Spain have lifted the Jules Rimet Trophy for a second time, defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final of FIFA World Cup 2026™ at the New York New Jersey Stadium.
It took until the 106th minute for Spain to break the deadlock, substitute Ferran Torres adding a second star to his nation’s fabled red kit with the decisive winning goal, 16 years after Andres Iniesta had done the same in extra-time in Johannesburg.
Despite the slim margin of victory this was arguably the most one-sided World Cup final in history, Spain dictating play from the off, bossing 68% of the possession and outshooting their opponents 20-3. Argentina failed to replicate the heroics that had seen then come from behind in two of their previous knockout stage games, finishing with ten men and struggling to get their maestro Lionel Messi into the game.
At times it looked like Spain would be made to pay for failing to convert their chances. Before scoring the game’s only goal, Torres missed a couple of decent chances in the second half, first nodding a header straight into the gloves of the goalkeeper, before glancing an effort wide of the right post on the turn. Centre-back Pau Cubarsi also forced a stop from the keeper as Spain continued throwing numbers forward.
Argentine goalkeeper Emi Martinez had been one of the stars of the former champions success in the final four years earlier, and almost single-handedly kept the South Americans in the game. He dived well to his left to deny Lamine Yamal from a direct free kick in the dying embers of normal time, moments after Enzo Fernandez had been dismissed for a second yellow card.
Down to ten men, the chances of making it out of another extra half-hour alive seemed unlikely for Argentina. Luck remained on their side though when Nico Williams had a goal ruled out in the 96th minute for a controversial foul on Otamendi in the build-up.
Ten minutes later the dam wall eventually broke though. Pedro Porro worked a long ball out to the left-hand side of the box, where Williams headed it down for Torres to rifle the ball into the top of the net on the half-volley.
Watched on by Iniesta and the rest of the Spanish cast who lifted the trophy in 2010, it was what Spain needed to finally kill of the match and get their hands back on the coveted trophy.
Result
Final
Spain 1 (Ferran TORRES 106′) Argentina 0
After extra-time
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