España son campeones del mundo después de 16 años: Spain win 2nd WC over arrogant Argentina.
Monday 20 July 2026
FIFA World Cup 2026
Final - Spain Vs Argentina
New York New Jersey Stadium, RW7G+C7C East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA
España son campeones del mundo después de 16 años: Spain win 2nd WC over arrogant Argentina.
In a heated WC final, Spain claimed their 2nd star, and dethroned Argentina in New Jersey, thanks to Ferran Torres's extra-time strike.
Match Preview:
For defending champions Argentina, they had a relatively easy route to the semis, as it was their main talisman, Lionel Messi who broke the record held by ex-German striker and world cup winner, Miroslav Klose, by scoring a hat-trick against Algeria that led to La Albiceleste's first win, before breezing through Austria and Jordan, to face minnows Cape Verde, who almost caused the biggest upset of the world cup, by taking them to extra time. Argentina progressed, after a late winner, before knocking out Egypt in the Round of 16, with yet another late winner from Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez, then narrowly knocking out Switzerland, before sending England down to the third place match after another late winner from Inter Milan striker, Lautaro Martinez, to secure the final matchup agianst Spain in New Jersey.
It all comes down to this, will Argentina make it their 4th star, or Spain their 2nd star? This should be a good game!!
TEAM NEWS:
Spain: Spain are unchanged from their semi-final win in Dallas against France, with Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro being the goal scorers in that game.
Starting XI: Unai Simon, Cucurella, Laporte, Cubarsi, Pedro Porro, Rodri (C), Fabian Ruiz, Alex Baena, Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal, Oyarzabal
Substitutes: David Raya, Eric Garcia, Mikel Merino, Ferran Torres, Nico Williams, Zubimendi, Pedri
Argentina: 3 changes for Argentina, after they narrowly knocked England out of the semi finals, with Montiel, Gonzalez and De Paul into the starting XI, replacing Guiliano Simeone, Nahuel Molina and Leandro Paredes
Starting XI: Emiliano Martinez, Tagliafico, Lisandro Martinez, Romero, Montiel, Gonzalez, MacAllister, Enzo Fernandez, De Paul, Messi (C), Alvarez
Substitutes: Juan Musso, Senesi, Paredes, Simeone, Otamendi, Medina, Molina
ONES TO WATCH:
Lionel Messi: The evergreen legend, has once again made into another world cup final, on the back of a superb campaign, is ready to make history by becoming the second oldest player after Italian goalkeeper Dino Zoff, and the second player ever to play in 3 world cup finals after Brazilian right-back Cafu. Having scored a hat-trick against Algeria and guiding his team to the final after loads of narrow wins, will the 39-year-old veteran score in the final?
Lamine Yamal: This wonderkid is on another level! A Euro winner in 2024, and a two-time La Liga winner with Barcelona, the 19-year-old has stolen the show, despite having little contributions, with a goal and a couple of assists, he has the amazing opportunity become the youngest goal-scorer in a world cup final, after Kylian Mbappe and Pele. Will this be Yamal's second international trophy?
KICK-OFF: First Half
AWAY WE GO IN NEW JERSEY IN THE FIFA WORLD CUP FINAL! Argentina start the match. Spain, as you would expect in control with the ball, and they very nearly took the lead, as Emiliano Martinez saves Lamine Yamal's effort, which did take a small nick off Lisandro Martinez on the way to him.
Fun fact: This is Argentina's second-oldest average starting XI at 30 years and 101 days, which beats Brazil's world cup winning campaign in 1962 at 30 years and 216 days.
But despite this, they are struggling to win the ball, as Spain, who haven't won the world cup after 16 years, are controlling the possession very well, giving the defending champions no room to breathe and no rest.
Not much to say or speak, but the yellow card claims of MacAllister's challenge on Dani Olmo, were waved away by Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic. Could the referee have booked the Liverpool midfielder? I thought so too, that should've been a free kick for Spain.
The first 25 minutes, has produced just one shot, which is the fewest in the opening 25 minutes of this world cup, since 1966.
Spain are able to find loads of room and time on Argentina's right-hand side of the defence, able to cause trouble to Montiel. And Spain's second effort on target courtesy of Mikel Oyarzabal, is once again, saved comfortably, by Emi Martinez, who's been busy in that Argentina goal.
