The Spain national team has been crowned World Cup 2026 champions after securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Argentina in extra time, capping off the historic tournament at New York New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.
La Roja dominated proceedings from the opening whistle, controlling possession and effectively neutralizing Argentina’s attacking threats. In contrast, the reigning champions endured a dismal offensive performance, finishing regulation 90 minutes without recording a single shot—an unprecedented record in World Cup finals history.
Despite Spain’s tactical superiority, Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez produced a string of crucial saves to keep the match goalless and keep Albiceleste hopes alive throughout regulation time.
Argentina’s task grew infinitely harder in the third minute of stoppage time when midfielder Enzo Fernández received a second yellow card following a late challenge on Pau Cubarsí, forcing the title holders to play extra time with ten men.
With the score tied 0-0 after 90 minutes, the match headed into extra time—marking only the fourth time a World Cup final required extra time without goals in regulation, following the 1994, 2010, and 2014 editions.
Spain capitalized on their numerical advantage in the 106th minute when substitute Ferran Torres struck the decisive goal. Torres drilled a left-footed strike from inside the penalty area past Martínez, breaking Argentina’s resistance and sealing the world title.
This victory earns Spain their second World Cup trophy in history, following their maiden triumph in South Africa in 2010. La Roja returns to the pinnacle of global football after a 16-year wait in near-identical fashion—securing the title via an extra-time goal, this time scored by Ferran Torres rather than Andrés Iniesta.
Conversely, Argentina has now finished as World Cup runners-up for the fourth time (following 1930, 1990, and 2014), alongside their three world titles in 1978, 1986, and 2022. The defeat marks the end of their seventh World Cup final appearance as runners-up to Spain.
