Spain emerged as the champions of the FIFA World Cup 2026 after defeating defending champions Argentina 1–0 in a thrilling final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The match remained goalless throughout regular time before substitute Ferran Torres scored the decisive winner in the 106th minute of extra time from a pass by fellow substitute Nico Williams. Spain dominated the first half with attacking football, while Argentina failed to register a shot on target. Argentina’s challenge suffered a major setback when Enzo Fernández was sent off with a red card during injury time. The victory ended Spain’s 16-year wait for another World Cup title and marked its second FIFA World Cup triumph. Although Lionel Messi attracted significant attention, Torres emerged as the match-winner. Meanwhile, France’s Kylian Mbappé won the Golden Boot for the second consecutive World Cup after finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with a record 22 goals, despite France securing third place.