The first yellow card of the game has come, and it is Manc. hester United defender, Lisando Martinez, who tackles Oyarzabal to the ground and picks up a booking, whilst also getting injured at the same time. That forced Argentina into their first change of the game, with Nicolas Otamendi, replacing the injured Li. Martinez with 2 minutes to go until half-time.
And Spain were not far away at all, as Cucurella's effort whistles wide of the post, as he attempts to find the bottom right corner, but ends up missing the target. Spain continue to threaten the Argentina net. And the half-time whistle has sounded!
Despite the half producing no goals, it's been Spain being the dominant side throughout the first half, testing Emi Martinez twice, but both comfortably saved. Only Spain have registered a xG of 0.23, whereas Argentina have produced and created no goals.
KICK-OFF: SECOND HALF
It's been a rather bleak first half, can Spain add some spice to this, as the second half kicks off! A half-time substitution for Scaloni's Argentina, as Leandro Paredes is introduced in place of Juve winger Nicolas Gonzalez. And the substitute almost makes a mess of it, as he passes the ball to Oyarzabal, who then finds Atletico winger Alex Baena, but Martinez is there to cover it. No problems at all for the Aston Villa shotstopper, but that could've been a whole lot worse for Argentina, had Baena scored. And Paredes goes into the book for a foul on Rodri, igniting the match, as it's not been a good start for the Boca Juniors midfielder.
Spain's attack continued to find chances, but nothing to cheer about as Otamendi and Montiel mop up the job and clear the ball away from Oyarzabal and Cucurella. And Montiel's tackle was the last involvement for him, as he is replaced by Atleico Madrid's Nahuel Molina, who has been starting almost all the games except this final.
Now it's Luis De La Fuente's turn to blink with his substitutions, as he sends on Barcelona duo of Ferran Torres and Pedri, replacing 2x UCL winner Fabian Ruiz and Mikel Oyarzabal, who will not add to his 5 goals of this world cup, the Real Sociedad striker. And almost immediately, the two subs nearly make an impact. First Pedri's pass to Dani Olmo, that really forced Emi Martinez to palm his shot away.
And Torres missed a golden opportunity to give Spain the lead as he hits his shot straight at Martinez after wonderful work from Lamine Yamal to get away from Julian Alvarez and Alexis MacAllister, before his right-footed cross is straight at the gloves of the Argentine shotstopper.
After Cristian Romero's injury complaints, the Tottenham defender is eventually subbed off with Facundo Medina coming into his place, with Atletico Madrid winger Giuliano Simeone, the son of Atletico Madrid manager, Diego Simeone, in place of now Inter Miami midfielder, Rodrigo De Paul to try and cause problems to Real Madrid's full back, Marc Cucurella.
To counter this, De La Fuente sends on Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams and Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino, to replace Dani Olmo and Alex Baena in a bid to search for a winner.
And Martinez was called into action, twice. First he denies Pau Cubarsi an opportunity from 25 yards and then calmly collects Pedri's attempted shot, as he goes off balance, with the ball into his hands.
Aymeric Laporte had his chance to open the scoring, but his tame header couldn't get past Martinez either, before Enzo Fernandez lands himself into the book for his dissent for MacAllister's foul on Rodri.
The 4th offical has now confirmed that 4 additional minutes are to be added on. If there is no winner, this game will go into extra-time for the second consecutive final, 4 years on from that crazy final.
And the game took a completely different turn. A great save from Martinez to deny Nico Williams, and away the ball goes, Enzo Fernandez chases, AND FOULS CUBARSI, FREE KICK TO ARGENTINA, AND THIS COULD BE MASSIVE TROUBLE FOR ARGENTINA! THE CHELSEA MIDFIELDER WAS ALREADY ON A YELLOW CARD AND HE COULD BE IN FURTHER TROUBLE. And what does the referee do? IT'S A SECOND YELLOW CARD FOR ENZO FERNANDEZ AND ARGENTINA ARE DOWN TO 10 MEN! THIS COULD COMPLETELY CHANGE THE TIDE OF THIS GAME! IT'S GONE FROM BAD TO WORSE FOR THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS!
Enzo Fernandez received his second yellow card, resulting in his sending off.
