2026 World Cup: Spain dethrones Argentina
Spain captured the 2026 FIFA World Cup crown after a tense extra-time victory against defending champions Argentina. Played before a massive crowd at the New York New Jersey Stadium, the 104th and final match of the expanded 48-team tournament delivered a dramatic tactical chess match.
Regulation time ended in a scoreless stalemate as Argentina’s defensive block successfully contained Spain’s fluid attack. The defending champions suffered a major blow late in the second half when Enzo Fernández received a second yellow card, leaving La Albiceleste with 10 men for the remainder of the fixture.
Spain captured the 2026 FIFA World Cup crown after a tense extra-time victory against defending champions Argentina. Played before a massive crowd at the New York New Jersey Stadium, the 104th and final match of the expanded 48-team tournament delivered a dramatic tactical chess match.
Regulation time ended in a scoreless stalemate as Argentina’s defensive block successfully contained Spain’s fluid attack. The defending champions suffered a major blow late in the second half when Enzo Fernández received a second yellow card, leaving La Albiceleste with 10 men for the remainder of the fixture.
Spain thought they had broken the deadlock in extra time when Nico Williams found the back of the net, but the strike was overturned following a VAR review for a foul in the build-up. However, the breakthrough finally arrived in the 106th minute. Williams delivered a precise headed layoff into the path of substitute Ferran Torres, who fired a powerful shot past Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez.
The goal marked Torres’ first of the tournament and crowned a dominant display where Spain accumulated 20 shots while restricting a tiring Argentina side. Lionel Messi, playing in what was anticipated to be his final World Cup appearance, fought valiantly, but Argentina could not orchestrate a late response.
With the 1-0 win, Spain secured their second World Cup title—replicating their historic 2010 triumph—and halted Argentina’s bid for back-to-back global crowns.
