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  • Casa del Cordón welcomes 150 archaeology and history experts from 25 countries

    Casa del Cordón welcomes 150 archaeology and history experts from 25 countries

    The Dominican Republic’s capital of Santo Domingo has become the global hub for Caribbean heritage research this week, as the XXXI International Congress of Caribbean Archaeology kicked off with an official welcome reception hosted by the Taíno Cultural Center Casa del Cordón. Backed as an initiative by Banco Popular Dominicano, the venue brings together over 150 leading professionals spanning archaeology, anthropology, history, and cultural preservation, with attendees traveling from 25 countries across the globe to take part in the event.

    As a key co-sponsor of the week-long academic gathering, Banco Popular welcomed participating researchers ahead of the launch of the congress’s packed schedule of lectures, working sessions, and collaborative workshops. During the opening welcome ceremony, José Mármol, executive vice president of Corporate Communications, Reputation and Responsible Banking at Grupo Popular, highlighted the critical role that cultural and archaeological preservation plays in driving long-term, meaningful sustainable development for communities across the region. Mármol emphasized that anchoring development in a clear understanding of shared heritage creates stronger, more connected societies rooted in their own history.

    The venue for the opening reception, the Taíno Cultural Center Casa del Cordón, holds deep significance for the event’s mission. The center hosts a permanent public exhibition of archaeological artifacts sourced from the García Arévalo Foundation, curated to highlight the rich legacy of the Taíno people – the first known inhabitants of the island that now holds the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Beyond displaying historic objects, the center works year-round to expand public awareness of the Dominican Republic’s indigenous roots and the enduring impact of Taíno culture on modern national identity.

    Scheduled to run from July 13 to 18, the congress stands as one of the Caribbean’s most prestigious and long-standing academic forums dedicated to archaeological research. Beyond sharing new findings and cutting-edge analysis, the core goals of the 2024 gathering include strengthening cross-border collaborative research networks, facilitating open exchange of innovative methodologies, and advancing collective action to protect the Caribbean’s at-risk archaeological and cultural heritage for future generations.

  • Energy Ministry: Larimar exports won’t reduce supply for Dominican artisans

    Energy Ministry: Larimar exports won’t reduce supply for Dominican artisans

    In a public statement released Sunday, the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Energy and Mines moved to clear up widespread misconceptions surrounding raw larimar exports, emphasizing that shipments of the rare blue gemstone do not come at the expense of local Dominican artisans who rely on the material for their work.

    According to ministry officials, current production data shows 60 percent of all larimar extracted from the country’s Barahona region mines remains within Dominican borders, leaving only 40 percent of total output designated for international export. The exported share is explicitly surplus material that the local jewelry manufacturing sector does not need, with the highest quality first- and second-grade larimar — stones celebrated for their vivid, intense blue hue and premium market value — reserved exclusively for domestic artisans and independent jewelry workshops.

    Officials also addressed a common point of confusion in national trade data: most export aggregated statistics group raw, semi-processed, and fully finished larimar products under a single tariff heading. This means a large portion of the reported total export value actually comes from high-value finished larimar jewelry, not unprocessed raw stone, countering claims that the country is exporting most of its most valuable raw material.

    To further strengthen the entire larimar value chain and connect key domestic stakeholders, the ministry has announced a new initiative: the 2026 Larimar Miners-Artisans Direct Sales Fair, scheduled to take place August 21 at the Larimar Museum Workshop School in Bahoruco, Barahona. The core goal of the event is to cut out unnecessary intermediaries by linking larimar miners directly to the artisans who use the stone, creating more equitable revenue distribution and supporting growth for small businesses across the sector.

    In the statement, the ministry warned that imposing arbitrary restrictions on surplus larimar exports would carry severe economic consequences for local mining communities. Such a policy would cut off primary income for small-scale miners, undermine the long-term financial stability of local mining cooperatives, and put hundreds of working positions at risk across the region. Alongside addressing export policy, officials also highlighted ongoing improvements to the larimar mining sector, including upgrades to mine safety regulations and formalization efforts. Recent upgrades include enhanced ventilation systems, improved electrical infrastructure, and overall safer working conditions for mining employees.

