Dominant Spain dethrones 10-man Argentina to win WC after 16 years

Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute, finishing from close range after being set up by Nico Williams

Spain were crowned FIFA World Cup champions for the second time after defeating defending champions Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the 2026 final at New Jersey Stadium in New York on Sunday (19 July).

Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute, finishing from close range after being set up by Nico Williams, as Spain ended a 16-year wait to lift football's biggest prize again following their maiden triumph in South Africa in 2010.

The victory capped a dominant display by Luis de la Fuente's side, who controlled possession, created the overwhelming majority of the chances and finally broke Argentina's resistance after the South Americans were reduced to 10 men late in normal time.

Argentina's hopes of retaining the trophy suffered a major blow in stoppage time when Enzo Fernández was shown a second yellow card and sent off for a reckless challenge on Pau Cubarsí.

Spain immediately took control in extra time and thought they had gone ahead in the 96th minute when Nico Williams bundled home after Emiliano Martínez parried Mikel Merino's effort. However, the goal was ruled out after VAR confirmed a foul by Merino on Nicolás Otamendi.

Williams burst down the left before picking out Torres, who calmly finished past Martínez to hand Spain the lead they had deserved throughout the contest.

Spain continued to threaten and Torres thought he had added a second late in extra time after racing through on goal and beating Martínez, bu the effort was correctly ruled out for offside.

Argentina threw everything forward in the closing minutes in search of an equaliser.

Lionel Messi, who had been largely subdued for most of the match, sparked a late rally with dangerous deliveries from set pieces. His corner was flicked on for Giuliano Simeone, who blazed over the bar from close range in Argentina's best chance of the final.

Moments earlier, Messi's powerful effort from inside the penalty area was brilliantly blocked by Merino, while another teasing cross from the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner almost caught goalkeeper Unai Simón off guard.

Despite five minutes of added time at the end of extra time, Spain held firm to secure the trophy. The final had been dominated by Spain from the outset.

Lamine Yamal caused constant problems down the right wing and almost opened the scoring inside five minutes before Dani Olmo, Mikel Oyarzabal, Aymeric Laporte, Pedri and Torres were all denied by an outstanding Emiliano Martínez.

The Aston Villa goalkeeper produced eight saves during normal time, equalling the highest number recorded by a goalkeeper in a World Cup final since records began in 1966, and repeatedly kept Argentina in the contest.

Argentina, by contrast, struggled to threaten throughout the match.

Lionel Messi was tightly marked and found little space, while Lionel Scaloni's side failed to register a single shot for the opening 70 minutes, the longest wait for an attempt in a World Cup final since records began.

Spain finished the match with 20 shots, while Argentina failed to record a single attempt before extra time. De la Fuente's side also enjoyed 68% possession compared with Argentina's 32%, underlining their control of the contest.

Argentina's problems were compounded by injuries to both starting centre-backs. Lisandro Martínez was forced off before half-time and Cristian Romero was substituted in the second half, leaving Scaloni to reshuffle his defence before Fernández's dismissal further tilted the balance in Spain's favour.

The victory secured Spain's second World Cup crown, ending a 16-year wait since Andrés Iniesta's famous winner against the Netherlands in the 2010 final, while denying Argentina back-to-back world titles after their triumph in Qatar four years earlier.

With its victory, Spain became the first nation to simultaneously hold the World Cup crowns in both men's and women's soccer.

It was the 104th and last match of the biggest World Cup ever, a 48-team event that played out over the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Because there were more matches than any previous World Cup, it was no surprise that there were more goals than all other editions — 308. The spectacle was not limited to simply soccer.

Among the dignitaries in attendance were US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Celebrities — from all walks of life — were there. Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Matt Damon, Will Ferrell, Cillian Murphy, Daniel Craig, Jennifer Connelly, Jennifer Hudson, Jon Hamm, Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker were among the actors at the game.

The NBA had enough talent there for a full All-Star Game, with the list of players attending including Stephen Curry, Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Bronny James, Cade Cunningham, Cooper Flagg, Devin Booker, Donovan Mitchell, Draymond Green, Jalen Brunson, Jalen Williams, James Harden, Jaylen Brown, Karl-Anthony Towns, Kevin Durant and Tyrese Haliburton.

Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz were among the tennis royalty watching, the NFL had names like Eli Manning, Patrick Mahomes, Odell Beckham Jr. and Saquon Barkley in attendance, two of the greatest U.S. skiers ever in Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn were at the match — and, of course, there were soccer royalty with the likes of Kaka, David Beckham, Didier Drogba and Zinedine Zidane.

Post Malone headlined the closing ceremony, which started about 90 minutes before the final was set to begin and just a few minutes after Messi and Argentina arrived at the stadium. The halftime show — a first for FIFA and part of a 27-minute break — featured Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira and BTS, along with Burna Boy, Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, the PS 22 Chorus with Coldplay, and even characters from Sesame Street and the Muppets.

President Donald Trump was present as well, with plans calling for him to be part of the trophy presentation at the conclusion of the match.

“I won't pick sides,” Trump told Fox Sports in an interview released Sunday afternoon before the final. “I just think it's very hard to bet against Messi. He's great.”