Spain beats Argentina 1-0 in extra time to win 2026 World Cup

Spain defeated reigning champions Argentina 1-0 in extra time in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19. Substitute Ferran Torres scored the winning goal in the 106th minute, receiving a pass from Nico Williams and firing past the goalkeeper. The victory gave Spain its second men's World Cup title and marked the first time the top four ranked teams all reached the semifinals.

The tournament, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, was the first to feature 48 teams and 104 matches. It set an attendance record with nearly seven million fans, though ticket prices and visa restrictions drew significant criticism. FIFA reported an average stadium occupancy of 99.7 percent by the quarterfinal stage.

Off-field controversies also marked the event. U.S. President Donald Trump personally called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to challenge a red card suspension for U.S. forward Folarin Balogun, which FIFA's disciplinary committee later lifted by deferring the ban for 12 months. The decision was criticized by the Belgian federation and UEFA. Separately, visa issues affected some players, officials, and fans, including Somali referee Omar Altan, who was denied entry at Miami airport. Paraguay's Miguel Almiron became the first player sent off under a new FIFA rule banning players from covering their mouths during confrontations.

On the pitch, Spain's defense set a record with six consecutive clean sheets, while goalkeeper Unai Simon's shutout streak reached 609 minutes. Spanish captain Rodri won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player, and France forward Kylian Mbappe claimed the Golden Boot with 10 goals, becoming the first to win the award at two World Cups. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, at 65, became the oldest coach to win a World Cup. Emerging stars included Morocco's 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi and Ivory Coast's Yan Diomande, while veterans Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, and Neymar played their final World Cup matches.