    New production data from the Dominican Directorate of Mining Promotion confirms that total larimar output reached 188,696 pounds across the first half of 2026, solidifying the country’s position as the only commercial source of the unique gemstone in the global market.

  • Dominican Republic reinforces fruit fly controls to maintain mango exports

    Dominican Republic reinforces fruit fly controls to maintain mango exports

    Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – The Dominican Ministry of Agriculture has launched a suite of updated phytosanitary protocols designed to solidify the country’s position as a reliable mango exporter to the United States and the European Union, with a core focus on bolstering fruit fly surveillance and aligning with global food safety standards. The new regulatory framework comes in direct response to gaps identified by international agricultural health authorities last year, and is aimed at preserving critical market access for one of the country’s most high-value agricultural export commodities.

    Under the new measures, the ministry has appointed agricultural engineer Jeurys Arias to head the national fruit fly monitoring initiative. A key immediate priority for the new program is a full systematic inspection of all 2,089 detection traps deployed across Peravia province, the Dominican Republic’s export mango heartland that accounts for roughly 80% of the nation’s total mango output destined for international markets. Beyond inspections, the initiative also includes upgrades to surveillance infrastructure, georeferencing tracking capabilities, and centralized data management systems to improve transparency and traceability across the pre-export inspection process.

    Agriculture Minister Francisco Oliverio Espaillat confirmed that the reinstatement of stricter phytosanitary controls follows recommendations issued in 2023 by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), which flagged procedural weaknesses in the country’s pre-export inspection protocols. By addressing these gaps, the Dominican government aims to ensure uninterrupted tariff and market access for Dominican mangoes entering the $2 billion U.S. fresh mango market.

    Emidio Gómez, director of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Health and Food Safety division, provided an update on the current harvest season, noting that between 85% and 90% of the country’s yellow-skinned mango crop had already been shipped to the United States before the new measures were implemented, leaving just 10% of the total harvest still pending export. For European markets, Gómez added that exports of green- and red-skinned mango varieties, which launched in early May, are proceeding on their scheduled timeline. He also emphasized that the Dominican Republic remains officially free of the Mediterranean fruit fly (*Ceratitis capitata*), a key pest that would threaten export access if detected.

    To support small and large scale mango producers through the transition, the Ministry of Agriculture has pledged ongoing technical assistance and training to help operations adapt to the new protocols. This support is designed to help maintain the Dominican Republic’s price and quality competitiveness in global fresh fruit markets, where demand for Caribbean mangoes continues to grow year over year.

  • Venezuela awards Dominican Republic highest humanitarian honor for earthquake relief

    Venezuela awards Dominican Republic highest humanitarian honor for earthquake relief

    In a remarkable display of cross-border solidarity following a devastating seismic disaster, Venezuela has bestowed its most prestigious humanitarian honor, the First Class Order of Hero of Venezuela, upon the Dominican Republic. The award recognizes the Caribbean nation’s swift and comprehensive emergency response to the destructive earthquakes that hit Venezuela on June 24.

    The formal recognition of the Dominican Republic’s lifesaving assistance came in an official correspondence from Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez to Dominican President Luis Abinader. In her letter, Rodríguez extended sincere gratitude to the Dominican government for its prompt and generous support, emphasizing that the rapid deployment of relief resources underscored the deep-rooted friendship, collaborative partnership and shared solidarity that bind the two nations.

    The honor was publicly announced during a formal ceremony held at the Dominican Republic’s National Palace. On the same occasion, President Abinader presented the Ministry of Defense’s Medal of Merit, Green Distinction for the Value of Solidarity, to every member of the Dominican rescue contingent that took part in the relief mission, dubbed Operation Quisqueya Solidaria 2026.

