Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time, securing the championship in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA.

The match was intense, remaining scoreless through the first 90 minutes until substitute Ferran Torres scored the winning goal, bringing Spain its second World Cup title.

Argentina started strong, creating several scoring chances, but Spain’s defense held firm, stopping the South American team from getting on the scoreboard.

The first major incident came in the 41st minute when Argentinian player Lisandro Martinez received a yellow card for a foul. Just a few minutes later, Nicolas Otamendi was also booked after a confrontation involving Martinez, reflecting the growing intensity of the game. Both teams went into half-time without any goals, leaving the score tied and the tension high.

As the second half began, Argentina made changes to their lineup, bringing on Leandro Paredes to replace Nicolas Gonzalez shortly after the break. Paredes received a yellow card just six minutes later for a tackle, and Nahuel Molina also came onto the field.

In response, Spain made its own substitutions in the 62nd minute, bringing on Pedri and Ferran Torres for Fabian Ruiz and Mikel Oyarzabal. Argentina followed this with two changes eight minutes later, introducing Facundo Medina and Giovanni Simeone to freshen up their attack. Later on, in the 75th minute, Spain added even more offensive power by bringing on Nico Williams and Mikel Merino.

Williams came on to replace Alex Baena, and Merino took the position that Dani Olmo had been playing as Spain aimed for a more exciting style of play.

Despite multiple chances for both teams, the match remained goalless after regular time, resulting in an extra period of play.

In the 83rd minute, Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez received a yellow card as the game became more intense and physical.

Spain made further changes in the 99th minute, bringing Martin Zubimendi on for Rodri and Eric Garcia in for Aymeric Laporte.

Just three minutes later, Argentina responded by substituting Marcos Senesi for Julian Alvarez, hoping to bring some fresh energy to their attack.

In the 104th minute, Argentina’s coach, Lionel Scaloni, was given a warning for arguing with the officials as tensions rose on the sidelines.

The turning point of the match occurred in the 106th minute when Torres skillfully scored a goal after a great setup by Nico Williams, finally breaking through Argentina’s defense.

Argentina immediately pushed forward for an equaliser, but Spain’s strong defense held tight, protecting its slim lead.

In the 111th minute, Alexis Mac Allister received a yellow card as Argentina’s frustration grew during the game’s closing moments.

Ultimately, Spain’s smart defensive play, timely substitutions, and composure under pressure led them to a hard-fought victory in extra time.

This win marked Spain’s second FIFA World Cup title, adding to their impressive legacy in international football.

Spain’s victory also means they now hold both of the most prestigious international football titles, having previously won the European Championship as well.