Photos: Spain beat Argentina to win second World Cup title | World Cup 2026 News
Spain Wins Second World Cup, Defeats Argentina in Final
Published: July 20, 2026
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Spain secured its second FIFA World Cup title on Sunday, defeating Argentina 1-0 in a tightly contested final at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium. The match culminated in a dramatic extra-time goal by Ferran Torres, who capitalized on a play set up by substitute Nico Williams.
More than 80,000 fans witnessed the closely fought championship, in which Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, struggled to maintain possession against a dominant Spanish side. The match’s dynamics shifted significantly when Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez received a second yellow card in the 93rd minute, leaving his team to finish the game with ten players.
Despite Argentina’s defensive efforts and several key saves by goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, they could only muster a limited offensive presence throughout the match, failing to register a single shot on target.
The breakthrough for Spain came early in the second half of extra time when Torres found the net in the 106th minute, securing victory for his team. Following the final whistle, Spanish players celebrated on the pitch while Messi, visibly emotional, received the runners-up medal.
The post-game award ceremony featured U.S. President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who were both met with a mixture of reactions from the crowd.
Messi, 39, highlighted a challenging tournament for Argentina, one that saw them battle through intense knockout matches against Egypt and England. Despite his team’s valiant efforts, they fell short in their quest to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win consecutive World Cups.
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni acknowledged Spain’s superior performance in the final. “They were the better side, that’s the truth, but I’ll cherish the memory of this team, of what they achieved, and of the value of making it this far,” he said.
