Ferran Torres’ extra-time winner saw Spain beat ten-men Argentina 1-0 to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Spain’s dominance paid dividends from Pedro Porro’s 106th-minute cross to the left post, which Nico Williams nodded down for Torres to smash into the net to settle a dominant display.
Spain consequently claimed their second Men’s World Cup title after they first won in 2010, and became the first country to hold the Men and Women’s FIFA World Cup titles simultaneously after having won the female edition in 2023.
Argentina meanwhile finished runners-up for a fourth time as their title defence ended albeit a man down, after Enzo Fernandez was dismissed in the third minute of second-half injury time for a reckless foul on Pau Cubarsi.
With just one goal conceded all tournament, Spain unsurprisingly began the final with defensive resilience as they quickly gained control in possession and almost broke the deadlock in the fifth minute if not for Emiliano Martinez’s save of Lamine Yamal’s shot.
Argentina were lucky to not be down to ten men in the 14th minute after Alexis Mac Allister recklessly slid into Dani Olmo much to Spain’s ire, just two minutes after Lisandro Martinez blocked Fabian Ruiz’s long-distance shot.
Spain continued to dominate the ball but lacked much end product quality until Mikel Oyarzabal met a slick 39th-minute forward pass on the half-turn, but he managed to smash his shot into Martinez’s arms.
Marc Cucurella then fired a low shot wide of the far-bottom right corner as Spain failed to find that breakthrough goal before half time.
Spain’s dominance continued after half time as Olmo forced Gonzalo Montiel to make a 56th-minute block of his cutback pass towards Cucurella.
Olmo then saw a 64th-minute shot deflected behind by Martinez, before substitute – Ferran Torres saw a header saved three minutes later.
Aymeric Laporte saw a 81st-minute header saved by Martinez as Spain continued to quieten Argentina, before Torres fired wide from Mikel Merino’s direct 87th-minute forward pass.
Rodri was the next Spanish player to try and prevent extra time as he blazed a 89th-minute strike over the bar, whilst Martinez blocked Williams’ 93rd-minute shot.
Moments later, Fernandez became the sixth player to be red carded in the final after he recklessly clattered into Cubarsi who was sent tumbling heavily to the ground upon impact.
Yamal’s subsequent free-kick towards the top right corner was tipped away and behind by Martinez as the match ultimately went to extra time.
Argentina in extra time struggled to offer much quality as Martinez saved Williams’ 93rd-minute knock-on header of Pedri’s shot towards the left corner, before he blocked a shot from Merino three minutes later only for Williams to smash in on the rebound.
His goal however was disallowed by referee – Slavko Vincic because Merino was judged to had stomped on Nicolas Otamendi’s foot in the build-up, which caused the Argentina defender to bizarrely feign a melodramatic fall to the ground.
Merino nodded wide from Williams’ 103rd minute cross before half time but barely a minute into the restart, Porro whipped a cross to the far-left post, where Williams was alert to knock down for Torres to smash in past a helpless Martinez to spark wild celebrations.
Torres almost doubled Spain’s lead with his second goal in the 114th minute from a through ball by Yamal but his effort was ruled offside.
Spain eventually saw the game out to claim a second title in the space of two years after they won UEFA Euro 2024, but lost the 2025 UEFA Nations League Final on penalties to Portugal.
Spain’s celebrations were however marred by ugly scenes of brawling triggered by Leandro Paredes squaring up to a Spanish player to earn a red card, whilst Nahuel Molina exchanged heated words with Rodri which sparked a melee involving players from both teams.
Teams
Spain: Unai Simons, Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte (E.Garcia 99′), Marc Cucurella, Rodri (Zubimendi 99′), Fabian Ruiz (Pedri 62′), Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo (Merino 75′), Alex Baena (Williams 75′), Mikel Oyarzabal (Torres 62′)
Substitutes: Eric Garcia, Joan Garcia, Pedri, Alejandro Grimaldo, Borja Iglesias, Marcos Llorente, Mikel Merino, Victor Munoz, Yeremy Pino, Marc Pubill, Gavi, David Raya, Ferran Torres, Nico Williams, Martin Zubimendi
Argentina: Emiliano Martinez, Gonzalo Montiel (Molina 58′), Cristian Romero (Median 70′), Lisandro Martinez (Otamendi 44′), Nicolas Tagliafico, Rodrigo De Paul (Simeone 70′), Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Nico Gonzalez (Paredes 46′), Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez (Senesi 102′)
Substitutes: Thiago Almada, Valentin Barco, Giovanni Lo Celso, Jose Manuel Lopez, Lautaro Martinez, Facundo Medina, Nahuel Molina, Juan Musso, Nicolas Otamendi, Exequiel Palacios, Leandro Paredes, Nico Paz, Geronimo Rulli, Marcos Senesi, Giuliano Simeone
Referee – Slavko Vincic (Slovenia)
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