    Addressing the gathering, Abinader lauded the rescue team members for their exceptional professionalism, unyielding courage and unwavering commitment to their humanitarian mission. He hailed the group as “Dominican heroes,” noting that they represented the nation with great honor as they conducted search-and-rescue operations, provided critical aid to affected earthquake victims, and lent critical support to local Venezuelan authorities operating in the hard-hit disaster zone.

    The Dominican relief contingent was a coordinated interagency team, drawing skilled personnel from the country’s Armed Forces, the national Emergency Operations Center (known locally as COE), the Civil Defense agency, and CEMED, the Ministry of Defense’s elite Specialized Emergency and Disaster Mitigation Corps that specializes in complex search-and-rescue deployments.

    A statement from the Dominican government highlighted that Operation Quisqueya Solidaria 2026 served as a tangible demonstration of the country’s long-standing commitment to global humanitarian cooperation. The mission showcased the nation’s ability to rapidly deploy trained personnel, specialized rescue equipment, and comprehensive logistical support to neighboring countries facing crisis, the statement added.

    For more coverage of local news from the Dominican Republic, visit DominicanScope.

  • Abinader inaugurates Plaza de la Bandera tunnel, easing traffic and improving southern connectivity

    Abinader inaugurates Plaza de la Bandera tunnel, easing traffic and improving southern connectivity

    On a Sunday ceremony in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader officially opened a transformative infrastructure project: the newly constructed Plaza de la Bandera tunnel and the fully revitalized surrounding public space. Developed to cut through persistent traffic gridlock across Greater Santo Domingo and strengthen transportation links between the capital and the nation’s southern region, the initiative marks a key milestone in the administration’s public works agenda.

    Stretching 1.2 kilometers with four travel lanes, the tunnel runs beneath the iconic Plaza de la Bandera, extending the existing Gregorio Luperón Avenue and eliminating one of the capital’s most crippling traffic chokepoints. Funded entirely through proceeds from the renegotiated Aerodom concession contract, the RD$3.3 billion project is projected to slash travel times for commuters, upgrade overall road safety standards, and deliver tangible benefits to roughly 300,000 local residents and frequent travelers.

    During his inauguration address, President Abinader framed the completed tunnel as a tangible demonstration of his government’s pledge to elevate the quality of life for Dominican citizens by building infrastructure that directly addresses daily transportation struggles. He also underlined that the surrounding public space renovation carefully preserved the deep historical and national symbolic value of Plaza de la Bandera, while bringing the area’s outdated road network into line with 21st-century mobility needs.

    Abinader further noted that the new tunnel is just one component of a far-reaching national strategy to improve connectivity between the capital and southern Dominican provinces. Complementary initiatives already underway or completed include the Pintura overpass, the new bypass roads around Baní and Azua, the expansion of the Santo Domingo cable car system toward Haina, and comprehensive upgrades to major highways connecting the provinces of San Cristóbal, Peravia, Azua, Barahona, and Pedernales.

    Minister of Public Works Eduardo Estrella shared that construction on the tunnel kicked off in February 2025 and was delivered ahead of schedule in approximately 18 months. Engineered to handle up to 2,500 vehicles per hour, the infrastructure includes a full suite of modern safety and operational features: advanced ventilation and gas extraction systems, cutting-edge fire suppression technology, backup power generators, real-time surveillance integrated directly with the national 911 emergency response system, and a dedicated on-site operations control center to monitor conditions around the clock.

  • Derde helft WK 2026: Spanje en Argentinië strijden in historische WK-finale

    Derde helft WK 2026: Spanje en Argentinië strijden in historische WK-finale

    The global football community is holding its breath on Sunday, as the 2026 FIFA World Cup final kicks off at the open-air MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, pitting European powerhouse Spain against defending champion Argentina in a battle for the sport’s most coveted prize and a permanent place in World Cup history.

    This historic matchup marks only the second time the two nations have faced each other at a World Cup. Their first encounter came in the group stage of the 1966 tournament, where Argentina secured a 2-1 victory. In the decades since, however, Spain has turned the tide in head-to-head matchups, claiming three wins from four meetings since 2000, setting the stage for a tense rematch of unbalanced legacy.

