France vs Argentina

Get live updates and the latest news coverage on the 2022 final World Cup game. Follow highlights as France and Argentina compete for the FIFA championship.

[hit by a cold virus](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/several-members-frances-squad-are-battling-viruses-ahead-world-cup-fin-rcna61952)that could force key players to miss the game. The tournament has featured surprise results and [fairytale runs](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/moroccos-surprise-world-cup-run-rallied-legion-arab-fans-rcna60907), but the final will see two giants of the game compete for the title — headlined by a pair of diminuti [ve stars.](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/qatar-world-cup-win-human-rights-criticism-rcna60279) It's the game nobody really wants to play in or let's face it, watch. A narrow win over Australia was followed by a tense penalty shoot-out victory over the Netherlands, which had knocked out Team USA a round prior. Surprise package Morocco, the tournament's Cindarella team, were waiting in the semi final but Les Bleus advanced thanks to an early goal from defender Theo Hernández and a late second from young substitute Randal Kolo Muani. [Read the full story here.](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/croatia-beats-morocco-2-1-take-3rd-place-world-cup-rcna62275) The event has become a magnifying glass for the tiny petrostate’s human rights record, highlighting rather than airbrushing its treatment of LGBTQ people, women and migrant workers. which had knocked out favorites Brazil a round earlier. [Read the full story here.](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/qatar-world-cup-win-human-rights-criticism-rcna60279) Lionel Messi will be hoping to secure the trophy that would cement his status as perhaps the game's greatest ever player. [human rights record](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/2022-world-cup-qatar-rcna58013), as well as its [environmental](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/qatar-world-cup-environmental-climate-change-cost-desert-rcna57632)and financial cost. [World Cup final](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/france-gets-underdog-morocco-advances-world-cup-final-vs-argentina-rcna61680) takes place Sunday in Qatar, capping a month of sporting drama and [geopolitical controversy](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/qatar-world-cup-win-human-rights-criticism-rcna60279).

It doesn't get much bigger than this. Not only does the 2022 World Cup final feature two soccer powerhouses, but the two teams are led by generational ...

But France’s ability to contend with Messi and Argentina in the midfield gives them enough of an edge that they should be a bigger favorite. The French midfield, led by Antoine Griezmann and Aurelien Tchouameni, should stand a decent chance of containing Messi, while the flanks of the Argentinian defense aren’t as well-equipped to slow down Mbappe. And to that end, it does seem like Mbappe should have the better matchup. Argentina’s toughest opponent, the Netherlands, gave it a host of issues defensively. Adding to the drama is the fact the bookmakers are having an awful time separating these two teams. The most obvious similarity is that they’re both led by two generational superstars.