NEW YORK, USA: The 2026 FIFA World Cup final came down to the artistry of Spain against the indelicate attitude of Argentina, with the former triumphing by the narrowest of margins (1-0) at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, July 19. Ferran Torres scored Spain’s lone goal in extra time (106′) and helped his nation earn their second FIFA World Cup title.
Lionel Messi and Argentina played a listless brand of football on the night, taking just two shots and managing to get none of them on target. The first of these two shots did not arrive until extra time was decreed, and by then, Spain’s dominance had become far too overwhelming for the defending champions.
The decisive moment came for La Roja in extra time, after the first ninety minutes of the game were played without an outcome. Just as the second half of extra time began, Spain found themselves in the final third, with Lamine Yamal teeing the ball back to Pedro Porro, who, in turn, sent in a lobbed ball towards Nico Williams on the left flank.
The latter passed it with his head to the waiting Torres, who then drove his foot through the ball to send it into the Argentina net, past their heroic goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who made a total of 11 saves all evening. Earlier, a goal from Williams had been disallowed for an inconclusive foul on Nicolas Otamendi by Mikel Merino in the build-up.
Argentina arrived with no creative intentions at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final
La Albiceleste appeared shadows of their former selves, taking no initiative and being content resting on their laurels. Manager Lionel Scaloni’s tactics will be under the scanner, as is the case with every coach who loses a FIFA World Cup final. Argentina’s tactics were hard to fathom at one stage, with the willingness to create chances being sorely missed.
Towards the end, Scaloni took the grave risk of not bringing on striker Lautaro Martinez to assist Lionel Messi, letting the latter fend for himself in the attacking half. Spain were the deserved winners of this World Cup, as this result shows. They kept seven clean sheets out of the eight matches they played in this tournament, having conceded just once, against Belgium in the quarterfinals.
The confidence of being the defending European champions helped Spain’s cause, allowing them to outperform Argentina’s blunt tactics of resistance. With this loss, Lionel Messi and Argentina failed to become just the third nation in history to defend their FIFA World Cup crown.
La Albiceleste still have three titles, while Spain can now add another star to the front of their shirt, having first won this tournament sixteen years ago. It was a fitting moment for the current generation to have the heroes of 2010 – Andres Iniesta, Carles Puyol, Sergio Ramos and Xavi – to be watching on from the stands as they took their final bow from a campaign they will remember all their lives.
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