Spain beats Argentina 1-0 in extra time to win 2026 World Cup | World Cup 2026 news

Ferran Torres scored the only goal of the match as Spain won their second World Cup.

Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute to lift Spain to their second World Cup title and1-0 win in overtime over 10 Argentine men in the final.

Torres’ deserved winner on Sunday came 16 years and eight days after Andres Iniesta scored in extra time to lift the Spaniards to their first international trophy with a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands.

It was La Roja’s 20th goal of the campaign against defending champions Argentina who had been unable to get anything going until then and struggled to get past their top Iberian rivals.

This was true even in power and it became more difficult when La Albiceleste’s numbers were reduced when Enzo Fernandez challenged Pau Cubarsi leaving referee Slavko Vincic no choice but to issue a second warning before the end of time.

Spain became the only country to win the European Championship and the World Cup in consecutive competitions, as they did so for the second time. He is also the first World Cup champion to concede just once in the entire tournament.

Lionel Messi’s Argentina failed to win the first of three major tournaments, having also claimed the 2021 and 2024 Copa Americas either side of their 2022 World Cup triumph.

The 39-year-old Messi, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner finished the tournament with eight goals and four assists, but he had little time on the ball until Spain took the lead and did not look like he could lift his side to another good moment as he has done so often in the last two World Cups.

Emi Martinez made 11 saves for La Albiceleste, who have failed to become World Cup finalists in a row since Brazil won the 1958 and 1962 titles.

What was very difficult for the first 105 minutes suddenly seemed easy after 37 seconds of playing in the second period of extra time.

Pedro Porro curled in a cross from the left to the back post, Nico Williams won a header and headed it back into the air, and Torres hit a half-volley past Martinez.

It was his only goal of the tournament, making him the seventh player to score in a tournament that his side had never traveled to.

When asked about his goal, Torres said: “Honestly, I didn’t think too much, I just saw the ball coming to me, and I just shot with the power of all the Spanish people.”

The victory made Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, 65, the oldest coach to lead a team to a World Cup.

“We are experts in the world,” de la Fuente said. “We got to this point together.”

There was some pushing and shoving after the final whistle, which was quickly cleared up and Spain began their celebration as many Argentine players sat on the pitch in disbelief.

Cooler heads prevailed, and the Spanish players stood up minutes later to make the Argentine team’s respectable guards pass on their way to the final medals.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni admitted that Spain are a good team.

“They were a good side – that’s the truth – but I like to remember (his side), what they achieved, and how important it was to do this,” Scaloni said.

“We have to put this in because it takes a lot of effort.”