Carlos Alcaraz gets first glimpse of FIFA World Cup trophy ahead of Spain vs Argentina final in New Jersey; watch video
Soanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz and South Korean actor Jung Ho-yeon unveiled the FIFA World Cup trophy just before the final match between defending champions Argentina and Spain at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Spanish tennis superstar Carlos Alcaraz got the first glimpse of FIFA World Cup trophy ahead of the high-octane summit clash between Spain and Argentina at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Monday. The 23-year-old along with South Korean actor Jung Ho-yeon walked into the pitch with the Louis Vuitton suitcase to unveil the trophy.
Alcaraz and Ho-yeon opened the suitcase to unveil the trophy to the entire crowd. Andres Iniesta, who scored the winning goal for Spain in the 2010 World Cup final against Germany lifted the World Cup trophy first, followed by Argentina's 1978 World Cup-winning member Mario Kempes.
Meanwhile, Argentina are aiming for their fourth World Cup title, having won it in 1978, 1896 and 2022. If Argentina win, they would go on level with with Germany and Italy and one behind record five-time champions Brazil. Spain are aiming to win a second World Cup after 2010.
Meanwhile, Argentina's Lionel Messi became the oldest outfield player to play in the final of the World Cup at 39 years. He is also the second player after Brazil's Cafu to feature in three different World Cup finals and the first captain to lead his national team in three World Cup summit clashes.
Previously, Messi led Argentina in the 2014 and 2022 World Cup finals. While Argentina lost to Germany in 2014, but defeated France in Qatar four years ago. He started the final on eight goals at the tournament, two behind France's Kylian Mbappe in the race for the Golden Boot.
Carlos Alcaraz set for Cincinnati Open return
On hi own game, Alcaraz has entered next month’s Cincinnati Open as he targets a return from a wrist injury, tournament organisers said. The seven-time Grand Slam champion was unable to defend his French Open crown and also missed Wimbledon as he continued his recovery.
But the world no.3 is set to defend his title in Cincinnati in August, marking his return for the first time since withdrawing from the Barcelona Open in April. Alcaraz won last year's Cincinnati Open title after Jannik Sinner retired from the final. Top ranked Sinner will also compete in Cincinnati.
The Italian has won all five ATP Masters 1000 events played this year and successfully defended his Wimbledon crown this month, with Alcaraz sidelined by injury. The Cincinnati Open will be held from August 13-23.
Get all updates from FIFA World Cup 2026 here, along with FIFA World Cup 2026 Complete Schedule and FIFA World Cup 2026 Points Table.
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Koushik lives and breathes sports. After transitioning from his own aspirations of becoming a professional athlete, he successfully channeled that lifelong passion into a prolific career, documenting the action both from the sidelines and the editorial desk. With over eight years of industry experience, Koushik joined LiveMint as a Deputy Chief Content Producer in 2024, following impactful stints at Outlook India, India.com, Sportskeeda, Women’s CricZone, and OrissaPOST. A 2017 Journalism and Mass Communication graduate from Maharaja Manindra Chandra College, Kolkata, Koushik has reported on high-profile events including the FIFA U17 World Cup 2017, Ranji Trophy, FIH Pro League, FIH World League finals, the Indian Premier League, and Lionel Messi’s historic visit to Kolkata in 2025. <br><br> While he possesses a versatile command over all sports, he finds his niche in cricket, specializing in breaking news, long-form interviews, global sporting updates, and high-energy live blogs. Koushik’s professional perspective was further sharpened through the 2020 AIPS Young Reporters Programme, where he gained invaluable insights from renowned international journalists, including Keir Radnedge and Riccardo Romani from the United Kingdom, and Martin Mazur from Argentina. Currently based between Kolkata and Delhi, Koushik remains at the forefront of the breaking developments that shape the public sporting discourse. When he isn't tracking scores or deconstructing plays, he can be found exploring new landscapes on his travels or channeling his creative energy into the kitchen. <br><br> If you have a compelling story to share or know an individual who deserves the spotlight, please reach out via email at <a href="koushik.paul@htdigital.in">koushik.paul@htdigital.in</a>.
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