Spain are world champions 2026: 1-0 against Argentina

A Ferran Torres goal in extra time crowns Spain world champions for the second time. La Roja beat a ten-man Argentina to end the 2026 World Cup on top of the world.

Spain are world champions. La Roja beat Argentina 1-0 in the 2026 World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, thanks to a Ferran Torres goal in extra time. It is the second star in Spain's history, sixteen years on from their first in South Africa in 2010, and the perfect finish to a tournament in which Luis de la Fuente's team was the most reliable of all.

Ferran Torres, the hero off the bench

The match was goalless at the end of 90 minutes and was settled in extra time. In the 106th minute, Ferran Torres, who had come on as a substitute, tucked away the goal that wins a World Cup. The forward became the unlikely hero of a tense, physical and fiercely contested final in which the small details decided everything.

• Result: Spain 1-0 Argentina (extra time)
• Goal: Ferran Torres (106')
• Venue: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
• Argentina finished with ten men after Enzo Fernandez was sent off
• Spain's second World Cup (2010 and 2026)

A ten-man Argentina short of firepower

Argentina, the defending champions, put up plenty of resistance but offered little going forward: they did not register a single shot on target in the 90 minutes of normal time. On top of that, Enzo Fernandez's sending-off, for a second yellow late in regulation, left the albiceleste with ten men and shaped extra time. Goalkeeper Emiliano 'Dibu' Martinez kept Argentina alive with several fine saves, but could not prevent the decisive goal.

Spain's dominance, as throughout the tournament, was built on possession, patience and a near-impregnable defence. La Roja conceded just one goal in the entire World Cup and finished the job at their very best: control, know-how and the killer blow at just the right moment.

Messi's farewell in a final

On the other side, the image of the night was Lionel Messi, in tears in front of the Argentina fans after receiving his runners-up medal. In all likelihood, it was the last match of his career at a World Cup. Fate denied him a second consecutive title, but his legend remains intact.

The start of a golden era

With this title, Spain confirm they are living through a one-of-a-kind era. European champions in 2024 and world champions in 2026, with a blend of experience and young talent led by the likes of Rodri, Oyarzabal, Pedri and Lamine Yamal, La Roja sit at the very top of world football. The future, with this generation, promises even more to celebrate.

La Roja's road to glory

The title was no accident. Spain began with a surprising stumble (a 0-0 against Cape Verde), but quickly built momentum with wins over Saudi Arabia and Uruguay. In the knockouts, they brushed Austria aside, knocked out Portugal (1-0) through a Merino goal, saw off Belgium (2-1) and dismantled France (2-0) in the semifinals before being crowned against Argentina. Seven matches, a single goal conceded and the biggest trophy of all.

The keys to the triumph

If one thing defines this Spain, it is balance. Up front, goals spread around and the magic of Lamine Yamal; in midfield, the total control of Rodri and Pedri; at the back, a near-perfect defence with a record-setting Unai Simon, who strung together 560 minutes without conceding. Luis de la Fuente managed the squad shrewdly, rotating without losing solidity and getting his substitutions right, like bringing on Ferran Torres in the final. A mature unit that knows what it wants and how to get it, and that rarely beat itself with unforced mistakes. When the pressure was highest, in the semifinal and the final, Spain simply looked calmer and better organised than anyone else left in the tournament.

A night to remember for a lifetime

Beyond the names and the statistics, what remains from a night like this is the shared emotion. From the final whistle at MetLife, thousands of fans poured onto the streets across Spain to celebrate a title that unites generations and will be etched into the collective memory. These are the nights that make football great: the ones that are remembered, retold and relived year after year.

Celebrate the title with a prediction league with friends

A World Cup like this is best enjoyed in company. If you played the final along with your friends, you already know the thrill of getting La Roja's result right (or wrong). On quiniPrats you can create your prediction league in a minute for everything that comes next: the new league season is just around the corner.