Spain won the 2026 World Cup after beating Argentina 1-0 in the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in the early hours of Monday, July 20, Jakarta time. The only goal came in the 106th minute from substitute Ferran Torres, who had entered in the 62nd minute, handing La Furia Roja their second world title after 2010 and ending a 16-year wait.

Spain controlled the 90 minutes of normal time, putting 10 shots on target without ever beating Argentina's goalkeeper. The deadlock broke only in the second half of extra time, and the match closed with two red cards in the final of the 48-team tournament.

The lone goal that came late in extra time

The score stayed 0-0 from kickoff through the second half of extra time. The winner came from a three-player move: Pedro Porro's cross from the right was headed on by Nico Williams at the far post, and the ball fell to Ferran Torres, who finished past Argentina's goalkeeper in the 106th minute.

Torres had come on as a substitute in the 62nd minute and became the match winner in the second period of extra time.

Why did Spain not score until the 106th minute?

Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was Spain's biggest obstacle all night, making 11 saves, the most by a goalkeeper in a single World Cup final. He denied a string of clear chances from the early minutes, including a close-range effort from Lamine Yamal in the fifth minute, before finally conceding to the Porro-Williams combination in extra time.

Spain kept creating chances without reward: Mikel Oyarzabal's strike from outside the box in the 39th minute, Marc Cucurella's shot that went wide in the 43rd minute, and an effort from Alex Baena that Martinez saved early in the second half. At the other end, an Argentina counterattack led by Lionel Messi was shut down by Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon.

Records that came with Spain's second title

The win is Spain's second world title, after 2010, ending a 16-year wait. Luis de la Fuente, 65, became the oldest coach to lead a team to a World Cup title.

Spain finished the tournament having conceded just one goal in eight matches, the fewest goals allowed by a champion despite playing eight games, the most matches a World Cup winner has ever played. Rodri was named Golden Ball winner as the tournament's best player.

Two red cards close out a hard-fought final

Enzo Fernandez picked up a second yellow card late in normal time for a foul on Pau Cubarsi, leaving Argentina to play all of extra time with 10 men. Leandro Paredes was also sent off after the final whistle, a rough note to end the tournament on.

Spain's era, and a question mark over Messi's future

The loss closes the book on Argentina as defending champion after failing to retain the 2022 title, and may mark Lionel Messi's last World Cup appearance. At 39, Messi still scored eight goals in the tournament, more than France's and Argentina's combined group-stage tally, but his team fell short in the final.

"This goal belongs to 47 million people, not just me or the 26 players," Ferran Torres said after the match.

Messi conceded his opponents were the better side. "I'm sad. Honestly, they were better," he said. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni agreed: "They were better, that's the truth."

For the winners, Luis de la Fuente pointed to his team's fight even with a man advantage in extra time. "The match should have been decided much earlier, but this is a World Cup final and you have to fight hard even against ten men, and we were ready for anything," he said.

The final pitted Spain's new generation, including 18-year-old Lamine Yamal, against the shadow of a Messi appearance that may be his last at the tournament. Spain had reached the final by beating Portugal 1-0 on a late goal from Mikel Merino that also ended Cristiano Ronaldo's last World Cup, while Argentina took a dramatic route from the round of 16 onward.

Spain's football federation has not announced an official date for a champions' parade in Madrid, and Messi has not said what he will decide about his future with the Argentina national team after the defeat.