New Jersey, July 20: Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute as Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, ending a tense contest that remained goalless through 90 minutes despite Spain’s complete control.
Torres, who came on in the 62nd minute, struck the decisive goal early in the second period of extra time. He latched onto a loose ball inside the box and blasted a left-footed shot under the crossbar beyond Emiliano Martinez, scoring his first goal of the tournament.
“It was a goal scored by 47 million people,” Torres said, referring to Spain’s population.
Spain’s task became easier after Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez was sent off in stoppage time at the end of regulation. Already on a yellow card, Fernandez received his second booking for a reckless challenge on defender Pau Cubarsi, forcing Argentina to play extra time with 10 men.
Spain dominated from start to finish, finishing with 20 shots to Argentina’s three. Argentina failed to register a single attempt during regulation time, while Spain earned nine corners compared to Argentina’s one. Yet Martinez kept his side alive with a remarkable display, making 12 saves, the most ever by a goalkeeper in a World Cup final.
His best stop came moments after Fernandez’s dismissal when Lamine Yamal curled a free kick toward the corner from about 22 yards. Martinez produced a full-stretch save to tip the ball away before eventually being beaten by Torres.
Spain’s defensive record throughout the tournament was equally impressive. La Roja conceded just one goal in eight matches, the fewest ever allowed by a World Cup-winning team.
Photo: Ferran Torres scores for Spain
The victory also extended Spain’s unbeaten run to 38 matches, made up of 29 wins and nine draws, surpassing Italy’s previous European record of 37 games. Spain also became the first country to hold both the men’s and women’s World Cup titles at the same time.
Argentina, the defending champion, had hoped to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup. Lionel Messi and his teammates fought until the end but struggled to create chances against Spain’s disciplined defence. Their best late opportunity came when a Messi corner reached substitute Giuliano Simeone, whose effort sailed over the bar.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, 65, became the oldest manager to win the men’s World Cup. “We are world champions,” he said. “It was together we reached this stage.”
Tempers briefly flared after the final whistle, with players from both teams involved in a confrontation before officials restored order. Spain then showed respect by forming a guard of honour as Argentina walked to collect the runners-up medals.
The final brought the curtain down on the biggest World Cup in history, featuring 48 teams across three host nations. More than six million fans attended matches during the 39-day tournament.
Spain captured only its second World Cup title after its maiden triumph in South Africa in 2010. Argentina, appearing in its eighth final, fell short of adding a fourth crown despite entering the tournament as defending champion.
The match was preceded by a star-studded closing ceremony featuring performances by Post Malone, Robbie Williams and Jennifer Hudson, while actor Tom Cruise made a special appearance. An 11-minute halftime show included Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, BTS and the Muppets before Torres’ extra-time strike delivered Spain another historic world title.
The major individual awards presented after the 2026 FIFA World Cup final were:
- Golden Ball (Best Player): Rodri, Spain. The Spanish midfielder was named the tournament’s best player after leading Spain to its second World Cup title with dominant performances throughout the competition.
- Silver Ball: Lionel Messi, Argentina. Messi finished as the tournament’s second-best player after guiding Argentina to the final.
- Bronze Ball: Kylian Mbappé, France. Mbappé’s outstanding scoring form earned him a place among the tournament’s top three players.
- Golden Boot (Top Scorer): Kylian Mbappé, France, 10 goals. He finished as the tournament’s leading scorer despite France ending its campaign in third place.
- Silver Boot: Lionel Messi, Argentina, 8 goals.
- Bronze Boot: Jude Bellingham, England.
- Golden Glove (Best Goalkeeper): Unai Simón, Spain. Spain conceded only one goal in eight matches, the fewest ever by a World Cup-winning team.
- Best Young Player: Pau Cubarsí, Spain. The teenage defender impressed throughout the tournament and capped it with a composed display in the final.
- FIFA Fair Play Award: Spain. The world champions also received the Fair Play Award for their discipline and sportsmanship during the tournament.
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