Spain Wins 2026 World Cup, Beating Argentina 1-0 in Extra Time/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Spain defeated defending champion Argentina 1-0 in extra time to win its second men’s World Cup title. Substitute Ferran Torres scored the winning goal in the 106th minute after Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez was sent off. Spain completed the tournament with a record defensive performance, allowing only one goal across eight matches.
Quick Look
- Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in the 2026 World Cup final.
- Ferran Torres scored the winning goal in the 106th minute.
- It was Torres’ first goal of the tournament.
- Argentina played extra time with 10 men after Enzo Fernandez was sent off.
- Spain won its second men’s World Cup after its 2010 triumph.
- Spain conceded only one goal in eight matches, setting a tournament record for a champion.
- Luis de la Fuente, 65, became the oldest coach to win the World Cup.
- Spain became the first country to hold the men’s and women’s World Cup titles simultaneously.
- Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez made a final-record 12 saves.
- Spain extended its unbeaten streak to a European men’s record of 38 matches.
- Rodri won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.
- The final may have been Lionel Messi’s last World Cup match.
- Spain prevented Argentina from winning consecutive titles.
- President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented the medals.
- Approximately 80,000 spectators attended the final in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Deep Look
Spain Defeats Argentina in World Cup Final
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Spain returned to the top of world soccer Sunday, defeating defending champion Argentina 1-0 in extra time to capture its second men’s World Cup title.
Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute, delivering the championship to Spain after entering the match as a second-half substitute.
The goal was Torres’ first of the tournament—and the most significant of his career.
“It was a goal scored by 47 million people,” Torres said, referring to Spain’s population.
The victory denied Lionel Messi a second consecutive World Cup title in what the 39-year-old has suggested could be his final appearance in the tournament.
Torres Scores Extra-Time Winner
Torres capitalized on a bouncing ball inside Argentina’s penalty area during the first period of extra time.
The Spanish forward struck the ball with his left foot and sent it just beneath the crossbar, leaving goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez unable to stop it.
Spain protected the lead for the remainder of extra time with the disciplined defense that had carried the team throughout the competition.
The triumph added the 2026 championship to the country’s first men’s World Cup title in 2010.
Argentina Reduced to 10 Players
Argentina was forced to complete the match with 10 men after midfielder Enzo Fernandez received his second yellow card during stoppage time at the end of regulation.
Fernandez was penalized for a reckless collision that sent Spanish defender Pau Cubarsi tumbling through the air.
The referee produced the yellow card immediately, resulting in Fernandez’s dismissal.
Tensions rose following the decision and erupted again after the final whistle. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni and players from both teams appeared to engage in pushing and shoving.
Spain Sets Defensive World Cup Record
Spain allowed only one goal in eight matches during its championship run.
The total established a record for the fewest goals conceded by a World Cup-winning team.
“I feel pride, to be honest,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said. “Accompanying them on this journey is an honor.”
At 65, de la Fuente became the oldest coach to lead a team to a World Cup championship.
Spain’s strategy relied on controlling possession and preventing opponents from creating meaningful scoring opportunities. The approach worked through all eight matches and proved decisive in the final.
Spain Dominates Argentina
Although the 1-0 score suggested a closely contested final, Spain controlled most of the match.
Spain recorded the game’s first 20 shots before Argentina managed its first attempt during the second half of extra time.
The champions also took nine of the first 10 corner kicks.
Argentina remained in contention largely because of Martinez, who produced a World Cup final-record 12 saves.
“Dibu was nothing short of exceptional,” de la Fuente said, using the Argentine goalkeeper’s nickname.
Messi and Argentina Unable to Find Equalizer
Argentina had built a reputation for late rallies during the tournament but could not produce another comeback against Spain.
Messi took a corner kick with approximately four minutes remaining. The ball bounced toward substitute Giuliano Simeone, who sent his attempt over the crossbar.
Simeone held his head in disbelief as one of Argentina’s final opportunities disappeared.
