Spain are world champions once again after substitute Ferran Torres struck in extra time to secure a deserved 1-0 victory over defending champions Argentina in a dramatic FIFA World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New York.
Torres’ first goal of the tournament proved the most important of his career, arriving in the 106th minute to hand Spain their second World Cup title after their 2010 triumph and deny Lionel Messi a second consecutive crown in what the Argentine great has indicated is likely to be his final World Cup appearance. ALSO READ: Spain outclass France with tactical masterclass to reach World Cup Final.
The winning goal came after Nico Williams brilliantly knocked the ball back into Torres’ path, allowing the substitute to fire a left-footed finish beneath the crossbar beyond Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez.
‘It was a goal scored by 47 million people,’ Torres said, referring to Spain’s population. ‘Maybe not by them – but certainly for them.’
Spain’s triumph completed a remarkable period of dominance under coach Luis de la Fuente. The European champions finished the tournament having conceded just one goal throughout their campaign, setting a World Cup record for the fewest goals allowed by a title-winning side. Combined with Spain’s women’s World Cup victory in 2023, it also makes Spain the first nation to simultaneously hold both the men’s and women’s world titles.
‘We are world champions,’ de la Fuente said. ‘It was together we reached this stage. I spoke to my players, and they said: “Look, we’ve won everything, coach. We’ve won everything.” And that is beautiful.’
Although the scoreline remained level for more than 100 minutes, Spain controlled almost every aspect of the final. Their trademark possession football suffocated Argentina, limiting the defending champions to almost no attacking opportunities while Spain repeatedly threatened Martínez’s goal.
The South American goalkeeper produced a series of outstanding saves to keep his side in contention, ultimately making a World Cup final-record 12 stops. Spain also dominated set pieces, winning nine of the match’s first ten corners, while Argentina failed to register their first shot until well into the second half of extra time after Spain had already attempted the game’s opening 20 efforts.
The contest shifted decisively in second-half stoppage time when Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernández was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a reckless challenge that sent Spain defender Pau Cubarsí tumbling through the air. Reduced to 10 men, Argentina spent extra time defending deep before Torres finally found the breakthrough.
‘When you have Messi on the other side, well, you are nervous,’ Torres said. ‘At the end of the day, we always depended on us. We always come up with our football, and we showed it again.’
Argentina had reached the final in typically resilient fashion, recovering dramatically to eliminate Egypt before overturning a deficit against England in the semi-finals. However, Lionel Scaloni’s side could not produce another comeback against Spain’s disciplined defence.
Messi’s best late opportunity came from a corner with just minutes remaining when the ball broke kindly for substitute Giuliano Simeone, who blasted over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.
After the final whistle, emotions spilled over briefly with some pushing and shoving between players before tempers cooled. Spain’s squad then formed a guard of honour as Argentina walked forward to collect their runners-up medals.
‘I feel sad,’ Messi admitted after being moved to tears while receiving his silver medal. ‘They were better, to be honest.’
‘There is sadness, but also the knowledge that we gave it our all,’ Scaloni said. ‘I could say a lot about how we got here, but it’s not worth it. I am eternally grateful to these guys; they competed right to the end. The other team was better.’
‘We are gracious in victory,’ Scaloni added, ‘and we must be gracious in defeat.’
For Spain, the victory extended an extraordinary unbeaten run to 38 matches, comprising 29 wins and nine draws, surpassing Italy’s previous European record of 37 consecutive games without defeat. No team has beaten Spain in more than two years.
At 65, De la Fuente also became the oldest coach ever to guide a nation to World Cup glory.
The final brought the curtain down on the biggest World Cup in history, the first to feature 48 teams and to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Across 104 matches, the tournament produced more than 300 goals, although Spain’s route to the trophy was built on defensive excellence as much as attacking quality. ALSO READ: Spain to play France in World Cup semi-finals after 2-1 victory over Belgium.
Messi, now 39, leaves the international stage having cemented his place among football’s greatest players. His glittering career includes Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph, Olympic gold at the 2008 Beijing Games, Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024, and 16 Argentina Player of the Year awards across a 19-year span.
‘I experienced a lot of things on this pitch, good and not so good,’ Messi had said before what is expected to be his final World Cup. ‘I’ll take the good with me.’
The occasion itself was a spectacle beyond the football. FIFA staged the tournament’s first-ever halftime show, while around 80,000 fans packed MetLife Stadium and an estimated global television audience approached two billion. Celebrities including Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Matt Damon, Cillian Murphy, Daniel Craig, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Serena Williams, Carlos Alcaraz, David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane were among those in attendance.
US President Donald Trump also attended the final, arriving aboard Marine One before presenting the World Cup trophy alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino after Spain’s victory.
Speaking ahead of the match, Trump hailed the tournament’s impact on the United States.
‘It turned out we were a soccer country, and I think it’s going to remain,’ Trump said during a FIFA reception in New York. ‘This has really brought the world together.’
Following the trophy presentation, Trump remained on the podium as Spain’s players celebrated amid showers of gold confetti. Earlier, he suggested the United States should immediately bid to host another World Cup.
‘I had a great idea for Gianni: You have to do two countries. Announce us again next time, and then announce another country after that. It’ll take out some of the anger and the shock,’ Trump said. ‘Based on the numbers, we will be requesting it again immediately.’
The tournament had unfolded against a backdrop of political tensions. The White House faced criticism over immigration and visa policies affecting supporters and officials from some participating nations, while high ticket prices and logistical issues also drew scrutiny.
Relations with co-hosts Canada and Mexico were additionally strained by trade disputes, although Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum both attended the final alongside Spain’s King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
Despite those controversies, the championship concluded with Spain firmly established once again at the summit of world football, ending Argentina’s reign and preventing the South Americans from becoming the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend the men’s World Cup.
Spain had entered the tournament among the favourites believing they could dethrone the champions. In the end, they did so emphatically.
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🙌🏼🏆 LOS SUEÑOS SE CUMPLEN.#VamosEspaña | #CopaMundialFIFA pic.twitter.com/yBbtjvKmg2
— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) July 19, 2026
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