    For Argentina, the final is framed around 36-year-old captain Lionel Messi, widely expected to make his final World Cup appearance in the match. On the eve of the showdown, the global icon shared an emotional reflection on social media to his teammates, coaching staff, and fans, emphasizing that the value of his team’s journey extends far beyond silverware. “The best part of all these years was never just the trophies, it was the entire journey,” Messi wrote. “Sharing daily life with this group, fighting together, lifting each other up through hard times, and cherishing every single moment.”

    Standing across the pitch from the game’s greatest modern player is 16-year-old Spanish wunderkind Lamine Yamal, the breakout star of the tournament and the face of football’s next generation. A viral photo of Yamal posing alongside Messi ahead of the final has become a symbol of the sport’s ongoing changing of the guard, as the sport’s future looks to claim the spotlight from its legendary past.

    Organizers have been relieved by a last-minute shift in local conditions: the New Jersey region has been affected by hazardous wildfire smoke drifting from Canadian blazes in recent weeks, which triggered public health warnings. But an incoming cold front is forecast to improve air quality in time for kickoff, clearing the way for a capacity crowd of more than 80,000 fans inside the stadium, with an additional 50,000 expected to gather for a public viewing event in Manhattan’s Central Park.

    Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic has been named to lead the final, making history as the first Slovenian official to officiate a World Cup title match. Vincic brings a seasoned resume to the role, having already overseen the 2024 UEFA Champions League final. His appointment draws attention because for the second consecutive World Cup final against a European opponent, defending champion Argentina will be led by a European referee.

    The selection comes after controversy surrounding officiating calls in Argentina’s earlier matches in the tournament, with critics highlighting disputed moments including an incident where Messi avoided a red card for a rough challenge. FIFA’s head of refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, has defended the officiating team and stressed the integrity of all tournament officials.

    Through three matches at the 2026 tournament, Vincic has issued seven yellow cards, one red card, and awarded no penalties. When informed of his appointment, he called the moment a life-changing honor: “First I was shocked, then incredibly happy. I was shaking with pride. To referee a World Cup final is an incredible honor, it’s everyone’s dream.” He will be assisted by fellow Slovenian officials Tomaz Klancnik and Andraz Kovacic, with Germany’s Bastian Dankert serving as head VAR and Colombia’s Nicolas Gallo leading the video operations room.

    The 2026 tournament’s expanded 48-team format delivered no shortage of underdog surprises, with underrated sides including Cape Verde, DR Congo and Curaçao pulling off unlikely runs that won them legions of new global fans. Cape Verde, in particular, emerged as one of the tournament’s biggest revelations, forcing Argentina to extra time in a tense round of 16 matchup that pushed the eventual finalists to their limit. Despite the upsets, the tournament’s pre-tournament favorites – Argentina, Spain, France and England – all advanced to the semi-final stage, setting up a dramatic final between the world’s top-ranked sides.

    The race for the Golden Boot remains one of the tournament’s most hotly contested subplots, with a star-studded leaderboard including Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham. Mbappé enters the final with a 10-goal lead in the tournament, having already broken the all-time World Cup scoring record with 22 total career goals, just one ahead of Messi who has eight goals in this tournament and 21 total across his World Cup career.

    Beyond on-pitch action, the 2026 tournament sparked widespread debate over several key issues. VAR (Video Assistant Referee) technology was a constant point of contention, with disallowed goals and controversial decisions drawing criticism from multiple coaches, including the managers of Egypt and Croatia, who argued overtechnology was undermining the flow and joy of the game. Ticket prices also drew controversy, with extremely high face-value costs spurring a lucrative unregulated resale market, though all stadiums still recorded sellout crowds throughout the tournament, driven by global fan enthusiasm and U.S. host hospitality.

