Spain have dethroned defending champions Argentina to claim the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a hard-fought 1-0 victory in extra time at the New York New Jersey Stadium.
The final appeared destined for penalties after both sides failed to break the deadlock during the 90 minutes of regulation time.
However, Spain finally found the breakthrough in the 106th minute when Ferran Torres converted from Nico Williams’ assist to give La Roja the decisive advantage.
Spain had controlled much of the contest and created several opportunities throughout the match, although a number of their efforts were ruled out before Torres eventually delivered the goal that secured the title.
The triumph marks Spain’s second FIFA World Cup crown and brings an end to Argentina’s reign as world champions.
Spain’s success was built on a remarkable defensive campaign, with the champions conceding just one goal throughout the entire tournament.
The final attracted 80,663 spectators, including United States President Donald Trump, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, musician Pharrell Williams and comedian Trevor Noah.
The match also made history with the first-ever FIFA World Cup halftime show, featuring performances from BTS, Justin Bieber, Shakira and Burna Boy.
Spain’s victory caps a dominant tournament campaign and establishes the country as the new champions of world football after a tense final decided by a single goal in extra time.
