Spain crowned world champions for the second time after 1-0 extra-time win over Argentina

Spain are champions of the world for a second time after defeating Argentina 1-0 following extra time in the 2026 World Cup final at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on Sunday, 19 July 2026.

Substitute Ferran Torres settled a tense contest in the 106th minute, heading home after Nico Williams nodded down a deep cross at the back post. It was the decisive moment in a match that had remained goalless through 90 minutes and beyond.

The result adds a second world title to Spain's 2010 triumph. A crowd of 80,663 filled the stadium for the occasion.

Spain dominated possession and territory throughout. They held roughly 64 per cent of the ball at half-time, having registered three shots with two on target, while Argentina had failed to muster a single attempt on goal in the opening period.

The final settled into a siege. Spain pressed forward almost continuously, stringing together short passing moves and forcing corner after corner, while Argentina held their defensive lines and absorbed the pressure. The South American side offered little going forward, with Messi largely starved of the ball.

The turning point arrived deep in first-half stoppage time of the second period. Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez, already booked, received a second yellow card for a late challenge on Aymeric Laporte and was dismissed by Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic. The red card was upheld after a video review.

The dismissal capped a bad-tempered evening. Argentina conceded a steady stream of fouls throughout the match, drawing repeated complaints from the Spanish bench and several bookings, including cautions for Lisandro Martinez, Leandro Paredes and Fernandez.

Reduced to ten men for the entire 30 minutes of extra time, Argentina were unable to hold out. Torres struck almost immediately after the restart to give Spain the lead their play had long threatened.

Argentina owed their survival to normal time largely to goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. The 2022 Golden Glove winner produced a series of crucial saves, denying Williams from close range, keeping out a Yamal free kick in stoppage time and repeatedly frustrating a Spanish attack that created chance after chance.

Spain squandered several openings across the 120 minutes. Mikel Merino glanced a free header wide, Torres headed straight at the goalkeeper from a good position, and two efforts were ruled out for offside and a foul respectively before Torres finally broke the deadlock.

Spain had two goals disallowed before the winner arrived. Late in normal time, Nico Williams turned the ball home from close range after it deflected off a Martinez smother, but the effort was ruled out for a foul in the build-up. In extra time, Torres slotted into the bottom corner only for the offside flag to cut short the celebrations.

Argentina, chasing an equaliser with a numerical disadvantage, threatened only sporadically. Lionel Messi, largely subdued throughout, engineered a late corner in stoppage time of extra time that fell to Giuliano Simeone at the back post, but the volley cleared the crossbar.

The final was preceded by a pre-match show featuring Robbie Williams and Tom Cruise, and an 11-minute half-time performance including Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber and Shakira. Kickoff was delayed by six minutes.

US President Donald Trump attended the match alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino, whose presence caused logistical delays. Both were due to present the trophy.

The victory secures Spain the winner's share of a record prize pool. According to reported tournament figures, the 2026 World Cup carries a total prize pot of US$655 million, a 50 per cent increase on the previous edition.

The champions receive US$50 million. The runners-up take US$33 million, with US$29 million for third place and US$27 million for fourth. All prize money is distributed on a performance basis according to how far each team progresses.

Teams eliminated in the group stage still receive US$9 million each, alongside a US$1.5 million payment made before the tournament to cover preparation costs. Every participating nation earns some share of the pool.