    The tournament also intersected with global politics: Iran’s participation drew international attention amid ongoing conflict and tensions in the Middle East, with visa issues and travel restrictions creating off-pitch disruption for the team before kickoff. Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s role in the tournament, particularly surrounding disciplinary matters, also came under scrutiny. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly expressed his support for Argentina, after the Argentine ambassador to Israel presented him with a custom national team jersey ahead of the final. Netanyahu also noted he enjoys an excellent working relationship with Argentine President Javier Milei.

    All the build-up has led to this final, which promises to be a historic clash that brings together the experience of an established defending champion and the hungry creativity of a young, dynamic challenger. Blending decades of historic rivalry, once-in-a-generation personal stories, and the climax of the most expanded World Cup in history, the 2026 World Cup final in New Jersey is all but guaranteed to deliver unforgettable moments for football fans across the globe. As the kickoff approaches, the entire world waits to see which side will etch its name forever into the history books of the beautiful game.

  • Creative Industries Minister Praises Success of ECAB Teenage Pageant

    Creative Industries Minister Praises Success of ECAB Teenage Pageant

    The ECAB 2026 Mr. and Miss Teenage Pageant, one of Antigua and Barbuda’s most anticipated youth-focused entertainment events, has earned high praise from the nation’s Creative Industries Minister Dwayne George, who celebrated the production as a standout tribute to the talent, self-assurance and untapped potential of the country’s younger generation. In comments following the conclusion of the pageant, George commended organizers for delivering a polished experience that balanced professional production values with broad audience appeal, noting that every segment of the event flowed seamlessly from its opening moments to the final announcement of results.
    Beyond recognizing the work of production teams, George extended warm, sincere congratulations to every young contestant who took the stage, highlighting the poise and high standard of performance each participant brought to the competition. “Each of you stepped onto this stage with grace and skill, and you have made the entire nation of Antigua and Barbuda proud,” the minister stated, emphasizing that the pageant provided a meaningful platform for young people to grow and showcase their abilities.
    George also took the opportunity to thank the full network of contributors that made the event possible, including the Antigua and Barbuda Festival Commission, national government bodies, corporate sponsors, community partners, volunteer organizers, competition judges, the full production crew and every other stakeholder invested in the pageant’s success. “It was clear from every small detail of the event how much hard work, dedication and passion every person involved poured into making this happen,” George said.
    Looking ahead to the nation’s future, the minister framed the contestants as emerging leaders and young ambassadors for Antigua and Barbuda. Through their demonstrated talent and clear potential, he argued, these young people continue to inspire communities across the country, offering a powerful reminder that Antigua and Barbuda’s future remains bright and full of possibility.

  • Antigua and Barbuda’s First Fertility Clinic to Open in September

    Antigua and Barbuda’s First Fertility Clinic to Open in September

    For years, people struggling with infertility across Antigua and Barbuda have faced the financial and emotional burden of traveling abroad to access specialized reproductive care. That is set to change this fall, as the country’s first dedicated fertility clinic moves into its final stages of preparation, with the first patient treatments scheduled to begin as early as September.

    The new clinic will be housed within the recently opened Doctors Medical Centre in St. John’s, a facility that already delivers a broad range of general and specialized medical services to local communities. According to the clinic’s co-founder, Dr. Sir Joseph John, all required specialized medical equipment has already been ordered and is currently en route to the twin-island nation, putting the project on track for its planned launch.

    The landmark initiative is the product of a cross-border collaboration between local medical professionals and a globally experienced fertility leader. The partnership brings together Dr. Sir Joseph John, Dr. Mansoor, Dr. Yemi, and a Nigerian fertility specialist who has already built and operates multiple high-success fertility clinics in Lagos. What makes this collaboration unique is its connection to Antigua and Barbuda’s Citizenship by Investment Programme: the specialist and her husband gained citizenship through the program, and after establishing their roots in the country, her representative reached out to Dr. John to explore launching a local clinic.

