FIFA World Cup 2026 Final: Spain become World Champions after deserved win over toothless Argentina
FIFA World Cup 2026 final: European champions Spain squared off against Copa America champions Argentina in the World Cup final.
Spain 1-0 Argentina
Spain won their second World Cup title after defeating Argentina in extra-time of a dour final at the MetLife Stadium. The game was far from the spectacle witnessed in Qatar four years ago when Argentina lifted the trophy against France.
With the sun beaming down, the match began with both teams offering little in attack, though Spain dominated possession. They had an early chance when Lamine Yamal’s deflected effort was well saved by Emiliano Martinez. Though the Euro 2024 winners also had a scare when Unai Simon had to come 40 yards off his line to clear with Lionel Messi charging down.
The first half moved along slowly, and when play resumed after an extended interval, La Roja took command of the proceedings. Mikel Oyarzabal was denied by a Nicolas Otamendi challenge, who had come on for the injured Lisandro Martinez just before half-time. Emi Martinez kept his side in the game with saves from Dani Olmo and Aymeric Laporte as pressure mounted.
The Argentine goalkeeper put in the best performance from his side, pushing away efforts from Pau Cubarsi and Nico Williams. Argentina
He then did brilliantly to keep out Yamal’s stinging free-kick right at the end of the 90 minutes. In stoppage time, Enzo Fernandez, who had been booked earlier, was sent off for a reckless challenge on Cubarsi.
Extra-time saw more frustration for Luis de la Fuente’s men. Martinez was on hand again to deny Williams from a header. Williams then thought he had scored only for the goal to be ruled out for a foul by Mikel Merino on Otamendi. While Spain continued to look for the breakthrough, La Albiceleste offered little in attack and were happy to disrupt the rhythm of their opponents.
But Spain finally had their reward in the first minute of the second half of extra-time. Pedro Porro’s cross was headed down by Williams into the path of Ferran Torres, who blasted home a goal that will forever go down in World Cup history.
It was only after the goal that Lionel Scaloni’s side realized that they have the quality to push forward and create chances. They put the opposition goal under pressure and had a great chance to steal an equalizer from a corner. The Spanish defence could only clear the ball to Giuliano Simeone, who could not keep his effort down to take the game to a penalty shootout. In the end, Spain were comfortable and deserved winners.
Curva Analysis
Lionel Messi had turned back the clock with some sublime performance at the ripe age of 39 at this World Cup. He was instrumental in the semi-final win over England, providing two assists from the right-hand side. But here his powers seemed to wane against a well-organised and dominant Spanish side.
Four years ago in Qatar, Messi was at the front and center of an exhilarating final. But here he cut a despondent figure in what could likely be his final outing on this stage with his teammates unable to help out the talismanic forward.
Argentina’s approach, despite the quality in their side, held them back. Yes, going toe-to-toe with the European champions may not have been ideal, but they looked content with frustrating their opponents rather than focusing on what they could offer. This final could mark a pivotal moment in the South American team’s future.
Coming into this World Cup, there had been questions about the team’s aging stars and whether they would be able to keep pace with other teams. Scaloni’s men kept fighting and digging themselves out of holes, showing experience mattered. Incredible wins over Cape Verde, Egypt, and England took them on the brink of history, but they were clawed back by a much younger and sharper opponent. This final defeat shows that Argentina needs a transition to the next generation of stars, and it could be a long journey.
Spain, meanwhile, have fulfilled their potential and promise. They began the World Cup as favourities, but a draw against Cape Verde in their first match raised some eyebrows. After late wins over Portugal and Belgium, there was some uneasiness and questions whether their methodical, possession-based style will work against a team that plays with quicker transitions.
There was no bigger example of that than France, and they were La Roja’s semi-final opponents. With Kylian Mbappe leading the line and an overload of attacking riches, Les Bleus offered a stern test to Luis de la Fuente’s side. But they brushed aside a vibrant French team with minimum fuss and never looked in trouble. De la Fuente kept faith in his methods and was rewarded.
The final against Argentina was about keeping their calm. It didn’t take long for them to put their authority on the game, but they had to be wary of La Albiceleste’s repeated provocation. At the end, Spain kept their heads while Argentina lost theirs. Despite the game being frustrated for large parts, they didn’t panic.
Spain knew they would get there eventually, and they did. This World Cup win wasn’t made in a year or two, not even in the last five years. De la Fuente has been a part of his country’s coaching setup for well over a decade. In 2015, he led the Spain Under-19 team to European championship success before repeating the feat with the Under-21 team in 2019. This was followed by a silver medal with the Under-23 side at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
He took charge of the senior national team in 2022, and it has been a trophy-laden spell. In 2022/23, he led the team to the UEFA Nations League title before the Euro triumph of 2024 and now has a World Cup medal to his name.
Rodri, Mikel Merino, Fabian Ruiz, Dani Olmo, Mikel Oyarzabal, Unai Simon, and others have been coached by De la Fuente at various youth levels. Now, they rightfully take their place alongside the legends of 2010 as Spain’s second World Cup-winning team.
READ MORE: FIFA World Cup 2026: England Beat France in Thriller to Seal Best Finish Since 1966
