Spain lifted the FIFA World Cup for the second time in its history on Sunday, July 19, 2026, edging Argentina 1-0 in extra time before more than 70,000 fans at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford. Ferran Torres, who had come on as a substitute, drove home the only goal in the 106th minute, slipping the ball past Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
The match stayed scoreless through 90 minutes and much of extra time, with Argentina reduced to 10 men after Enzo Fernandez was shown a second yellow card. Spain dominated possession and shot attempts throughout, holding Argentina to a single shot while pressing forward through teenage star Lamine Yamal and winger Nico Williams.
The win is Spain’s first World Cup crown since 2010 and caps an undefeated run in which La Roja conceded only one goal across eight matches — the stingiest defensive campaign by any champion in the tournament’s history. Their path to the final ran through Portugal, Belgium, and a 2-0 semifinal victory over France. The result extended Spain’s unbeaten streak to 38 matches, a run that includes the 2024 European Championship.
For Argentina, the defeat likely closes the World Cup chapter for Lionel Messi, the 39-year-old captain who led his country to the title in 2022. The tournament, hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, opened on June 11 with an expanded field of 48 teams.
For UAE-based Filipino fans, the final kicked off at 11 p.m. Dubai time, a viewer-friendly slot that filled sports bars and fanzones across the emirate for the tournament’s closing night.