    “She is a fertility expert with a number of these very successful fertility clinics in Lagos,” Dr. John shared in an interview with ABS News. “She wanted to do something here, and her agent got in touch with me, and we put this together.”

    When it opens, the clinic will offer comprehensive end-to-end fertility care, headlined by in vitro fertilization (IVF) — one of the most common and effective assisted reproductive technologies for people facing fertility challenges. Prior to this launch, accessible local fertility care did not exist in Antigua and Barbuda, and the few available options in the broader Caribbean region were limited to clinics in neighboring Barbados and Trinidad. Dr. John emphasized that the new clinic will eliminate the need for local patients to make costly, stressful trips overseas to get the care they need.

    “No longer will folks have to travel to Barbados or anywhere to have their fertility experience or care,” he said. “It will be given from A to Z here.” Healthcare leaders across the country expect the clinic will not only improve reproductive health outcomes for local residents but also position Antigua and Barbuda as a growing hub for accessible specialized medical care across the Eastern Caribbean.

  • US to revive rule that could deny green cards to immigrants using public benefits

    US to revive rule that could deny green cards to immigrants using public benefits

    In a policy shift announced Thursday by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, a restrictive Trump-era immigration regulation is set to return, opening the door to denying permanent resident status to immigrants who access common taxpayer-funded public assistance programs including food stamps and Medicaid.

    The policy, rooted in the second Trump administration’s broader crackdown on unauthorized migration, frames the change as a defense of fiscal responsibility: officials argue that applicants seeking green cards should not rely primarily on government subsistence programs, a classification known in U.S. immigration law as a “public charge.”

    The updated rule will go into effect across the United States on September 18 of this year, according to the DHS’s official announcement. Its origins trace back to 2019, when the Trump administration first introduced the regulation, dramatically expanding the legal definition of a public charge. Under the 2019 framework, any immigrant who received eligible government benefits for more than 12 months within any three-year window would be classified as a public charge, making them ineligible for permanent residency.

    That broad expansion was rolled back in 2021 by the Biden administration, which significantly narrowed the criteria that would trigger a public charge green card denial, rolling the policy back to its narrower pre-2019 scope. The reversal came after years of sustained legal challenges and widespread outcry from immigrant support groups.

    In a statement posted to the social platform X, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services reaffirmed the administration’s policy stance, noting that the revived rule reinforces the long-standing core requirement that immigrants residing in the U.S. must be self-reliant and avoid dependence on public benefits supported by U.S. taxpayers.

    The original 2019 version of the rule faced fierce pushback from immigrant advocates, who argued that the policy intentionally targeted low-income immigrant communities, creating an unnecessary barrier that would block thousands of eligible people from accessing permanent legal status in the country. Many public health and social policy experts also warned that the rule would discourage immigrants from accessing life-saving healthcare and food assistance, even when they are legally eligible for those benefits, leading to worse public health and economic outcomes for immigrant families.

  • Argentina, Spain and their stars Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal meet in World Cup final

    Argentina, Spain and their stars Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal meet in World Cup final

    After a weeks-long summer of nonstop FIFA World Cup excitement across North America, the tournament’s 104th and final match is finally upon us. Sunday’s clash at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, located just outside Manhattan, pits the world’s top two ranked men’s national teams against one another, with kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m. Eastern Time, and the sport’s most iconic global trophy on the line.

    Organizers project a sellout crowd of 80,000 fans will pack the stadium’s stands for the historic showdown, with resale markets seeing unprecedented demand for entry: the cheapest available tickets on secondary platforms were listed for close to $10,000 in the lead-up to the match. After days of chaotic weather disruptions across the New York metro area – including thick wildfire smoke that blanketed the region last week, followed by a torrential Saturday downpour that triggered flash flood warnings – conditions have cleared just in time for the final. Sunday morning brought clear blue skies, with a forecast calling for sunny conditions and a comfortable high of 80 degrees Fahrenheit at kickoff.

