# World Cup 2026: Will Messi and Argentina lift the trophy again?

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/more-than-the-score-7480348/world-cup-2026-will-messi-and-argentina-lift-the-trophy-again
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/more-than-the-score-7480348/world-cup-2026-will-messi-and-argentina-lift-the-trophy-again.md
Podcast: [More than the Score](https://stenobird.com/podcast/more-than-the-score-7480348)
Published: 2026-07-16T14:26:00+00:00
Episode link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0nz61by
Audio file: http://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0nz5zj9.mp3
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/more-than-the-score-7480348/episodes/world-cup-2026-will-messi-and-argentina-lift-the-trophy-again
Duration seconds: 1228

## Resource

Argentina will face Spain in Sunday's World Cup final, after overcoming England in a semi-final that once again showcased their battling spirit - but will Lionel Messi lift the trophy again in New York? Mani Djazmi is joined by South American football expert Tim Vickery and ESPN Argentina's Francisco Canepa to analyse why the Albicelestes are one game away from retaining their title. Francisco shares what it was like to be part of the crowd in Atlanta, and Tim explains how Messi's changing role with the squad has transformed their fortunes. We also hear from Argentina's Geronimo Rulli, the Marseille goalkeeper who's taking part in his second World Cup, about his memories of victory in 2022 - and what it's like playing for coach Lionel Scaloni. More than the Score brings you more than the men’s football World Cup - the new teams, standout stars, trends and fandoms shaping the tournament in ways the stats don’t show. With 48 teams competing across Mexico, the US and Canada, BBC World Service promises to take you deeper - from the group stages to the final. Search for More than the Score wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

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## Transcript

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