Spain beat Argentina 1-0 to win second World Cup title in emotional final
pain beat Argentina 1-0 in extra time on Sunday to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with Ferran Torres’s late strike ending Lionel Messi’s title defence.
TL;DR
- Spain won 1-0 in extra time as Ferran Torres scored in the 105th minute, securing the country’s second World Cup title.
- Lionel Messi’s Argentina fell short in what is widely seen as his final World Cup appearance.
- Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, BTS and the Muppets headlined the halftime and closing ceremony shows.
- UK fans watched free to air on BBC One and ITV1, with kickoff at 8 p.m. BST.
The result closes out the first World Cup hosted jointly by the United States, Mexico and Canada. It also caps a big year for European club football, following storylines like Arsenal’s injury-hit Champions League campaign earlier this season.
Torres settles a tense final in extra time
Ferran Torres, Spain forward, broke the deadlock in the 105th minute after ninety-eight scoreless minutes of normal time, according to ABC News. It was Spain’s only shot on target of the entire match, but it was enough.
Emiliano Martínez, Argentina goalkeeper, made 11 saves to keep the score close, a men’s World Cup final record, according to NPR. Argentina also had a player sent off in second-half stoppage time for a second bookable offence, according to ESPN.
Spain’s squad drew heavily on academy talent from both sides of the Barcelona-Real Madrid rivalry, including teenage winger Lamine Yamal. Rodri, Spain midfielder, lifted the trophy after the final whistle, completing the country’s climb to a second world title, according to Fox News.
1-0 (AET)
Spain’s winning margin over Argentina Source: ABC News
11 saves
Martínez’s tournament-final record haul Source: NPR
Messi’s emotional exit
Lionel Messi, Argentina forward, left the pitch in tears after collecting his runner-up medal, according to CNBC. It is widely regarded as his final World Cup appearance.
Messi, who now plays his club football in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami, finished the tournament with eight goals and four assists. He placed second for the Golden Boot, according to NPR.
Trump and Infantino booed on the podium
Donald Trump, U.S. President, joined Gianni Infantino, FIFA president, for the trophy presentation, and both were booed by parts of the crowd, according to CNBC. Leaders of co-hosts Canada and Mexico also attended the final.
Halftime headliners and closing ceremony
The halftime and closing ceremony shows featured Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira, BTS and the Muppets, according to ABC News. Actor Tom Cruise also appeared during the night’s festivities.
Creator: ODD ANDERSEN
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Credit: AFP via Getty Images
Photographers on site captured Spain’s on-pitch celebrations, Messi’s tears during the medal ceremony and the stage productions during the ceremony. Photo desk note: licensed wire images from Getty, AP and AFP will need to be sourced separately to accompany this section — none are reproduced here.
70,000+
Fans inside MetLife Stadium for the final Source: ABC News
How UK fans watched the final
UK viewers watched for free on BBC One and ITV1, with BBC coverage starting at 7 p.m. BST ahead of the 8 p.m. BST kickoff, according to Goal.com.
Gabby Logan, BBC presenter, hosted the studio coverage alongside pundits including Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer, according to ICDb. Commentary came from Guy Mowbray on the BBC and Sam Matterface on ITV.
Reported from publicly available interviews and verified press sources. Last reviewed 20 July 2026.
