Spain Beat Argentina to Win the 2026 World Cup
Ferran Torres struck in extra time as Spain edged Argentina 1-0 in New Jersey to claim their second World Cup, with Enzo Fernández sent off late.
By Source Reporters Newsdesk
Mon, 20 July 2026 · 2 min read
NEW JERSEY — Spain won the 2026 World Cup, beating Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal, according to the BBC and The Guardian.
The victory hands Spain their second World Cup title, after their 2010 triumph, and denies Argentina back-to-back crowns following their 2022 win. The match, goalless through 90 minutes, was settled in extra time when Torres finished to break Argentine resistance, the BBC reported.
Argentina were reduced to ten men when Enzo Fernández was sent off late on, compounding their struggle to break down a Spain side that dominated possession and controlled the tempo across the New Jersey pitch, according to match reports.
Individual honours went Spain's way and beyond. Rodri was named the tournament's best player, taking the Golden Ball, while France's Kylian Mbappé finished as top scorer to claim a second Golden Boot — the first player to win the award twice — the BBC reported. For Lionel Messi, at 39, the defeat likely marks the end of his World Cup story; for Spain's 19-year-old Lamine Yamal, it caps a breakthrough tournament.
The final drew a vast global audience and a high-profile crowd. US President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino were among those in attendance and were booed by sections of the stadium, The Guardian reported, while a star-studded half-time show featured Shakira, Madonna and other performers.
Spain's path to the title included a semi-final win over France, while Argentina reached the final by beating England 2-1 in the last four. England took third place, defeating France 6-4 in Saturday's play-off with a Bukayo Saka hat-trick.
The 2026 World Cup was the first staged under an expanded 48-team format, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, and closed a tournament that FIFA said generated record revenues and worldwide viewership.
Sources: BBC Sport and The Guardian, 19–20 Jul 2026.
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