Spain Defeat Argentina 1-0 After Extra Time to Win FIFA World Cup 2026
NEW YORK:Spain defeated defending champions Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final to lift the prestigious trophy for the second time in the nation’s history.
Spain dominated the opening half, creating several scoring opportunities while maintaining a solid defense that prevented Argentina from registering a single shot on target. The first half ended goalless.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Spain continuing to control possession and Argentina struggling to threaten the Spanish goal. Late in regulation time, Argentina’s Enzo Fernández was sent off after receiving a red card for a foul, forcing the defending champions to play the remainder of the match with 10 men. The score remained 0-0 after 90 minutes.
The first period of extra time also ended without a goal. However, early in the second period of extra time, Spain’s Ferran Torres capitalized on a scoring opportunity to net the decisive goal and seal a historic victory.
Argentina pushed forward in search of an equalizer but failed to break through Spain’s disciplined defense, allowing the Spanish side to claim the World Cup title 16 years after their first triumph.
U.S. President Donald Trump presented the World Cup trophy to Spain and awarded medals to the players during the post-match ceremony.
Spain’s Pau Cubarsí was named **Young Player of the Tournament**, while goalkeeper Unai Simón won the **Best Goalkeeper Award**. France’s Kylian Mbappé claimed the **Golden Boot** after finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with 10 goals, becoming the first player to win the award twice. Argentina captain Lionel Messi finished with eight goals.
Spain also achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first nation to hold both the men’s and women’s FIFA World Cup titles simultaneously, having won the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023.
The champions completed an outstanding tournament, conceding only one goal in eight matches and becoming the first team to win a World Cup while allowing just a single goal throughout the competition. No team managed to take the lead against Spain during the tournament.
Argentina also set an unwanted record in the final by becoming the first team in FIFA World Cup history to fail to register a single shot on target during the 90 minutes of a World Cup final. Spain finished the match with 15 total shots, including nine on target, underlining their dominance in the championship decider.
