In the decisive encounter of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, Spain beat Argentina 1-0 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Ferran Torres netted the first and only goal after 106 minutes.
Spain dominated the match and outshot Argentina 20-3 but couldn’t score in regulation. Argentina then played the entire extra time period without a player after Enzo Fernández was issued his second yellow card of the game in the third minute of stoppage time at the end of the second half.
In the first minute of the second fifteen-minute extra time period, Torres jumped on a bouncing ball in the area and smashed a shot with his left foot just under the crossbar and into the back of the net. Torres, who replaced Álvaro Morata in the 62nd minute, scored his first goal of the World Cup, hammering the ball past Argentina’s Emiliano Martínez.”It was a goal scored by 47 million people”, Torres said when referring to the population of Spain.
Fernández’s reckless act sent Spain defender Pau Cubarsi cartwheeling into the air, and the card to follow was immediate.
After another foul, Lamine Yamal had a chance to win it from a free kick from about 22 yards out, about two minutes after play resumed. Martinez made his 10th save of the afternoon, diving to block a shot by Yamal that was rolling toward the right post. His 12 saves in the closing stages of the match would be the most in a World Cup final.
He sprang to his feet, punching the air, and calling on the crowd to raise their voices with him. The game went into extra time shortly after the whistle went. Argentina had zero regulation shots, Spain had fifteen. Argentina had one corner, Spain nine. And for some reason over ninety minutes of this supremacy was not enough. Spain’s win made them the first country to hold both the men’s and women’s World Cup titles at the same time.
Spain established a World Cup record for the fewest goals allowed by a champion, yielding only one in its eight tournament games.
In its last 38 matches, La Roja has won 29 and drawn nine, giving it the best winning run of any European side in history. Italy played 37 games (28 wins, 9 draws) from October 2018 to September 2021 before ending that run against Spain.
And nobody’s beaten Spain in the last two plus years. Not even Lionel Messi. But this time, an Argentina team that had dominated the tournament’s late-game rallies could not respond.
With only four minutes left on the clock, Lionel Messi delivered a dangerous corner that nearly changed the game. The ball fell kindly to substitute Giuliano Simeone, but his effort flew high over the crossbar, leaving him clutching his head in disbelief as Argentina’s golden chance slipped away.
Emotions boiled over after the final whistle, with players from both sides involved in a brief confrontation. Leandro Paredes appeared to grab a Spanish player by the throat during the scuffle before teammates and officials quickly stepped in to calm the situation.
As the dust settled, the contrast in emotions was clear. Argentina’s players remained on the pitch, stunned by the defeat, while Spain erupted in celebration. In a touching display of sportsmanship, Spain’s squad later formed a guard of honour as Argentina walked to the podium to collect their runners-up medals.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup delivered a tournament unlike any before it. Expanded to 48 teams, the competition brought together more than six million fans over 39 unforgettable days across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, making it the biggest World Cup in history. By the time the final kicked off, the skies over the U.S. Northeast had finally cleared after days of wildfire smoke drifting south from Canada.
Argentina entered the final with history on the line, hoping to defend the title they won in 2022 and become the first men’s team since Brazil in 1958 and 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups. But Spain, slight favorites before kickoff, rose to the occasion and claimed their second world title with a composed performance.
The match also renewed a rivalry that dates back to the 1966 World Cup, when Argentina defeated Spain 2-1 in the group stage. For Spain, it was only their second World Cup final since winning their first title in 2010, while Argentina were making their eighth appearance on football’s biggest stage, chasing a fourth World Cup crown.
The World Cup final was more than just a football match — it was a global spectacle from the moment the teams arrived. Before kickoff, fans enjoyed a star-filled closing ceremony featuring performances from Post Malone and Robbie Williams, while Jennifer Hudson delivered the national anthem. Hollywood star Tom Cruise also made an appearance, adding even more excitement to the event. The halftime show brought together some of the biggest names in entertainment, including Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, BTS, and The Muppets.
The biggest game in football also attracted some of the world’s most recognizable faces. U.S. President Donald Trump, members of Spain’s Royal Family, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney were among the special guests in attendance, joined by celebrities such as Matt Damon, Carlos Alcaraz, and Mick Jagger.
Trump arrived at the stadium shortly before kickoff aboard Marine One and watched from his private box alongside First Lady Melania Trump, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Sean Duffy, and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Despite political tensions between the neighboring nations, Sheinbaum’s presence highlighted the worldwide importance of the occasion.
With world leaders, celebrities, and millions of fans watching around the globe, security was a top priority. New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she was confident that the safety plans in place would ensure a smooth and successful World Cup final.
Governor Kathy Hochul said the safety plans for the event had been in the works for more than a year, with federal, state, and local security teams joining forces for more than 1,000 drills and preparation exercises to make sure they were ready for any situation.
Hochul expressed confidence in the security operation and welcomed the global spotlight on the New York area. She said having the world watching was a special moment for the region, describing it as an exciting and historic occasion.
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