Spain won the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Sunday after defeating defending champion Argentina 1-0 in extra time in the 2026 final at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The game was scoreless at the end of regular time while Spain had full control of the game in terms of possession and shot attempts with 16-0.
Pop icons Madonna, Justin Bieber, and Shakira performed during the half time break as fans continued to hold their breath for the new world champion.
Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute, giving Spain its first world title since its historic triumph in South Africa in 2010 and ending Argentina’s hopes of retaining its world title.
The victory marks Spain’s second men’s World Cup title after its maiden success in 2010, when Andrés Iniesta scored the extra-time winner against the Netherlands in Johannesburg.
For Argentina, the defeat ended its bid to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend the men’s World Cup. Argentina lifted the trophy in Qatar in 2022 after defeating France in one of the tournament’s most memorable finals. Argentina counts three World Cup wins—in 1978, 1986, and 2022.
Spain scored a commanding 2-0 victory over France in the semifinals on Tuesday, while Argentina produced a dramatic late comeback to defeat England 2-1 on Wednesday, scoring twice in the final seven minutes to book its place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
Spain, on the other hand, was looking for its second world champion title, after winning the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 2010.
The only two nations that have achieved being back-to-back World Cup champions are Brazil and Italy. Brazil managed two successive triumphs in 1958 and 1962. Italy achieved the feat, in 1934 and 1938.
All eyes on World Cup final’s superstars Messi and Yamal
As Spain and Argentina faced each other for the first time in sixty years in a World Cup game and the first time ever in a World Cup final, all eyes were on the two teams’ superstars, Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal.
The Final awaits…#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/bv1c5GPsmC
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 19, 2026
The 39-year-old Messi, who is the most prolific goal scorer in the tournament’s history, could have lifted his second World Cup trophy as many fans eagerly looked on, expecting the final to be his last match with the national team.
On the other hand, 19-year-old Yamal, Spain’s best player, led the favorites team while he is seen as Messi’s most obvious successor at his maiden World Cup.
The face-off of the two stars became even more compelling in light of a now-famous photo from 2007 that revealed what might be the most improbable coincidence in football history.
The two stars met again nineteen years after an unsuspecting teenage Messi bathed baby Yamal for a UNICEF charity photoshoot for Barcelona—only this time they were facing each other as rivals on the court for the world’s most prestigious final.
Yes, those photos you’ve seen are real.
More than 18 years ago, a baby named Lamine Yamal and his mom Sheila met Lionel Messi at a UNICEF fundraising photoshoot.
Today, their achievements on the pitch inspire millions. Off the pitch, both Messi and Lamine Yamal use their voices… pic.twitter.com/TSoUPDxia2
— UNICEF (@UNICEF) July 16, 2026
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