Spain are world champions for the second time after grinding down 10-man Argentina 1-0 in extra time of a tense, suffocating World Cup final at New York/New Jersey Stadium. Substitute Ferran Torres struck 39 seconds into the second period of extra time, finishing off a Nico Williams header to complete an undefeated tournament for Luis de la Fuente's side, who conceded just once across the entire seven-match campaign. Enzo Fernández was sent off for a second bookable offence in second-half stoppage time, leaving Argentina to play the whole of extra time a man down, while Emiliano Martínez produced a World Cup final record 10 saves — including denying Lionel Messi one-on-one inside the opening five minutes — to keep his side in it as long as he did. It was not enough to prevent Spain lifting the trophy for the first time since 2010, and it brought what is expected to be Messi's final World Cup appearance to a heartbreaking end.
Torres Ends a 16-Year Wait for Spain
A tight, cagey opening set the tone for a final built on fine margins. Argentina's best chance of the entire match arrived inside five minutes, when Julián Álvarez slipped Lionel Messi clean through with only Unai Simón to beat — but the Spain goalkeeper raced off his line to smother the chance before Messi could get a touch. From there, Alexis Mac Allister repeatedly disrupted Spain's rhythm in a bruising midfield battle, and Argentina suffered a further blow shortly before the break when Lisandro Martínez was forced off injured, replaced by Nicolás Otamendi. The sides went in level at 0-0, with the world watching the first-ever World Cup final halftime show — a star-studded set featuring Shakira, Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber and Burna Boy, curated by Coldplay's Chris Martin.
Spain gradually seized control after the restart, with Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal and Alex Baena combining more fluently as Emiliano Martínez was called into increasingly vital action — turning away a Baena effort early in the half before a string of bigger saves as Spain's pressure mounted. The contest turned decisively in the 90th minute of added time when Enzo Fernández, already booked, was shown a second yellow card for a reckless challenge on Pau Cubarsí, reducing Argentina to ten men for the remainder of the match. Six minutes into extra time, Spain thought they had taken the lead when Nico Williams headed home, only for referee Slavko Vinčić to rule it out for a marginal foul by Mikel Merino on Otamendi in the build-up — a decision that divided pundits and left Spain still searching for a breakthrough.
They did not have to wait long. Just 39 seconds into the second period of extra time, Williams rose to win a crucial aerial duel and knock the ball into the danger area, where substitute Ferran Torres — on for precisely this kind of moment — reacted quickest to drive a powerful finish past Martínez and into the net. Argentina threw everything they had left at Spain in the closing stages, but with Martínez unable to produce an eleventh save and Messi increasingly starved of service, the lead held. When the final whistle sounded, Spain's players and staff poured onto the pitch to celebrate a second World Cup title, sixteen years after their first, on the back of an undefeated campaign in which they conceded just a single goal.
Match Timeline — Every Key Moment
Full Match Statistics
| Stat | Spain 🇪🇸 | Argentina 🇦🇷 |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 1 | 0 |
| Possession | 60% | 32% |
| Shots / On Target | 20 / 12 | 2 / 0 |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 1.94 | 0.20 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 1 (Fernández, 90+3') |
| Goalkeeper Saves | 0 (Simón) | 10 (Martínez) — Final record |
| History | Spain win a second World Cup title, their first since 2010 · Undefeated tournament, only 1 goal conceded in 7 matches | |
| Venue | New York/New Jersey Stadium · East Rutherford, NJ · July 19, 2026 | |
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Unai Simón — Champion, and Decisive Inside Five Minutes
At the other end, Unai Simón made only the one telling intervention of the match — but it may have been the most important of the entire tournament. Racing off his line to deny Lionel Messi a clean run at goal inside the opening five minutes, Simón preserved the clean sheet that Spain would go on to protect for the remainder of the match, finishing the World Cup having conceded just one goal in seven games. It was a fitting way for Spain's first-choice goalkeeper to help seal a campaign defined, above all, by defensive control.
Key Player Ratings
What This Means Going Forward
Conclusion
Spain 1-0 Argentina (AET). Fittingly for a tournament in which Spain conceded only once in seven matches, the World Cup final was decided by defensive control rather than attacking fireworks. Argentina, magnificent in survival throughout the knockout stage, finally ran out of escapes against a Spanish side that dominated territory, chances and, ultimately, the scoreline — even if it took 106 minutes, a disallowed goal, and a red card against ten men to find the breakthrough.
For Spain, this is validation of a golden generation that has now added the World Cup to their European Championship crown, with Ferran Torres and Nico Williams — both introduced from the bench — combining for the moment that mattered most. For Argentina, there is heartbreak in falling short of a repeat title, tempered by immense pride in Emiliano Martínez's record-breaking goalkeeping and a wave of appreciation for Lionel Messi, whose extraordinary World Cup career is expected to have reached its final chapter in New Jersey. Spain lift the trophy for the second time in their history, sixteen years after their first, as worthy and undefeated champions of the world.
Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time at New York/New Jersey Stadium on July 19. Substitute Ferran Torres scored the only goal in the 106th minute, assisted by fellow substitute Nico Williams, to win Spain their second World Cup title.
Enzo Fernández was shown a second yellow card in the third minute of second-half stoppage time for a reckless challenge on Pau Cubarsí, meaning Argentina played the entirety of extra time with ten men.
Six minutes into extra time, Williams headed the ball home, but referee Slavko Vinčić ruled it out for a marginal foul by Mikel Merino on Nicolás Otamendi in the build-up — a contentious decision that divided pundits and fans alike.
It is widely expected to be. Messi, who will turn 43 before the 2030 World Cup, left the field in tears after collecting his runners-up medal, closing out an extraordinary World Cup career that included the 2022 title and this 2026 final defeat.