Sunday. Final day. The 2026 World Cup ends this afternoon at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with England versus Spain for the trophy. If you are travelling to the game, streaming it from a couch or trying to find the least-crowded pub within thirty miles of Manhattan, here is the matchday operating manual โ every time, every channel, every gate, and every minute of the pageantry surrounding the ninety.
Kickoff time in every zone
The match kicks off at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. That is noon on the West Coast, 8 p.m. in London, 9 p.m. in Madrid and central Europe, 4 a.m. Monday in Sydney, and 3 a.m. Monday in Tokyo. Coverage windows open ninety minutes earlier on the main broadcasters, so most audiences will pick up flags, anthems and the pre-match ceremony from 1:30 p.m. ET onwards. The trophy presentation is scheduled for roughly forty-five minutes after full-time, meaning the party on the pitch will still be running past 5:30 p.m. ET in a scenario without extra time.
How to watch: US, UK and global
In the United States, FOX carries the English-language broadcast on FOX and the FOX Sports app; Telemundo has the Spanish-language rights on TV and Peacock. Cord-cutters can pick it up on Fubo, YouTube TV, Hulu Live and Sling Blue. In the United Kingdom the final is on both BBC One and ITV1, which is unusual โ a shared-rights arrangement standard for major men's finals โ with iPlayer and ITVX streaming in parallel. Globally, FIFA+ streams the match free in most territories where a domestic broadcaster has not locked the rights.
Weather at MetLife
The New York-area forecast for Sunday afternoon calls for temperatures in the mid-80s Fahrenheit at kickoff with humidity climbing through the second half, and a scattered thunderstorm risk after 6 p.m. local. MetLife's fixed-roof design means the game continues in any weather short of a lightning stoppage; if a cell sits over Bergen County during the second half, expect a fifteen- to thirty-minute delay while the pitch is cleared. Bring water, wear light layers if you are in the stands.
Getting to MetLife: transit and gates
MetLife Stadium sits inside the Meadowlands sports complex. NJ Transit runs a dedicated Meadowlands Rail Line from Secaucus Junction, with trains every fifteen minutes on matchday. From Manhattan the fastest route is a Coach USA 351 bus from the Port Authority, roughly thirty-five minutes to the stadium's own bus terminal. If you are driving, arrive by noon โ gates open at 12:30 p.m. and the tailgate lots start filling before ten. Security is single-bag policy and metal-detector screening at every entrance.
The closing ceremony
FIFA has confirmed a pre-match closing ceremony rather than a halftime show, which starts at 2:15 p.m. ET and runs about thirty minutes. The programme features a musical set nodding to the three host nations, a video montage of the tournament's defining moments, and the traditional flag-bearing procession of the previous 21 World Cup winners. There is no halftime show in this final; the FIFA broadcast plan uses the halftime window for analysis rather than performance, so if you are heading out for a snack you will not miss anything staged. The trophy presentation and podium sequence is the post-match set piece, with confetti and a full closing anthem after the winning captain lifts the trophy.
Officials and video review
FIFA has appointed an experienced international referee for the final; the assignment has been formally confirmed 48 hours ahead of kickoff, with fourth official and VAR crew announced alongside. Both semifinal referees were rotated out of consideration, standard practice for the showcase match. Semi-automated offside is in use as it has been throughout the tournament, and pitchside monitors will be available for on-field reviews. If the match goes to extra time and then to penalties, ABBA-format spot kicks apply for the first time in a men's World Cup final under the current IFAB rules.
What happens after full-time
A quick sequence. Losers' medals are handed out first at the podium โ a moment that has produced some of the tournament's most affecting television โ followed by winners' medals, individual awards, and finally the trophy lift. The Golden Ball, Golden Boot, Golden Glove and Young Player awards are announced immediately after full-time, before the trophy ceremony begins. Winners' medals go on necks around 4:35 p.m. ET in regulation, later if extra time or penalties intervene. The world feed stays on for a full lap of honour before the broadcast returns to studio.
What to check while you watch
- Xabi's midfield choice. Whether Spain start Pedri and Rodri together or drop one for a more athletic third body will tell you Spain's game plan inside five minutes.
- England's starting number nine. Kane, obvious. But watch who plays alongside him โ the tactical wrinkle Tuchel has used in every knockout round has been about the second striker rather than the first.
- The referee's early tolerance. A permissive first fifteen minutes will let this be a proper football final. A whistle-happy start will not.
FAQ
What time is the trophy lift? Roughly 5:30 p.m. ET in a match that ends at ninety minutes plus stoppage. Add thirty minutes if the match goes to extra time, longer if it goes to penalties.
Can I still get in? Resale tickets exist on FIFA's official resale platform and the major secondary markets, but face-value is not really a thing at this point. Every real seat has been resold at least once.
Where can I follow live scores? Follow today's soccer live scores on Scorelisto for the final and every knockout result, or visit the Scorelisto blog for our post-match recap tonight.