Spain emerged victorious in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, defeating Argentina 1-0 in a grueling final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The decisive moment came in the 106th minute of extra time when substitute Ferran Torres scored the only goal of the match, burying a shot past Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez. This marks Spain's second World Cup title, their first being in 2010.
Spain dominated the match, outshooting Argentina 20-2, but struggled to find the back of the net during regular play. The situation for Argentina, the defending champions, worsened in the third minute of stoppage time at the end of the second half when Enzo Fernández received his second yellow card, forcing them to play all of extra time with 10 men. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Argentina, led by 39-year-old Lionel Messi, defended resolutely until Torres's breakthrough goal.
This final represented several significant milestones. It was the largest FIFA World Cup in history, featuring 48 nations and attracting over six million fans across 39 days. For Spain, this victory meant becoming the first nation to simultaneously hold both the men's and women's World Cup titles. Argentina, aiming for back-to-back championships, a feat not achieved since Brazil in 1958 and 1962, fell short in their seventh World Cup final appearance.
