The World Cup is nearing its end, with France and Argentina to meet in the final match later today.

Here are five things to watch for during the game.

Qatar connection

Qatar didn’t reach the final of the World Cup but the hosts might have their dream final.

The heavyweight clash on Sunday in Lusail is about more than the sporting dreams of Argentina and France.

It’s about more than the superstars’ showdown of the No 10s.

Lionel Messi at 35 with his last shot at World Cup glory for Argentina. Kylian Mbappe is able to become a double world champion with France while still only 23.

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Regardless of the result, Qatar on its national day can flaunt the two poster boys of the ongoing state-funded sports project – Paris Saint-Germain – in a show of status, wealth and ambition looking beyond the World Cup.

Qatar bought into PSG in the months after the FIFA vote was so controversially won in 2010.

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French force

Not since Pele led Brazil to glory in 1958 and 1962 has a men’s team defended their World Cup.

If France can become back-to-back champions, Mbappe will further his ascent to footballing greatness, emulating Pele and inheriting the throne from Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

But the French attacking threat isn’t limited to Mbappe with his five goals and two assists.

Olivier Giroud has become France’s all-time leading scorer with four goals in Qatar. And while Antoine Griezmann hasn’t managed to score yet, the forward has been redeployed in a playmaker link-up role helping to create chances.

Messi destiny

Messi is set for a record 26th World Cup match.

Eight years after losing his only World Cup final, destiny can be fulfilled by completing his set of major trophies.

It was only in 2021 that the former Barcelona star finally landed a senior trophy with Argentina by winning the South American championship.

And glory in the FIFA showpiece would see Messi emulate Diego Maradona in 1986 by ending a 36-year wait to lift the trophy again.

But there isn’t only reliance on the veteran for goals – with Manchester City’s 22-year-old forward Julián Álvarez netting four times in his six matches in Qatar.

New city

The final is being held in a city that didn’t even exist when Messi made his Argentina debut 16 years ago.

Lusail has only been built in the last decade as the centrepiece of a metropolis that is only 25 minutes’ drive north of Doha.

The stadium was designed by British architect Norman Foster’s firm with a capacity of more than 88,000 – that could fit more than a quarter of Qatar’s population.

It’s one of eight venues either built from scratch or refurbished to allow Qatar to host a month of football.

Prize money

There is $440m in prize money split between the 32 teams in Qatar with the winner banking $42m and the runners-up receiving $30m.

The disparities will be glaring next year when the Women’s World Cup is played in Australia and New Zealand.

The total prize funding is doubling but only to $60m but the tournament has also expanded from 24 to 32 teams.

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