“When you have Messi on the other side, well, you are nervous,” Torres said. “At the end of the day, we always depended on us. We always come up with our football, and we showed it again.”
Scaloni Praises Argentina’s Effort
Argentina’s loss ended its attempt to win consecutive World Cup titles after capturing the championship in Qatar in 2022.
“We lost the game, and we accept that,” Scaloni said. “That doesn’t mean that we will forget everything we’ve done so far, so I’d like to thank my people, my players and the country. I can tell them that we played our hearts out.”
Following the postgame confrontations, Spain’s players honored the former champions.
The Spanish team formed a guard of honor for Argentina’s players as they walked toward the stage to receive their runner-up medals.
President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented the medals.
Rodri Wins Golden Ball
Spain midfielder Rodri received the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.
“I think now I’m in a cloud,” Rodri said following the victory.
Before the match, Rodri urged his teammates to confront the defending champions without hesitation.
“As I told the lads before the game, we have to go for the game, we need to face them, we have to look to their eyes and say we want this game,” Rodri said. “And then, life gives you the World Cup or not.”
Spain took control from the beginning and ultimately claimed the trophy.
Spain Makes World Cup History
The victory made Spain the first country to hold the men’s and women’s World Cup titles simultaneously.
Spain’s women won their first World Cup championship in 2023.
Celebrations erupted in Madrid and other Spanish cities after the men completed the historic achievement. Supporters filled the streets and continued celebrating into early Monday morning.
The men’s team also extended its unbeaten run to 38 matches, consisting of 29 victories and nine draws.
That is the longest unbeaten streak by a European men’s national team.
Italy previously held the record with 37 matches—28 wins and nine draws—from October 2018 through September 2021. Spain ended that streak and later surpassed it.
No opponent has defeated Spain in more than two years.
Messi’s World Cup Career May Be Over
Messi left the field in tears after what could be his final World Cup appearance.
The Inter Miami star previously indicated that a World Cup qualifying match against Venezuela in Argentina would be his last competitive home appearance for the national team.
“I experienced a lot of things on this pitch, good and not so good,” Messi said after that match. “I’ll take the good with me.”
Messi briefly retired from international soccer after Argentina lost the 2016 Copa America final to Chile at the same New Jersey stadium used for Sunday’s World Cup final.
He reversed that decision several weeks later.
During the following decade, Messi led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title and Copa America championships in 2021 and 2024.
He also won Argentina’s player of the year award 16 times over 19 years, beginning as a teenager and continuing into his late 30s.
De la Fuente Celebrates Complete Trophy Collection
Spain entered the World Cup as one of international soccer’s dominant teams.
After the final, de la Fuente said his players recognized the significance of completing their collection of major trophies.
“I spoke to my players, and they said: ‘Look, we’ve won everything, coach. We’ve won everything,’” de la Fuente said. “And that is beautiful.”
Spain’s latest championship followed its recent international success and confirmed its position as the dominant men’s team of the period.
Biggest World Cup Ends After 104 Matches
The final was the 104th and last match of the largest World Cup in history.
The expanded competition featured 48 teams and took place across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
More than 300 goals were scored during the tournament—nearly three per match—setting a record for a World Cup edition.
Spain proved to be the exception, conceding only once throughout the competition.
The champions maintained possession, limited opponents’ opportunities and completed the tournament with another shutout in the final.
Stars Perform at World Cup Final
The event included a halftime show featuring Madonna, Justin Bieber, BTS, Shakira and Burna Boy.
Jason Sudeikis appeared as his “Ted Lasso” character, while the Muppets were also part of the production.
Jennifer Hudson, Post Malone and Tom Cruise participated in the closing ceremony held before the match.
Actors, athletes and other celebrities attended, including Spanish actor Javier Bardem and Luciana Barroso Damon, the Argentine-born wife of actor Matt Damon.
Approximately 80,000 spectators filled the stadium, while the potential global television audience was estimated at up to 2 billion.
Spain prevented Argentina from becoming the first country since Brazil in 1962 to defend the men’s World Cup title.
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