Spain Defeats Argentina in Extra Time to Win 2026 World Cup Final
Spain is once again on top of the soccer world.
Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time on Sunday to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup, capping a tournament that began June 11 with 48 teams across three host countries. Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 105th minute, sealing Spain's second World Cup title and its first since 2010.
More than 70,000 fans packed New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford for a final that stayed scoreless through 98 minutes of regulation. The breakthrough finally came in second-half stoppage time, when Argentina's Enzo Fernández was shown a second yellow card and sent off, leaving his team to play extra time a man down. Spain capitalized minutes later when Torres found the net.
Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez kept his team in the match with a string of saves before the red card changed everything. Spain also had a Nico Williams goal ruled out during the match for a foul.
For Lionel Messi, the loss likely closes out his final World Cup, a career that spanned two decades and included Argentina's 2022 title. Messi and Argentina had entered the final chasing back-to-back championships.
President Donald Trump attended the match and presented Spain's players with the 18-karat gold World Cup trophy after the final whistle.
A Star-Studded Halftime and Closing Show
Sunday's final featured the World Cup's first-ever halftime show, a new addition for a tournament that has traditionally kept its focus squarely on the sport itself. The lineup included Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira, BTS and the Muppets, each taking the stage during the break in play.
The closing ceremony continued the celebrity turnout, with Tom Cruise among those performing once the match ended. The production marked a shift toward the kind of large-scale entertainment spectacle more commonly associated with the Super Bowl halftime show, and organizers had signaled ahead of the tournament that the 2026 final would lean further into that direction than previous World Cups.
Fans in the stadium and watching from home got a show that stretched well beyond the 90 minutes of regulation, and reaction to the performances spread quickly across social media alongside commentary on the match itself.
How Spain Got Here
Spain entered the final unbeaten across the tournament, having conceded just once in six clean sheets on its way to the championship match. Head coach Luis de la Fuente's team followed up its Euro 2024 title with a World Cup crown, giving Spain both major international trophies in consecutive tournaments.
That run through the knockout stage included a win over France in the semifinal, a result that eliminated one of the tournament's most dangerous attacking teams. Spain's defense held firm throughout the tournament, and the team's ability to control matches without needing to score in bunches became a defining feature of its title run.
Sunday's win puts Spain back on top of the international game 16 years after its first World Cup title in 2010, completing a run that included wins over both France and Argentina, the two teams many considered its toughest competition for the trophy.
What It Means for Messi and Argentina
Argentina came into the final as the defending champion, looking to become the first country since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cup titles. That chase ultimately fell short, with Fernández's ejection proving costly in a match that had otherwise stayed even through regulation.
Messi, at 39, had already secured his place in the sport's history with Argentina's 2022 title, a run that included seven goals and a Golden Ball performance in the final against France. Sunday's final was his third as Argentina's captain, a distinction no other player has matched, and for much of the tournament he remained central to Argentina's attack even as the physical demands of playing into his late 30s became more visible.
Whether this was truly his last World Cup remains something only Messi can answer, but for now, the final chapter of his story at this level ends with a loss to the country whose club soccer shaped him as a player.
A Final Worth Remembering
Between the red card, the extra-time winner and a halftime show unlike anything the tournament has done before, Sunday's final gave fans plenty to talk about beyond the scoreline. Spain leaves with its second star, Argentina leaves with questions about what comes next, and a new era of World Cup entertainment appears to be just getting started.
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