Royal Attendance and Final Preparations
The stage is set for an exhilarating World Cup final as Spain's King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, Crown Princess Leonor, and Infanta Sofía prepare to attend the match on Sunday at 21:00 CEST in East Rutherford. This visit has been officially confirmed by the Spanish royal household in Madrid, fulfilling a promise made by the King to the Spanish national team after their group stage match against Uruguay. He vowed to return if 'La Roja' advanced to the finals, and now that promise is being honored.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is also expected to witness the clash between the European Champion and titleholders Argentina, as announced by the Madrid government. For Spain's men's national team, this marks their second appearance in a World Cup final since 2010, a tournament where they triumphed under the management of Vicente del Bosque.
Meanwhile, FIFA has assured that the much-criticized pitch at the East Rutherford stadium is ready for the final. Alan Ferguson, the head of the pitch management for FIFA, stated, "We are not perfect; I do not claim that, but I believe we are 95% where we wanted to be". A two-week break had been scheduled in the match calendar before the final to allow for pitch maintenance, the last game played on that surface being the round of 16 match between Brazil and Norway on July 5.
Player Insights and Unique Awards
For the third consecutive time, Atletico Madrid will have the most players represented in a World Cup final, with ten players from the final teams being linked to the club. This year, the roster includes Marcos Llorente, Álex Baena, Marc Pubill, Alejandro Grimaldo (Spain), and Juan Musso, Nahuel Molina, Julián Alvarez, Giuliano Simeone, Thiago Almada, and Nico Gonzalez (Argentina). It is noteworthy that Grimaldo joined Atletico only on July 1, and Gonzalez has since transferred to Juventus. Regardless, the number of Atletico players participating in the final is impressive, especially since their coach, Diego Simeone, has been spotted celebrating Argentina's games donning the 'Albiceleste' jersey.
In a historical twist, the final will also feature a German referee in the form of Bastian Dankert, who has been appointed as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for the match. This final will also introduce a halftime show for the first time in World Cup history, lasting approximately 17 minutes. Prominent artists such as Madonna, Shakira, and the K-Pop sensation BTS are set to perform, along with Nigerian musician Burna Boy and Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, as part of a collaboration with Global Citizen to raise funds for children's education worldwide.
Additionally, the new World Champions will receive a commemorative ring alongside the trophy and gold medals, a novel recognition that echoes traditions in American sports. The rings will feature the World Cup trophy on one side and the team's identity on the other, with a total of 30 rings produced for the winning team and 1,996 rings designated for fans.
As the final approaches, air quality concerns due to wildfires in Canada and Minnesota have led to a smoke warning for the New York City area. Residents have been advised to wear masks and limit outdoor activities. However, forecasts suggest an improvement in air quality by Saturday, coinciding with a decrease in the recent heatwave.
As excitement builds for the final showdown between Spain and Argentina, the world eagerly awaits what promises to be an unforgettable match filled with drama, talent, and the spirit of football.
As reported by sportschau.de.
