Spain secured their second men’s World Cup title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Argentina in East Rutherford on July 19, 2026. The decisive moment arrived in the 106th minute when Ferran Torres converted a cross from Pedro Porro, which had been set up by Nico Williams. The win capped a dominant performance for the Spanish side, who recorded 20 shots compared to only two from the Argentinian team.
Argentina’s aggressive defensive tactics struggled to contain Spain, and their position worsened when Enzo Fernández received a red card for two yellow cards, forcing the team to play with ten men in extra time. Argentina’s goalkeeper, Emi Martínez, made several crucial saves throughout the match, but the team failed to register a shot on goal until the final minutes. Tensions flared after the match, resulting in a late dismissal for Leandro Paredes. Lionel Messi, appearing in his final World Cup, was largely neutralized by the Spanish midfield.
Argentinian coach Lionel Scaloni acknowledged Spain’s superiority, stating that the opposition deserved the victory while praising his own squad for their resilience throughout the tournament. The event, held in North America, featured an extensive half-time show with performances by artists including Madonna, Shakira, and BTS. In the third-place match, England defeated France 6-4, securing their highest finish since 1966. Kylian Mbappé finished as the competition’s top scorer, earning the Golden Boot with 10 goals and bringing his career World Cup total to a record 22.
