Spain v Argentina LIVE: World Cup closing ceremony ahead of Messi going for glory in final

For all the eye-rolling at the USA’s antics this tournament, this addition to the World Cup is sure to be well received – for fight fans, at least.

Legendary announcing brothers, Michael and Bruce Buffer, will take to the mic and each burst a lung for the sake of the final.

A story that has surprised fans this week has been the news that World Cup final referee Slavko Vincic was once wrongly arrested at a “sex party” in Bosnia in 2020, per The Sun. Vincic told Slovenian media he was attending a business lunch when a raid took place and drugs, guns and money were seized. He was later probed by police as a witness before being released, with law enforcement deciding he had nothing to do with the incident.

Vincic later told Slovenian media: “I found myself on this ranch by chance. I have my own company, I was in Bosnia and Herzegovina for a business meeting. I accepted an invitation to lunch, which turned out to be my biggest mistake. I regret it. I was sitting at a table with my company, all of a sudden the police came and what happened, happened. I have nothing to do with the group that was arrested and detained, nor do my business partners. Yes, they really took us to the police, asked [us] as witnesses, when it turned out that we didn’t even know them, we were able to go.”

Slovenian refereeing boss Vlado Sajn added: “According to the information we gathered from official and unofficial sources, and last but not least from Slavko himself, he is not suspected of anything, no proceedings have been instituted against him. He found himself in this place at the wrong time. He was invited to a party where there was a large group of people – he did not know the vast majority… I consider this story to be a web of unfortunate circumstances.”

Right, in all that closing ceremony excitement, we had something actually important happen: team news was confirmed!

Spain are set to name an unchanged side from the one that beat France in the semis, meaning Lamine Yamal and Pedro Porro were in fact fit to start, while Pedri is benched again.

Argentina make two changes: Nico Gonzalez and Gonzalo Montiel come in for Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina.

That’s your lot, for now! We’ve still been promised Robbie Williams, Tom Cruise and more for the closing ceremony, but my guess is that they’ll bring out those big guns closer to kick-off, like they did for the opening ceremony.

Actually a decent turnout for the closing ceremony inside MetLife (sorry, the New York-New Jersey Stadium), considering the ticketing chaos and queues that have plagued the day for fans so far.

Next up, it’s Post Malone! Sorry Speed, but this is more like it.

Walking top the centre-stage surrounded by pyro, Posty performs “Chrome Heartbreaker” before breaking into two of his bigger hits: “Wow.” and “Sunflower”.

For the latter, he’s joined by Swae Lee, who features on the song.

Argentina XI: E. Martinez; Montiel, Romero, Lis. Martinez, Tagliafico; Gonzalez, Enzo, De Paul, Mac Allister; Álvarez, Messi.

Subs: Musso, Rulli, Senesi, Otamendi, Medina, Molina, Paredes, Barco, Lo Celso, Palacios, Almada, Simeone, Paz, Lopez, Martinez.

Spain XI: Simon, Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri; Olmo, Fabian; Yamal, Oyarzabal, Baena.

Subs: Raya, Garcia, Pubill, Grimaldo, Garcia, Llorente, Merino, Gavi, Zubimendi, Pedri, Torres, Pino, Williams. Munoz, Iglesias.

First performer up: it’s streaming sensation IShowSpeed.

He’s singing (well, blatantly lip-syncing) his tune “Champions” on the side of the Chrysler Building.