Spain win second World Cup title after beating Argentina

Spain won the World Cup for the second time in their history after defeating defending champions Argentina 1-0 in the 2026 final.

The match at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on July 19 remained goalless after 90 minutes before substitute Ferran Torres scored the winner in the 106th minute of extra time. 

Argentina had been reduced to 10 men shortly before the goal following the dismissal of midfielder Enzo Fernandez. Spain capitalised on the numerical advantage when Nico Williams redirected a Pedro Porro cross and Torres converted the decisive opportunity. 

Spain controlled much of the final but were repeatedly denied by Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who made 12 saves. Argentina failed to register a shot on target during regulation time and produced their first such attempt only in the 116th minute.

The victory gave Spain their second world title, 16 years after they won the 2010 tournament in South Africa. That final also ended in a 1-0 extra-time victory, with Andres Iniesta scoring against the Netherlands.

Tactical superiority

Spain’s success was based not only on possession but also on their ability to neutralise Argentina’s main attacking threat, Lionel Messi. The Spanish midfield restricted the passing channels towards the Argentina captain and prevented him from regularly receiving the ball in dangerous areas.

Argentina had relied heavily on Messi throughout the tournament. He entered the final with eight goals and four assists, but Spain’s disciplined defensive structure denied him space and isolated him from his teammates. 

Spain’s squad depth also proved decisive. The introductions of Torres and Nico Williams gave the team greater speed and energy in extra time. Both substitutes were directly involved in the move that produced the winning goal.

Road to the title

Spain defeated Austria 3-0, Portugal 1-0, Belgium 2-1 and France 2-0 in the knockout stages before overcoming Argentina in the final. They conceded only one goal in eight matches, setting a record for a World Cup-winning side. 

The team completed the tournament unbeaten and extended its run without defeat to 38 matches, setting a European record. The title continued Spain’s resurgence following their victory at the 2024 European Championship. 

Spain also became the first country to hold the men’s and women’s World Cup titles simultaneously, after its women’s team won the tournament in 2023. 

For Argentina, the defeat ended their attempt to retain the title they won in Qatar in 2022. They missed the chance to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win consecutive World Cups.

The final was also likely to be the last World Cup appearance for 39-year-old Messi. Although he had again played a central role in taking Argentina to the final, Spain prevented him from ending the tournament with a second successive world title. 

N. Tebrizli