THE FINAL. Decided in extra time after the regular time ended 0-0. The Argentinians were down to ten men due to the expulsion of
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Spain won the 2026 World Cup: in the final at MetLife Stadium in New York, they beat Argentina 1-0, with a goal by Ferran Torres in the 1st minute of the second extra time.
The story of the final
La Roja triumphs under the sign of Ferran Torres. Spain beats Argentina 1-0 and becomes the first national team to win the World Cup twice in the twenty-first century, sixteen years after the 2010 feat. The generational duel announced between Messi and Yamal is decided by a third face from Barcelona, who had not yet scored in this World Cup. The Albiceleste abdicates along with its symbol, the strongest player since Maradona, like the Pibe de Oro defeated in the final four years after the victory.
In New Jersey, it is a scorching afternoon. For the day of judgment, Luis de la Fuente confirms the eleven who defeated France, while Scaloni changes three pieces: Montiel, De Paul, and Gonzalez replace Molina, Simeone, and Paredes as they had already done in the semifinal, when England was leading 1-0 and the Albiceleste was on the verge of surrender. Spain is the first to take the initiative, then on the other side Unai Simon intervenes in the midfield to stop Messi’s run.
La Pulce is the common thread of this match, because he was on the field during Spain’s first World Cup win in 2010 and for having made Barcelona’s history. Among the Spaniards, there are those who faced him as an opponent, like Laporte who in 2015, as a player of Athletic Bilbao, was overwhelmed by the Argentine in the Copa del Rey final. And there are those who grew up in his myth at La Masia: Yamal, Cubarsí, Cucurella.
Spain holds the ball and the center of gravity gradually shifts towards the Argentine goal, with the Selección unable to break the lines of La Roja. At 38’, a nice exchange ends with a shot from Oyarzabal from the edge of the area, too central to trouble Martinez. The other Argentine Martinez, Lisandro, is first booked then leaves the field at 38’ for the 38-year-old Otamendi due to injury. At halftime, there are only two shots on goal, both by Spain, the fewest in the last 60 years in a World Cup final.
While Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, Ronaldo, and Ronaldinho enliven the big halftime, Scaloni thinks about how to loosen the grip of the Red Fury and plays the Paredes card by recalling Gonzalez. The former Roma and Juventus player loses the first ball in his own half, but Baena spares him by shooting at Martinez. A few minutes later, Rodri pushes who does nothing to hide the contact, a scuffle breaks out and the Argentine sees the yellow card. Scaloni plays the third card and Molina replaces Montiel, the author of the decisive penalty in the 2022 final. The Spanish passers gain ground but do not capitalize, so Pedri and Torres replace Ruiz and Oyarzabal.
The clearest chance is created by Yamal, with a cross for Torres who fails to angle it. At the break, Argentina desperately needs oxygen to plug all the holes, so Scaloni brings in Simeone and Medina in place of De Paul and Romero.
The Albiceleste clearly has none left, but La Roja does not find the winning idea. De la Fuente recalls Olmo and Baena, Merino and Williams come in. It becomes a siege. Martinez, with a questionable style, also repels an attempt by Cubarsí. Spain continues to shoot at the Argentine goalkeeper. The match heats up at the end. First Laporte stops Messi roughly, then the Albiceleste shows up in the Spanish area, then Fernandez fouls Cubarsí. He had been booked shortly before for protests, the red card arrives. The regular time ends with the clearest chance for Spain, a free kick by Yamal on which Martinez makes a great save.
At 90’, Argentina has not yet taken a shot and must play thirty minutes of extra time with one man less. By now, the Red Fury tries to enter the goal with the ball and Williams at one point seems to succeed, but Vincic cancels everything.
In the last quarter of an hour, the two teams present 19 shots to zero for Spain. But to win, goals are needed. And the goal comes, at the last return to the field. The referee whistles, Pedro Porro crosses from the midfield and Nico Williams heads the ball on for Ferran Torres, who scores for history. It ends with Argentina’s desperate assault, knife between the teeth, and a Spain that looks like England in the semifinal. But Cubarsí is miraculous, then Simeone sends the Albiceleste’s last prayer into the sky.
The scorecard
Spain-Argentina 1-0 (0-0 after regular time) in the 2026 World Cup final, played at MetLife Stadium in New York.
Spain (4-2-3-1): Simon, Porro, Laporte (9’ second half E. Garcia), Cubarsí, Cucurella, Rodri (9’ second half Zubimendi), Ruiz (17’ second half Pedri), Lamine Yamal, Olmo (30’ Merino), Baena (30’ second half Williams), Oyarzabal (17’ second half Torres) (Raya, J. Garcia, Pubill, Grimaldo, Llorente, Gavi, Pino, Munoz, Iglesias) Coach: de la Fuente.
Argentina (4-4-2): E. Martinez, Montiel (13’ second half Molina), Romero (25’ second half Medina), Li. Martinez (44’ first half Otamendi), Tagliafico, De Paul (25’ second half Simeone), MacAllister, Fernandez, Gonzalez (1’ second half Paredes), Messi, J. Alvarez (12’ second half Senesi) (Musso, Rulli, Barco, Lo Celso, Palacios, Almada, Paz, Lopez, La. Martinez). Coach: Scaloni.
Referee: Vincic (Slovenia).
Goals: Torres at 1’ second half extra time.
Corners: 9-4 for Spain.
Injury time: 4’ and 8’ in regular time, 3’ and 5’ in extra time.
Booked: Lisandro Martinez, Paredes and MacAllister for fouls, Enzo Fernandez for protests.
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Sent off: Enzo Fernandez for double booking.
