1930, no foreign coach has ever led a nation to World Cup glory. England were the only semi-finalists at the 2026 tournament with a foreign manager, German coach Thomas Tuchel, and his elimination means the 96-year-old record survives.

Lautaro Martínez struck a stoppage-time winner at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Wednesday night, sending Argentina into the July 19 final against Spain and leaving England’s hopes in ruins.

England appeared to be on course for their first World Cup final since 1966 when Anthony Gordon bundled home Morgan Rogers’ cross 10 minutes into the second half.

Tuchel’s side defended resolutely and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford produced a series of outstanding saves to preserve the lead as Argentina intensified their pressure.

But the South Americans, who have developed a reputation as masters of the comeback during their title defence, finally found a breakthrough in the 86th minute when Enzo Fernández unleashed a magnificent long-range strike beyond Pickford.

With extra time looming, substitute Martínez once again emerged as Argentina’s hero, heading home from close range in the second minute of added time to spark wild celebrations among Argentine supporters.

The victory continued Argentina’s remarkable record against England in World Cup knockout encounters. The Albiceleste famously defeated England 2-1 in the quarter-finals of Mexico 1986, a match immortalised by Diego Maradona’s controversial “Hand of God” goal and his dazzling solo effort later christened the “Goal of the Century.”

Twelve years later, Argentina again wore dark blue when they eliminated England on penalties after a 2-2 draw in the Round of 16 at France 1998. History appeared to repeat itself in Atlanta as Argentina once more took the field in dark blue shirts — a colour increasingly associated with memorable victories over England on football’s grandest stage.

Argentina are now aiming to become only the third nation, after Italy and Brazil, to successfully defend the FIFA World Cup title.

For England, the wait goes on. For Argentina, another date with history awaits as they prepare to face Spain in Sunday’s final in pursuit of back-to-back world crowns.

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