Former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand has predicted that Spain will defeat Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, while insisting that Lionel Messi’s side deserves far more respect than they have received.
The highly anticipated final will take place on Sunday at the New York New Jersey Stadium, with Spain aiming to cap an outstanding tournament and Argentina seeking to retain the World Cup title.
Although Spain enters the match as the favorite after an impressive campaign that has seen them score 13 goals and concede just once in seven games, Ferdinand warned against underestimating Argentina.
Speaking on Sky Sports, the former defender dismissed claims that Argentina is an average team, describing such opinions as disrespectful.
“I find it difficult to bet against Argentina. They have shown incredible character, determination, and resilience. People have been disrespectful by calling them an average team—they are not,” Ferdinand said.
He also praised Argentina captain Lionel Messi, noting that despite being 39 years old, the football legend remains one of the world’s best players and continues to inspire his teammates on the biggest stage.
Ferdinand highlighted Argentina’s ability to overcome difficult moments in major tournaments, saying the reigning champions become even stronger when under pressure.
Despite his admiration for Scaloni’s side, Ferdinand believes Spain’s consistency and quality throughout the tournament will ultimately see them lift the trophy.
“I think it is disrespectful to call them average. If you’re saying that, you clearly don’t watch enough football because they are an excellent team. But I do believe Spain will win the match,” he concluded.
