Spain secured the 2026 FIFA World Cup title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Argentina after extra time on Sunday, capturing the nation’s second World Cup championship since its historic triumph in 2010.
The decisive moment came in the 106th minute when Ferran Torres finished a well-worked attacking move, giving Spain the breakthrough after more than 100 minutes of intense competition.
Spain controlled much of the final, enjoying around 65% possession and producing 20 shots, while Argentina struggled to create clear opportunities and managed only two attempts throughout the match.
Argentina’s task became even more difficult after midfielder Enzo Fernández received a second yellow card, reducing his team to 10 players for the closing stages of regulation and extra time.
Despite the defeat, Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez delivered an outstanding performance by making 11 saves, setting a new record for the most saves in a FIFA World Cup final.
Spain completed the tournament unbeaten and denied Argentina the chance to become the first nation since Brazil (1958 and 1962) to win consecutive men’s FIFA World Cup titles.
The defeat may also mark Lionel Messi’s final World Cup appearance. The Argentine captain has previously indicated that the 2026 tournament would likely be his last, although he could still feature in future international competitions such as the 2028 Copa América.
Source: NBC News
