By Chidinma Patrick
Spain were crowned 2026 FIFA World Cup champions on Sunday after defeating defending champions Argentina 1-0 in the final at New York New Jersey Stadium.
A solitary goal from Ferran Torres in extra time proved decisive as La Roja brought Argentina’s reign as world champions to an end and secured their second World Cup title, adding to the trophy they won in South Africa in 2010.
The final scoreline suggested a closely contested encounter, but Spain dominated large stretches of the match and were rewarded for a performance built on patience, control and relentless pressure.
After a goalless 90 minutes, Spain finally found the breakthrough in the 106th minute when Torres rose to meet a delivery into the box and guided his effort beyond the Argentine goalkeeper, sparking celebrations among Spanish players and supporters.
Spain controlled possession throughout the contest, enjoying 68 per cent of the ball and completing more than 800 passes with remarkable accuracy. Their midfield dictated the tempo from the opening whistle, repeatedly forcing Argentina deep into their own half and limiting the South Americans’ attacking opportunities.
The European champions created the better chances and constantly threatened through their movement and passing combinations. They finished with 20 shots, 11 of them on target, while earning nine corner kicks as they piled pressure on the Argentine defence.
Argentina, who entered the final hoping to retain the title they won four years earlier, spent long periods chasing the game and struggled to impose themselves against Spain’s disciplined structure.
The South Americans failed to register a single shot on target throughout the encounter, a statistic that highlighted Spain’s dominance on the biggest stage. Despite being under pressure for much of the evening, Argentina remained in the contest thanks largely to a series of outstanding saves from their goalkeeper, who denied Spain on multiple occasions and kept the score level until extra time.
Spain’s defensive organisation was equally impressive. Their backline remained composed and compact, cutting out attacking moves before they could develop and ensuring goalkeeper Unai Simón was rarely troubled.
As frustration mounted, Argentina’s discipline began to suffer. Lionel Scaloni’s side committed 24 fouls, received five yellow cards, and a red card, while Spain completed the final without a single booking.
When the final whistle sounded, Spanish players rushed onto the pitch in celebration after completing a memorable tournament campaign that saw them combine attacking quality with defensive solidity.
The victory capped an impressive run for Luis de la Fuente’s side and confirmed Spain as the best team of the tournament. For Argentina, the defeat marked a disappointing end to their title defence after a final in which they struggled to find an answer to Spain’s superiority.
