Good morning and welcome to World Cup final day! As excitement builds up for the face-off in New Jersey, POLITICO has tapped into the pulse of Europe's political and diplomatic community to gauge their predictions for this thrilling clash between Spain and Argentina.

From the heart of the Brussels bubble, a distinct preference for Spain emerges. POLITICO's survey reveals that many of Europe’s elites are rooting for a European victory today, with a notable lean towards Spain outshining Argentina.

Glenn Micallef, the European commissioner for sport, confidently predicts a 2-0 victory for Spain. Similarly, Magnus Brunner, who handles internal affairs and migration, cites a historical connection with Austria as a whimsical reason to support Spain, foreseeing a 2-1 score.

Paula Pinho, the European Commission's chief spokesperson, expects a nail-biting match that extends to penalties, with Spain ultimately prevailing. Meanwhile, Jüri Laas, a spokesperson for the European Parliament President, anticipates a closely fought game favoring Spain with a 2-1 scoreline.

The sentiment is echoed by Marcos Alonso Alonso, the Spanish ambassador to the EU, who anticipates joy for Europe with a Spanish win. His Argentine counterpart, Fernando Iglesias, diplomatically hopes for a great final, subtly nudging support towards Messi and Argentina.

Adding an athlete’s perspective, Thomas Regnier, a former professional footballer and now a European Commission spokesperson, also supports a Spanish victory, predicting a 2-1 score with Messi scoring his final World Cup goal.

Dutch ambassador Pieter Jan Kleiweg de Zwaan and Christophe Hansen, the European commissioner for agriculture, both foresee a strong Spanish defense leading to a victory without conceding more than a single goal throughout the tournament.

However, not everyone is swayed by the European majority. Carrie Budoff Brown, POLITICO Europe’s executive editor, stands out with her prediction of a 3-2 win for Argentina, trusting Messi to lead his team to victory.

As the final whistle draws near, Europe watches eagerly, divided by predictions but united in anticipation of a spectacular showdown in New Jersey. Will it be Spain’s strategic play or Argentina’s flair led by the legendary Messi that clinches the title? Only time will tell. Stay tuned as we continue to bring live updates from this global football fiesta.