Argentina and Spain are set to meet in a World Cup final in New Jersey, only the second encounter between the nations in tournament history.
Their first meeting came in 1966, when Argentina secured a 2-1 group-stage victory at Villa Park before exiting in the quarter-finals.
Argentina enters the match as defending champion, having claimed the title in 2022 under head coach Lionel Scaloni.
No nation has won consecutive World Cups since Brazil achieved back-to-back triumphs in 1958 and 1962, with Italy also doing so in 1934 and 1938.
Three countries have since fallen in the final while attempting to defend their crown: Argentina in 1990, Brazil in 1998, and France in 2022.
Argentina also faces a statistical hurdle as the top-ranked team in the FIFA standings, a position no nation has held while winning the World Cup.
The rankings were introduced in 1993, leaving a three-decade pattern that Argentina would need to break to lift the trophy.
Spain has its own historical opportunity, arriving with the strongest defensive record among finalists.
Luis de la Fuente’s side has conceded only once en route to the final, one shy of the record of two goals allowed by France, Italy, and Spain in past tournaments.
Goalkeeper Unai Simon has already set a single-tournament record with six clean sheets.
A Spanish victory would also establish a new mark for the longest unbeaten run in international football at 37 matches, equaling previous streaks by Italy and Argentina.
