Spain were crowned FIFA World Cup champions for the second time after defeating defending champions Argentina 1-0 in a tense final decided in extra time on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The breakthrough came in the 106th minute when substitute Ferran Torres fired home the decisive goal, ending a fiercely contested encounter and securing Spain’s first World Cup triumph since lifting the trophy in South Africa in 2010.
Both sides produced a high-quality contest, but Spain dominated possession and created the better scoring opportunities throughout the match. Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, struggled to break through Spain’s disciplined defence, with goalkeeper Unai Simón and the Spanish backline producing another assured performance.
The victory also ended Argentina’s reign as world champions, denying Messi the opportunity to capture a second consecutive World Cup title in what is widely expected to be his final appearance at football’s biggest tournament.
Spain’s triumph capped an impressive campaign in which Luis de la Fuente’s side conceded just one goal throughout the tournament, underlining their dominance at both ends of the pitch. The title extends Spain’s golden era in international football, adding a second men’s World Cup crown to their growing list of major honours.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, was the first edition of the tournament to feature an expanded 48-team format. Spain’s victory brought the month-long competition to a memorable conclusion before a capacity crowd and a global television audience.
