Spain Dethrones Argentina to Become Champions of 2026 World Cup

Spain has been crowned the champions of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, defeating defending titleholders Argentina 1-0 in a closely contested final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

The decisive moment came in the 105th minute when Spain's Ferran Torres found the back of the net, converting a cutback header from Nico Williams. This goal ended a largely defensive 90 minutes of regulation play where Argentina struggled to create significant chances.

The victory marks a significant achievement for Spain, mirroring their 2010 World Cup win where they also played with 10 men after a player, John Heitinga, was sent off. Argentina, aiming to emulate Brazil's back-to-back triumphs of 1958 and 1962, failed in their bid to secure a second consecutive World Cup title after their win in Qatar four years prior.

For Lionel Messi, this final likely marks the end of his World Cup journey, as he would be 43 at the next tournament in 2030. He finished the match with 54 touches and one shot off target, falling short of Kylian Mbappé's 10 goals for the Golden Boot. Statistics showed Spain dominated possession and shots, with 20 attempts compared to Argentina's three, and 11 shots on target versus zero for Argentina.

Argentina's desperation was evident with five yellow cards and one red card, compared to Spain's single yellow. The team played the final 30 minutes with 10 men after Enzo Fernandez was sent off for a second yellow card following a challenge on Pau Cubarsí. Spain, whose women's team are also world champions, now holds the men's world title for the next four years.