A crucial free-kick for Spain as Paredes fouls Ferran Torres, with Yamal to take. AND WHAT AN AMAZING SAVE BY EMILIANO MARTINEZ!! THIS MAN IS HAVING AN AMAZING FINAL, DESPITE HIS TEAM BEING DOWN TO 10 MEN!!
AND WE ARE NOW HEADING INTO THE FIRST PERIOD OF EXTRA TIME AS THERE ARE NO GOALS AFTER 90 MINUTES!
KICK-OFF: FIRST HALF EXTRA TIME
Still nothing to separate the two sides, as the first period of extra time gets underway.
Emi Martinez makes his 11th save of the game as he denies Nico Williams.
Spain thought they had scored after 96 minutes, but IT'S INTO THE BACK OF THE NET BY NICO WILLIAMS, AND SPAIN HAVE SCORED! OR HAVE THEY? THE GOAL IS CHALKED OFF, BECAUSE THERE'S A FOUL ON OTAMENDI BY MIKEL MERINO.
A foul by Mikel Merino on Otamendi denies Nico Williams the chance to celebrate his goal.
Was this the right decision by the referee? And VAR are also going to agree with the referee's decision. It remains 0-0. Lucky escape for Argentina.
Two more changes made by Spain, as they send on Eric Garcia and Martin Zubimendi to replace Rodri and Aymeric Laporte before the 100th minute. And Merino misses a great opportunity to give Spain the lead, but he misses his effort!!
Half-time extra time! It is still goalless, yet Spain are still creating chances.
KICK-OFF: SECOND HALF EXTRA TIME
Argentina get the second half underway, as both teams look to get a goal to end the game. And finally after 106 minutes the deadlock was finally broken. Zubimendi, looks for options, finds Lamine Yamal, who does fantastic to get away from MacAllister and Alvarez, finds Porro, who crosses it in, AND WILLIAMS WITH THE NOD DOWN, TORRESSSS!!!!! IT HAS FINALLY COME!! THE BREAKTHROUGH THAT SPAIN WERE LOOKING FOR, AND IT'S THE TWO SUBSTITUTES WHO COMBINE TOGETHER. WONDERFUL CROSS IN FROM PEDRO PORRO, AND EXCELLENT WORK FROM NICO WILLIAMS TO NOD IT DOWN, IN FRONT OF FERRAN TORRES, WHO FINISHES IT BEYOND THE REACH OF THE ARGENTINE DEFENCE. MARTINEZ WAS NOWHERE NEAR THE FRAME. SPAIN 1 - ARGENTINA 0, AND WE'VE WAITED FOR 106 MINUTES FOR A BREAKTHROUGH!
Ferran Torres scored after 106 minutes
This is the second time, we've seen a substitute score the winner in a FIFA world cup final, after Mario Goetze in 2014 against the same nation in Brazil, now it's Ferran Torres, who becomes the second Barcelona player after Andreas Iniesta in 2010 to score in extra time, in a FIFA World Cup final, 16 years later.
Once again, Argentina are searching for a response, after going behind. This is a good test for Spain to hold on for 14 minutes plus added time. La Albicieste tried their best to try and level the game, but Messi's attempted effort is on the roof of the net after 116 minutes, and a huge chance for them came in stoppage time. OH AND IT'S FIRED OVER THE BAR BY GIULIANO SIMEONE!! WHAT A CHANCE THAT IS FOR ARGENTINA! AND THAT IS THE FINAL CHANCE FOR THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS!! A wonderful cross into the box, comes kindly to Simeone, but he cannot keep his strike down!
THAT'S IT!! IT IS THE FULL TIME WHISTLE!!! SPAIN HAVE WON THE WORLD CUP FOR THE 2ND TIME EVER! AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME, THAT BOTH MEN AND WOMEN ARE THE REIGNING WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS!! FIRST THE WOMEN IN 2023 AGAINST ENGLAND, AND NOW THE MEN AGAINST ARGENTINA, IN 2026!!
Player of the Match: Ferran Torres
He was criticised earlier, for how poorly he played against Cape Verde in the group stages, didn't really make that much of an impact, up until today's final! Scored the crucial winning goal that eventually, sealed the win for Spain.
AWARDS for players:
Unai Simon won Golden Glove, Pau Cubarsi won best young player of the tournament, and 2024 Ballon D'Or and Manchester City midfielder Rodri collects the Golden Ball
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