Spain are the 2026 World Cup champions after defeating Argentina 1-0 in the Final at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on Monday, 20 July. The match required extra time to separate the two sides, and it was Ferran Torres who delivered the decisive moment just seconds into the second period of extra time.
A Goalless but Eventful First Half
Referee Slavko Vincic got the match under way at 1', and Spain showed attacking intent almost immediately. In the 5th minute, Lamine Yamal drove a left-footed shot from the right side of the box, only for Emiliano Martínez to save in the centre of the goal, with Dani Olmo having provided the assist. Argentina's goalkeeper was called upon again in the 39th minute when Mikel Oyarzabal fired a left-footed shot from outside the box, saved in the bottom right corner, that effort assisted by Fabián Ruiz.
The first half was punctuated by a drinks break at the 25th minute and a steady stream of free kicks conceded by both sides. Argentina's discipline came under strain late in the half: Lisandro Martínez received a yellow card in the 41st minute for a bad foul on Oyarzabal and was subsequently replaced by Nicolás Otamendi due to injury at the 44th minute. Argentina also made a second substitution at half-time, bringing on Leandro Paredes for Nico González. Marc Cucurella had an effort from outside the box in the 43rd minute that went just wide to the right, assisted by Fabián Ruiz, leaving the score at 0-0 at the interval.
Spain Dominate Possession Without Breaking Through
The second half opened with immediate action: Álex Baena tested Martínez from outside the box in the 46th minute, saved in the bottom right corner. Spain continued to press and accumulated a series of corners and free kicks, but Martínez remained a formidable barrier. In the 64th minute, Dani Olmo's right-footed shot from outside the box was saved in the centre of the goal — Pedri assisting — and moments later Olmo's header from very close range was blocked. In the 67th minute, Ferran Torres headed from the centre of the box, only for Martínez to save again, with Lamine Yamal's cross providing the service.
Leandro Paredes picked up a yellow card in the 52nd minute, and with Argentina's discipline continuing to fray, Enzo Fernández received a yellow card in the 83rd minute. Argentina lost Cristian Romero to injury at the 70th minute, with Facundo Medina entering as replacement. Spain introduced Pedri and Ferran Torres in the 62nd minute, and Nico Williams and Mikel Merino at the 75th minute, reshaping the attacking unit.
In the 81st minute, Aymeric Laporte's header from the left side of the six-yard box — assisted by a Nico Williams cross — was saved in the bottom left corner by Martínez in what proved one of the clearest chances of the 90 minutes. Rodri missed high from outside the box in the 89th minute, and the match reached its conclusion at 0-0 after 90 minutes.
Extra Time Drama and the Decisive Goal
First-half extra time began with both teams still searching for a breakthrough. Nico Williams had a header saved in the bottom left corner in the 93rd minute, assisted by Pedri. In the 98th minute, a delay was called due to an injury to Emiliano Martínez, and Spain took the opportunity to make substitutions: Martín Zubimendi came on for Rodri and Eric García for Aymeric Laporte at the 99th minute. Argentina sent on Marcos Senesi for Julián Alvarez in the 102nd minute. Enzo Fernández had already been dismissed with a second yellow card in the 90+3rd minute for a bad foul, reducing Argentina to ten men for the closing stages of the second half and into extra time.
The first half of extra time ended goalless, but the second half of extra time lasted barely a minute before the final was decided. In the 106th minute, Ferran Torres scored with a left-footed shot from the centre of the box into the high centre of the goal, assisted by Nico Williams with a headed pass. That goal proved the only one of the match.
Argentina pressed for an equaliser, and Lionel Messi had a left-footed shot blocked in the 117th minute, with Giuliano Simeone providing the assist. Giuliano Simeone himself had an attempt from the centre of the box from a corner in the 120+2nd minute that went wide. Alexis Mac Allister collected a yellow card in the 111th minute as Argentina's frustration mounted. But Spain held firm through five additional minutes and the second half of extra time concluded with the score unchanged at 1-0.
Spain won the 2026 World Cup Final 1-0 against Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium, claiming the title through a single goal by Ferran Torres deep in extra time.
