Spain are champions of the world for a second time after substitute Ferran Torres hit a 106th-minute winner to wrest the trophy from the grip of Lionel Messi and Co.
Spain 1-0 Argentina
Spain goal: Torres (106)
Spain have become world champions for the second time in their history, Luis de la Fuente’s men beating Argentina 1-0 in Sunday’s FIFA World Cup 2026™ final in New York New Jersey.
Although Spain dominated the game from start to finish, they had to wait until the 106th minute to finally find a way past Emiliano Martinez. The Argentina goalkeeper made a series of saves to thwart La Roja but had no chance when Nico Williams nodded down a Pedro Porro cross at the far post and Ferran Torres buried a first-time shot into the roof of the net.
Defending champions Argentina had lost Enzo Fernandez to a second yellow card at the end of normal time yet they battled to the end. However, Spain, as when winning the 2010 final, found the answer in extra time.
This was a head-to-head worthy of the World Cup final, bringing together the champions of Europe and South America, the top two sides in FIFA’s world ranking, each of them unbeaten on the road to the final. What followed was a first half controlled by Spain, who produced the first notable attempt through Lamine Yamal after five minutes. Dani Olmo worked the ball to the teenager in space on the right side of the box and he shot low but Martinez got down to block at the near post.
If Spain were in control, it was cagey stuff with La Roja struggling to find gaps in a deep, determined Argentina defence. With half-time approaching, openings did appear with Mikel Oyarzabal driving a shot at Martinez and Marc Cucurella dragging an effort wide.
For Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, the challenge increased with injuries to both of his starting centre-backs as the final progressed, with Lisandro Martinez making way for Nicolas Otamendi just before the break and Facundo Medina replacing Cristian Romero after 70 minutes.
By that point, Spain were still the side asking all the questions. Yamal created an excellent opportunity for Torres after 67 minutes but he headed too close to Martinez. Pau Cubarsi and substitutes Pedri and WIlliams all drew saves from the Argentina custodian as the pressure continued, culminating in the goalkeeper’s flying save from Yamal’s free-kick at the very end of normal time.
Argentina had hit 19 goals on their way to the final yet Spain’s control was such that La Albiceleste did not manage a single attempt until extra time, with Lionel Messi starved of the opportunity to conjure any of the magic seen from him in previous rounds. Their task became even greater when Fernandez was sent off following a challenge on Cubarsi three minutes into second-half added time.
Extra time brought more of the same. Martinez kept out a Williams header and Merino put another wide. Both Williams and Torres had goals disallowed. In between, though, Torres produced the defining moment to put Spain back on top of the world.
What they said
“I feel especially proud of this generation of footballers who have grown with this idea, making it better and giving us an example of a group, of a family. They are players with exceptional talent. For me, it’s been an honour to have accompanied them on this journey. I’m very emotional, looking back. We have spoken a lot with the players. We’ve won everything and that is wonderful. They are a generation of footballers who are a source of pride for Spain. Together, we are stronger.
“I think the game should have been decided earlier. Dibu’s [Martinez] great saves prevented us from winning sooner but it’s a World Cup final and, even with ten players at the end, you have to suffer.” Luis de la Fuente, Spain coach
“[I feel] sadness but knowing that we left everything out there. I have a lot of things to say about how we got here but it’s not worth it. I want to thank these guys eternally for giving us another World Cup final and for competing until the end. They [Spain] were better, that’s the truth. But I’ll hold on to an enormous memory of what they’ve done, of what it’s worth to get this far. We have to give it huge value because it takes a lot to get here. We’re big in victory and we have to be big in defeat. Today we’re showing that we know how to lose. We lost the match and we’re owning it. But that doesn’t mean we’ll stop remembering everything we did to get here.” Lionel Scaloni, Argentina coach
“I think, in the end, the goal was for 47 million people; it wasn’t just mine or from the 26 players here. I believe that today’s outcome was written in the stars. [The game] was there for us to win, far from our people, but we did our best to make them feel as close as possible. All finals are difficult – when Messi is on the opposition team that nervousness always creeps in – but ultimately we’ve always stuck to our guns, to playing our own brand of football, and I think today we’ve shown that once again.” Ferran Torres, Spain forward
