Spain are champions of the world for a second time after substitute Ferran Torres hit a 106th-minute winner to wrest the trophy from the grip of Lionel Messi’s Argentina.
Spain achieved the feat by beating Argentina 1-0 after extra time to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA.
Although Spain dominated the game from start to finish, they had to wait until the 106th minute to finally find a way past Emiliano Martinez.
The Argentina goalkeeper had made 12 saves up to that point but he had no answer when Nico Williams nodded down a Pedro Porro cross at the far post and Ferran Torres buried a first-time shot into the roof of the net.
Defending champions Argentina had lost Enzo Fernandez to a second yellow card at the end of normal time yet they battled to the end. However, Spain, as when winning the 2010 final, found the answer in extra time.
This was a head-to-head worthy of the World Cup final, bringing together the champions of Europe and South America, the top two sides in FIFA’s world ranking, each of them unbeaten on the road to the final. What followed was a first half controlled by Spain, who produced the first notable attempt through Lamine Yamal after five minutes. Dani Olmo worked the ball to the teenager in space on the right side of the box and he shot low but Emiliano Martinez got down to block at the near post.
Neither side found a breakthrough before half-time, with both teams entering the interval locked in a tense stalemate.
Argentina made an early tactical adjustment after the restart, introducing Leandro Paredes for Nicolas Gonzalez in the 46th minute.
For Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, the challenge increased with injuries to both of his starting centre-backs as the final progressed, with Lisandro Martinez making way for Nicolas Otamendi just before the break and Facundo Medina replacing Cristian Romero after 70 minutes.
By that point, Spain were still the side asking all the questions. Yamal created an excellent opportunity for Torres after 67 minutes but he headed too close to Martinez. Pau Cubarsi and substitutes Pedri and WIlliams all drew saves from the Argentina custodian as the pressure continued, culminating in the goalkeeper’s flying save from Yamal’s free-kick at the very end of normal time.
In spite of several promising moves, neither team could break the deadlock during regulation time, forcing the final into extra time.
Argentina had hit 19 goals on their way to the final yet Spain’s control was such that they did not manage a single attempt until extra time.
Their task became even greater when Fernandez collected his second yellow card for a challenge on Cubarsi three minutes into second-half added time.
Extra time brought more of the same. Martinez kept out a Williams header and Merino put another wide. Both Williams and Torres had goals disallowed. In between, though, Torres produced the defining moment to put Spain back on top of the world.
Argentina immediately pushed forward for an equaliser, but Spain’s disciplined defence stood firm and protected their slender advantage.
Spain’s defensive organisation, tactical substitutions and patience ultimately proved decisive as they secured a hard-fought victory after extra time.
The triumph secured Spain’s second FIFA World Cup title, adding another landmark achievement to their increasingly decorated international football history.
Spain’s victory also means they simultaneously hold football’s two biggest international titles, following their success at the European Championship.
