Spain win 2026 World Cup

• Spain 1–0 Argentina (AET) — 2026 FIFA World Cup Final

• Ferran Torres (106’) — assisted by Nico Williams

• Enzo Fernández sent off (2nd yellow, second-half stoppage time)

• Spain’s second World Cup title (first: 2010)

• 80,663 at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

SPAIN 1–0 ARGENTINA (AET) — 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS

Spain win 2026 World Cup. Spain are the 2026 FIFA World Cup champions, beating Argentina 1-0 after extra time in front of 80,663 at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford on Sunday, 19 July 2026. Ferran Torres, introduced as a substitute, scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute with Nico Williams providing the assist — his earlier goal had been ruled out for a foul. It is Spain’s second World Cup title, 16 years after their historic triumph in South Africa in 2010.

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Match summary

 
Competition2026 FIFA World Cup Final
DateSunday, 19 July 2026
VenueMetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA
Attendance80,663
ResultSpain 1–0 Argentina (AET)
GoalFerran Torres (106’) — assisted by Nico Williams
Red cardEnzo Fernández (Argentina) — 2nd yellow card, second-half stoppage time
Spain: goals conceded1 in 8 tournament matches
Argentina: shots on target0 in 90 minutes of regulation
Trophy presented byUS President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino

Match report

A crowd of 80,663, including US President Donald Trump, came to MetLife Stadium hoping to see Lionel Messi guide Argentina to back-to-back World Cup titles. Instead, Luis de la Fuente’s Spain controlled the contest from the first whistle, dominating possession and never allowing the Albiceleste to settle. In what became a remarkable statistical footnote, Argentina did not manage a single shot on target in 90 minutes.

Emiliano Martínez was Argentina’s saving grace in the first half and into the second, producing a series of outstanding saves to deny Spain and keep the match level. The turning point came in second-half stoppage time when Enzo Fernández picked up a second yellow card for a reckless challenge on Pau Cubarsí, reducing Argentina to ten men heading into extra time.

Spain pressed relentlessly against a deep-lying Argentine defence in extra time. Nico Williams — who had been flagged out with a tournament-ending adductor injury earlier in the tournament but remarkably returned — found the net early in the second period of extra time, only for the effort to be disallowed for a foul on an Argentine defender.

The breakthrough came in the 106th minute. Pedro Porro’s cross found Williams, whose clever knock-back set up substitute Ferran Torres to fire low into the net. Argentina threw everything forward in search of an equaliser in the final fourteen minutes, but Spain’s defensive structure held firm. The final whistle confirmed Spain as 2026 FIFA World Cup champions.

The numbers

Spain conceded just one goal across eight tournament matches — confirming their status as the most defensively disciplined side in the competition. Unai Simón claimed the Golden Glove. Rodri was named Player of the Tournament. Argentina’s Messi exits his final World Cup as the all-time leading scorer with 21 career goals and the assist record with 12 — but without the back-to-back title that would have made him the first player to win consecutive World Cup medals.

READ ALSO: Argentina Player Ratings vs Spain

Sp Score

By Tekra Muthoni

Tekra Muthoni is an experienced digital content writer at Yaani Digital Limited, specializing in sports, betting insights, and digital media content. She has contributed extensively to leading platforms such as iWriter, Upwork, SportPesa, and other regional brands, helping scale content visibility through SEO and audience-driven storytelling. Tekra has studied in Faculty of Media and Communications (2023) – Laikipia University.

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