Spain were crowned champions of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Sunday after defeating defending champions Argentina 1-0 in a gripping final that stretched into extra time, bringing an end to Argentina’s reign at the summit of world football.
The highly anticipated showdown produced no goals during regulation time as both sides battled fiercely for supremacy, with disciplined defending and missed opportunities keeping the scoreline level after 90 minutes.
Spain gradually took control of proceedings in extra time, piling sustained pressure on the Argentine defence in search of a breakthrough. Their persistence was finally rewarded in the second half of extra time when Ferran Torres struck the decisive goal, sending Spanish players and supporters into wild celebrations.
The solitary strike proved enough to separate the two football giants, handing Spain their second FIFA World Cup title and their first since their historic triumph in South Africa in 2010.
For Argentina, the defeat marked a painful end to their reign as world champions after arriving at the tournament as defending champions. Despite a resilient performance, they were unable to find a response to Torres’ late winner as Spain completed a memorable campaign to reclaim football’s biggest prize.
Spain’s victory cements their return to the pinnacle of world football, while Argentina leave the global stage having surrendered the trophy they fought so hard to win four years earlier.