    For Spain, a victory Sunday would cap a stunning breakout tournament for its dynamic, youth-driven squad, headlined by 19-year-old phenom Lamine Yamal. Despite a quad injury suffered earlier this spring that sidelined him for club play, Yamal has turned in a series of virtuoso performances throughout the tournament, announcing himself as one of the sport’s next global superstars. La Roja’s road to the final has been one of dominant defensive play and impressive upsets over elite competition: they have knocked off three top-10 ranked teams to reach this stage, opening knockout play with a 1-0 win over 5th-ranked Portugal, following with a 2-1 quarterfinal victory over 9th-ranked Belgium, and pulling off a stunning 2-0 semifinal shutout of 3rd-ranked France, whose vaunted attacking line had looked unbeatable entering the match. Across seven tournament games, Spain has conceded just one single goal.

    On the other side of the pitch, Argentina is chasing a historic second consecutive World Cup title, a win that would cement a decade of unparalleled dominance for the side led by global icon Lionel Messi. Since this core group of players coalesced, Argentina has already claimed the 2022 World Cup trophy, two Copa América titles, and the 2022 Finalissima. Spanish head coach Luis de la Fuente acknowledged the magnitude of Argentina’s achievement in a press conference Friday, calling his opponents “an excellent national team that has had a spectacular run over the last eight or 10 years since this group came together.”

    Argentina’s run to the 2026 final has been defined by dramatic, last-gasp wins that have captured the attention of soccer fans worldwide. In all four of their knockout stage matches, Argentina failed to hold a lead at the end of 90 minutes of regulation play. Twice, they scored stoppage-time match winners to advance, and twice they secured their place in the next round with goals in extra time.

    At 39 years old, Messi’s performance throughout this tournament has defied expectations for players of any age. He enters the final with eight goals and four assists, including key assists on both late game-winning goals in a tense, heart-stopping semifinal win over England. That mark puts him second in the tournament’s golden boot race, behind only France’s Kylian Mbappé, who finished with ten goals after scoring twice in England’s bronze medal win over Argentina on Saturday. De la Fuente heaped praise on Messi Friday, saying “Messi is something else. He is an irreplaceable player, a player with extraordinary talent, and above all he is an example. His attitude and his behavior, at the age he is now and with the World Cup he is having, are truly spectacular.”

    Speculation has swirled for weeks that Sunday’s final could be Messi’s last match wearing the Argentina national team shirt, but Argentine head coach Lionel Scaloni remained noncommittal when asked about the possibility Friday, smiling and shrugging: “I wouldn’t know what to tell you. I don’t know, because he never stops surprising us.”

    The narrative of Sunday’s final has been shaped by the irresistible generational parallel between the 39-year-old Messi and 19-year-old Yamal, who both rose through the ranks of FC Barcelona’s famed La Masia youth academy, and made their senior debuts as teen prodigies wearing Barcelona’s iconic blue and red stripes. Yamal now wears the club’s legendary number 10 shirt, the same number Messi wore from 2008 until his departure from the club in 2021. Sunday’s match marks the first ever competitive meeting between the two players, who share a 20-year age gap – and their first meeting came in wildly improbable circumstances years ago, when Yamal was an infant, the pair posed together for a UNICEF charity calendar photo shoot.

    When asked about the iconic photo at a fan event in New York Friday, Messi laughed and called the full-circle moment “una locura” – madness. “That’s life,” he said. “I took a photo when he was a baby, and now the two of us are facing each other in a World Cup final.” Messi went on to praise Yamal, calling him a tremendous young talent: “At just 19 years old, he is already one of the world’s leading players. He has his entire career ahead of him, and he has a great opportunity to achieve something historic [on Sunday].” He added with a joke, “We’ll do everything we can to make sure it doesn’t happen this time.”

    Across the tournament, roaring crowds of Argentina supporters have turned every match into a home game for the side, with chants, cheers, and celebrations following the team as they closed in on a second straight World Cup title. Argentine players have repeatedly noted that the unwavering support from fans has given them extra motivation to finish the job with a win on Sunday.