Spain edge Argentina in extra time to win 2026 World Cup final
Spain have been crowned world champions for the second time after a 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final at New York/New Jersey Stadium. Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal as Spain’s defence shut down the holders in a tight, high‑stakes contest.
Spain dethrone Argentina to win 2026 World Cup in New York
Spain are world champions for the second time, edging Argentina 1-0 in extra time in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at the New York/New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium) in New Jersey.
Ferran Torres delivers the decisive moment
The final was decided deep into extra time when Ferran Torres struck the only goal of the game, giving Spain a 1-0 lead they would not relinquish.
Video highlights from Fox Sports show Torres finishing to put Spain ahead in extra time, with the broadcast confirming the goal as the go-ahead strike that ultimately separated the sides.["Spain's Ferran Torres scores go-ahead goal in extra time vs Argentina | 2026 FIFA World Cup™" – Fox Sports]
Yahoo Sports’ recap of the match reports that Spain "shuts down Argentina 1-0" to claim the World Cup, underlining that the match finished 1-0 in Spain’s favour.["Spain shuts down Argentina 1-0 to win World Cup" – Yahoo Sports]
Scoreline and context
Multiple live-score services list the final result as Spain 1–0 Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final.[Football24.live results page; NDTV Football live scores]
NDTV’s football live-score centre records the match as the Final, FIFA World Cup 2026, played at the New York / New Jersey Stadium, with Spain winning 1-0 and the match marked as completed.[NDTV Football live scores]
Football24 similarly logs Spain 1-0 Argentina as a completed World Cup fixture for the 2026 tournament.[Football24.live results page]
Spain’s defensive masterclass
Yahoo’s analysis describes Spain as having "shut down" Argentina in the 1-0 victory, highlighting the defensive performance that kept the defending champions scoreless over 120 minutes.["Spain shuts down Argentina 1-0 to win World Cup" – Yahoo Sports]
Pre-match coverage had framed the final as a clash between the tournament’s best attack and best defence: Argentina entered the final with the most goals scored in the competition, while Spain had conceded the fewest.[CNBC TV18 World Cup final live coverage]
Spain’s ability to keep Argentina out in the final reinforced that narrative, with Yahoo’s breakdown emphasising how effectively Spain limited Argentina’s chances en route to the clean sheet and the title.["Spain shuts down Argentina 1-0 to win World Cup" – Yahoo Sports]
A historic night at New York/New Jersey Stadium
The final took place at the New York/New Jersey Stadium, the World Cup branding for MetLife Stadium, home to the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets.[CNBC TV18 World Cup final live coverage]
CNBC TV18’s preview noted that this World Cup final featured the first-ever official halftime show in tournament history, underscoring the scale and spectacle around the event.[CNBC TV18 World Cup final live coverage]
The same coverage highlighted the star-studded backdrop, with high-profile political and sporting figures expected in attendance, reflecting the global attention on the showdown between Spain and Argentina in New Jersey.[CNBC TV18 World Cup final live coverage]
Spain join the game’s elite as two-time champions
Pre-match reporting had reminded that Spain arrived in this final as one-time World Cup winners, having lifted the trophy in 2010, while Argentina came in as three-time champions.[CNBC TV18 World Cup final live coverage]
By beating Argentina 1-0 in extra time, Spain have now secured their second World Cup title, a status reflected across results and reaction pieces that describe them simply as the new world champions.[Football24.live results page; NDTV Football live scores; Fox Sports video reaction; Yahoo Sports analysis]
Reaction shows on Fox Sports and other outlets framed the result as Spain "dethroning" Argentina, with pundits discussing how this win cements Spain’s place among the sport’s modern powers.[Fox Sports post-match reaction video]
For Argentina, the defeat ends their reign as world champions; for Spain, Ferran Torres’ extra-time strike ensures their 2026 side will be remembered alongside the 2010 team as World Cup winners.