World Cup Final: Spain defeats Argentina to win historic second title
Spain won its second FIFA World Cup title by defeating Argentina 1-0 after extra time, becoming the first champion of the expanded 48-team tournament. Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute. This victory marked Spain as the first nation to hold both men’s and women’s World Cup titles simultaneously.
Spain is once again at the top of world football.
La Roja defeated defending champions Argentina 1-0 after extra time on Sunday at New York New Jersey Stadium to capture its second FIFA World Cup title, becoming the first winner of the expanded 48-team tournament and closing the curtain on the largest World Cup in history.
After 90 tightly contested minutes without a goal, Ferran Torres delivered the decisive moment in the 106th minute, scoring the championship-winning goal that secured Spain’s first World Cup crown since 2010.
World Cup Final: Ferran Torres delivers the decisive moment
The final lived up to expectations as two of the tournament’s best teams battled through a scoreless regulation period.
Spain controlled possession for much of the match, while Argentina relied on its experience and moments of brilliance from Lionel Messi and Julián Álvarez to remain in contention.
The breakthrough finally arrived in extra time when Ferran Torres found the back of the net in the 106th minute, ending Argentina’s hopes of successfully defending its world title.
The victory also completed a remarkable achievement for Spanish football. After winning the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023, Spain became the first nation ever to simultaneously hold both FIFA’s men’s and women’s senior World Cup titles.
A tournament finale beyond football
The championship match wasn’t only remembered for what happened on the pitch.
Halftime featured the inaugural FIFA World Cup Topps Final Halftime Show, one of the most ambitious entertainment productions ever staged at a football match.
Curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin and produced by Global Citizen, the show featured performances from Madonna, Shakira, BTS, Justin Bieber, Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, the New York Philharmonic and the PS22 Chorus alongside Coldplay, blending music and sport on the world’s biggest football stage.
Spain sweeps the tournament awards
Spain’s dominance throughout the competition was reflected in the individual honors announced following the final.
Midfielder Rodri received the adidas Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player after anchoring Spain’s midfield throughout the World Cup.
Goalkeeper Unai Simón claimed the adidas Golden Glove after leading the tournament’s best defensive unit, while defender Pau Cubarsí was recognized as the tournament’s top young player with the Young Player Award presented by Aramco.
Record attendance for the biggest World Cup ever
The 2026 FIFA World Cup established new attendance records from start to finish.
A total of 6,810,966 fans attended matches across the 39-day tournament, making it the most attended World Cup in history.
Hosted jointly by Canada, Mexico and the United States, the competition featured 48 nations competing across 104 matches in 16 stadiums. Fans witnessed 308 goals before Spain lifted the trophy in New Jersey, bringing an end to a tournament that expanded the World Cup to unprecedented levels.
For Spain, however, the defining statistic was the one that mattered most: one goal in extra time, one more World Cup trophy, and a place in history as champions of the first 48-team FIFA World Cup.
