#广场预测世界杯赢40000U World Cup final prediction: “Bullfighting Knights” vs “Pampas Eagles”—who will lift the Hercules Cup?

At 3:00 a.m. Beijing time on July 20, the Canada-US-Mexico World Cup will kick off the ultimate showdown. Spain and Argentina will make their final bid for the Hercules Cup in New York, USA. Before this, Spain won the World Cup in 2010, while Argentina have lifted the trophy in 1978, 1986, and 2022. After this match, will Spain reach the top for the second time, or will Argentina claim the trophy for the fourth time?
CFP photo—The “Bullfighting Knights” back line concedes the fewest goals, and the defense is solid.

In this World Cup, Spain have conceded only 1 goal, the fewest among all teams, overturning many fans’ preconceived notions. In the previous seven matches, Spain were breached only once—against Belgium in the quarterfinal. The other six matches saw Spain keep clean sheets against their opponents. Notably, Spain have yet to trail in this tournament, and the fact that they get into form quickly is a major advantage. Spain have strong team cohesion, but they also have standout individual performers, such as the 19-year-old forward Yamal. In this tournament, Yamal has scored 1 goal and provided 1 assist. Although the numbers don’t look particularly eye-catching, Spain’s vast majority of scoring threats and front-field buildup have come from Yamal. In addition, midfielder Merino has scored consecutive winning goals in matches against Portugal and Belgium; his ability to score in crucial moments has already been demonstrated during his time playing in the English Premier League. Forward Oyarzabal has scored 5 goals, making him Spain’s top scorer and an important reliance for the team to break through and take control in attacks. As a key player for both sides in the final, Yamal once posed for a photo with Messi when he was under 1 year old. In 2007, during a public welfare event, Yamal’s family won the chance to take calendar photos together with Messi, who was then playing for Barcelona. At the time, 20-year-old Messi “bathed” the baby Yamal for a few months old, leaving behind a classic “Yamal bath photo.” Now, Messi, aged 39, is set to compete on the same pitch as this Spanish wonderkid who is 20 years younger than him. This showdown—what netizens call the “Bathtub Derby”—adds a different kind of highlight to the final.

On the other hand, Spain have also never played extra time in this World Cup. Coupled with the fact that the players’ average age is lower than Argentina’s, their fitness advantage will give the “Bullfighting Knights” even more confidence heading into the final.

Argentina

Before the final, Argentina won all seven matches and scored 19 goals, making them the most explosive team in this World Cup. More than half of the team’s goals came after the 75th minute, and they always manage to crush their opponents at the final stages, leaving them helpless. As the leading figure, Messi’s outstanding form needs no more words: in this World Cup, he has contributed 8 goals and 4 assists, topping the scoring charts. Beyond that, players such as Lautaro Martínez, Enzo, and Álvarez have also sparked in the knockout stage one after another—not only easing the pressure on Messi, but also giving Argentina more solutions in the attacking end. In the semifinal against England, Argentina were once teetering on the edge of a cliff. When trailing on the scoreboard, Argentina pulled off a turnaround 2-1 with a relentless run of attacks late in the match, extending their title-defense journey. In the whole match, the team’s fighting spirit—“Pampas Eagles”—was the key to continuing the journey. When the situation was tense and tightly contested, Argentina always kept their formation stable and their mindset calm, patiently waiting for the chance to counter. Turning the match around also boosted the morale of the entire squad. Their performance along the way may not have been all thrill and drama, and there were even moments where they seemed to stumble. But by repeatedly dragging themselves back from the brink, they have shown the world their most precious qualities—resilience and courage to fight and win in the most desperate circumstances. In 2024, Spain and Argentina won the European Championship and Copa América respectively. The two teams were supposed to play a Euro–America Cup match in March this year, but the match was canceled for reasons unknown. Meeting again in the World Cup final also makes up for the regret of the canceled match.

The two sides have faced each other 14 times in total, with each winning 6, and the other 2 ending in draws—truly a fairly even split. Whether Spain will lift the trophy 16 years later, or whether Argentina will successfully defend their title—the answer will be revealed by the match.