Spain defeated defending champions Argentina 1-0 in extra time on Sunday, July 19, to win its second FIFA World Cup title, with substitute Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal in the 106th minute.
The final was played before a capacity crowd at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, as part of the first World Cup jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Spain, which won its only previous title in 2010, becomes the first European nation to lift the trophy on North American soil. Argentina, chasing a third World Cup and a second in a row after its 2022 triumph in Qatar, was unable to find an equalizer despite pressing for large stretches of the match.
The game remained scoreless through 90 minutes of regulation, with Spain controlling possession but struggling to break down a well-organized Argentine defense marshaled by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. Argentina captain Lionel Messi played the full 120-plus minutes but managed only one shot on the night, a quiet outing by his standards in what may prove to be his final World Cup appearance. Spain's breakthrough came deep into extra time when Torres, introduced from the bench earlier in the half, converted from close range to send the Spanish bench into celebration.
Messi remained on the field after the final whistle, visibly emotional as Argentina's fans applauded his career at the tournament. Spain's players later formed a guard of honor as Argentina collected their runner-up medals. Speaking afterward, Messi gave no indication of an immediate retirement decision, continuing his long-standing approach of taking his international future "day by day." Argentine media has reported that Sunday's final is not expected to be his last appearance in the national team shirt, with a continuation through the 2026 Copa América considered likely.
For Spain, the win caps a tournament in which the team was widely regarded as the form side, having eliminated Belgium and France in the knockout rounds before beating Argentina. It marks the country's return to the summit of world football for the first time in 16 years.
Attention now turns to the individual tournament awards, expected to be confirmed by FIFA in the coming days, along with the usual round of victory celebrations in Spain and reflection in Argentina over the shape of its squad heading toward the next World Cup cycle.
