Spain are the FIFA World Cup 2026 champions, beating Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday 19 July, their second World Cup title after 2010.
How the Final Unfolded
Spain dominated possession and chances through 90 minutes, but Argentina’s defence and goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez held firm and the final went into the break goalless. Argentina, without much attacking output of their own, managed to drag the game to extra time despite being second-best for long stretches.
Argentina were reduced to 10 men late on when Enzo Fernández was shown a second yellow card in second-half stoppage time for a reckless foul on Pau Cubarsí. Spain made the extra man count in extra time: substitute Ferran Torres, on for Mikel Oyarzabal, struck from close range in the 106th minute after Nico Williams headed Pedro Porro’s cross into his path.
Martínez was called into action repeatedly, making 11 saves, reportedly the most by any goalkeeper in a World Cup final — but couldn’t deny Spain a second world title. The match was played in front of 80,663 fans.
The Road to the Title
Spain’s knockout run to the trophy:
- Round of 32: beat Austria 3-0 (Los Angeles Stadium, 2 July) — Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice (36′, 89′) either side of a Pedro Porro goal (66′).
- Round of 16: beat Portugal 1-0 (Dallas Stadium, 6 July) — Mikel Merino’s stoppage-time winner ended Cristiano Ronaldo’s last World Cup.
- Quarter-final: beat Belgium 2-1 (Los Angeles Stadium, 10 July) — Fabián Ruiz put Spain ahead (30′), Charles De Ketelaere equalised (41′), before Merino struck a late winner (88′).
- Semi-final: beat France 2-0 (Dallas Stadium, 14 July) — Oyarzabal converted a penalty (22′) and Porro added a second (58′).
- Final: beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time (MetLife Stadium, 19 July) — Ferran Torres (106′).
Third Place
England beat France 6-4 in the third-place play-off in Miami on 18 July, the highest-scoring match at a World Cup since 1982.
England raced into a 4-0 half-time lead through Declan Rice (3′), Ezri Konsa (18′) and a Bukayo Saka brace, before France hit back after the break:
Kylian Mbappé (48′) and Bradley Barcola made it 4-2, then Mbappé’s second of the game (66′) — his 10th goal of the tournament, sealing the Golden Boot — made it 4-3.
Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 87th minute to restore a two-goal cushion at 5-3, only for Ousmane Dembélé’s stoppage-time finish to narrow it to 5-4, before Jude Bellingham sealed the 6-4 win for England in the closing minutes, the country’s best World Cup finish in 60 years.
World Cup 2026 Third-Place Play-Off: France vs England Schedule (IST, PKT, GST)
Tournament Awards
| Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| Golden Ball (best player) | Rodri (Spain) |
| Golden Boot (top scorer) | Kylian Mbappé (France) — 10 goals |
| Golden Glove (best goalkeeper) | Unai Simón (Spain) |
| Best Young Player | Pau Cubarsí (Spain) |
See our full Golden Boot race breakdown for the top-scorer standings heading into the final.
