Spain are World Cup winners, for the second time in the nation’s history, as Ferran Torres’s goal in extra time sank Argentina 1-0 from New York/New Jersey Stadium.
It was a tense game, with Spain on the front foot for the majority of the match. La Roja outshot Argentina 20 to two, and had two goals ruled out, but it was Torres’s 106th-minute goal in the second half of extra time that won it for Spain.
Nico Williams headed a cross back towards Torres, who blasted a volleyed effort into the roof of the net. It was the moment Spain needed to beat Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who made 11 saves.
Despite a late push from 10-men Argentina, Spain held on to win the World Cup.
The Palm Beach Post has a recap and highlights from the game.
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ESP | 0 – 1 | ARG – Final
FINAL: Spain beats Argentina 1-0 in extra time to win second World Cup
The final whistle blows, and Spain are the World Cup champions for the second time in the nation’s history, winning a dramatic final against Argentina 1-0 after extra time.
Ferran Torres’s 106th-minute goal is the difference for Spain, who outshot Argentina 20 to two, with 12 shots on goal for the Spanish. It was a dominant Spain performance, and Emiliano Martinez’s 11 saves were a big reason why Spain didn’t win by more.
Argentina, down to 10 men, were unable to find a miracle and send the game to penalties.
119′ Spain are minutes away from a second World Cup
Argentina have thrown everything at Spain in the last five minutes as they look to steal a goal and go to penalty kicks. Marco Senesi comes the closest, sliding into a cross and sending it wide from just in front of the goal.
Spain are holding on, and have five minutes of stoppage time to defend the one-goal lead.
113′ Ferran Torres scores, but he is ruled offside
Ferran Torres thought he had his second goal, and it was a well-taken finish, but he was judged to be offside by a foot, and it rules out what surely would have been the Spanish winner.
They remain in front, and are six minutes away from a World Cup win.
106′ GOAL! Ferran Torres fires Spain ahead in extra time
The Spanish finally have the breakthrough, as Ferran Torres blasts a volley into the net and gives Spain the 1-0 lead. Nico Williams heads a pass backwards to Torres, who makes no mistake with his powered volley into the net.
It was the 20th shot of the game from Spain, who finally get by Emiliano Martinez, who has 11 saves.
Spain is 10minutes away from winning a second World Cup in the nation’s history.
Halftime of extra time: Scoreless still as the game is 15 minutes away from penalties
The game reaches halftime of extra time with the game still scoreless. Spain has taken 18 shots, with 11 on target, and remain scoreless.
Emiliano Martinez has made 11 saves. Spain had a goal ruled out for a foul.
102′ Mikel Merino heads wide, Spain’s goal search continues
Nico Williams plays a cross onto the head of a wide-open Mikel Merino, Spain’s aerial specialist, but his header flies wide of the post.
It’s the 18th shot of the game from Spain, and Argentina still has yet to take a shot.
96′ Nico Williams has the ball in the net; the goal is ruled out for a foul in the buildup
Nico Williams blasts a loose ball into the back of the net, and seemingly gives Spain the lead, but the referee calls a foul on Mikel Merino in the buildup. Nicolas Otemendi went down dramatically, with what looked like minimal contact, but it was enough to convince the referee to blow the whistle and rule out the goal.
Spain’s search for a goal remains.
93′ Emiliano Martinez makes his 11th save, denies Nico Williams a goal
A beautiful cross is floated in by Pedri on the right wing, and Nico Williams is wide open after timing his run well. His glancing header goes goalward and is saved by Emiliano Martinez, the Argentine’s 11th save of the match.
End of regulation: Emiliano Martínez denies Lamine Yamal’s spectacular free kick, sending the game to extra time
Lamine Yamal takes a free kick on the edge of the box, and with what was one of the last kicks of the game, Emiliano Martínez dives through the air and makes a spectacular save to deny Spain a last-gasp winner.
The final whistle blows and this game will go to extra time. Argentina are down to 10-men. Spain have taken 15 shots, with 10 on target, and Argentina have yet to take a shot.
90′ +2 Enzo Fernández earns a second yellow, Argentina down to 10-men
Enzo Fernández, who was on a yellow card, flies into a challenge on Pau Cubarsi, who flips over himself before crashing to the pitch.
It earns Fernández a second yellow card. Argentina will be down to 10-men for the remainder of the game, and potentially extra time.
88′ Argentina continues to hold Spain scoreless
Emiliano Martinez has made seven saves as Spain hasn’t been able to find a way to break through a resolute Argentina defense.
Argentina has yet to take a shot as the final minutes of regulation arrive. 13 Spanish shots to zero.
77′ Pedri takes Spain’s latest shot; Emiliano Martinez saves again
Pedri takes a shot from the edge of the penalty area, and once again, Emiliano Martinez saves again.
It’s going to take something special to beat Martinez in this game, who has been able to meet everything that the Spanish have thrown at him today.
68′ Ferran Torres’s has his header saved
Lamine Yamal crosses a ball in after a corner kick, just getting the pass off before the ball went out of play, and it found the head of Ferran Torres, who nearly headed home but had his shot saved by Emiliano Martínez.
Spain has taken eight shots, with five on target, and Argentina has yet to register a shot.
63′ Spain continues to knock on the door; Argentina’s defense remains stout
A shot from distance is saved by Emiliano Martínez and sent out for a corner kick. Spain continues to be the aggressor in the second half, and has largely kept the game played in the Argentina half. Lionel Messi has barely taken a touch in the second half.
Will Messi have a moment of magic, or will Spain’s pressure pay off?
56′ Dani Olmo and Spain nearly open up the Argentina defense
Dani Olmo makes a defense-splitting run, and as the ball reaches the byline, he cuts it back and nearly finds Marc Cucurella, but Gonzalo Montiel slides and kicks it out for a corner kick.
Spain are fashioning early chances, and look the more likely to score so far.
53′ The intensity has risen in the second half
A foul on Rodri in midfield draws a crowd of Argentina and Spain players, and a scuffle breaks out.
The intensity has risen, and both sides are going into challenges with some extra aggression, something that should be expected given what is at stake.
46′ Second half kicks off, Spain gets an early chance
Spain gets an early chance in the second half with Alex Baena picking up a loose ball, cutting across a defender and then taking a curled effort that is saved by Emiliano Martinez.
Argentina have been loose at the back; Spain has let that go unpunished for now.
Half: No score at the break, with Spain controlling most of the first half
The first half ends with no score, with Spain taking three shots to Argentina’s none. The Spanish have maintained possession, holding 51% of the possession.
Spain have dominated the match, but Argentina remain a threat on the counterattack. Both Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal have been quiet so far; what influence they will have in the second half will be something to watch.
39′ Mikal Oyarzabal has his shot saved as Spain seek an opening goal
Spain’s possession has largely resulted in few chances, but a quick move through the midfield ends with Mikal Oyarzabal taking a shot from outside of the area, and while it was well struck, it was shot right at Emiliano Martinez and saved.
33′ Spain continues to control possession; a goal remains absent
Alexis Mac Allister is taken down on the left wing, earning a free kick for Argentina the left wing. It’s taken short and passed to Lionel Messi. He loses the ball, and Spain is back in possession.
It’s largely been the story of the first half, with Spain leading the possession stat with 50% to Argentina’s 46%. The final 4% is in contest.
24′ Goalless at the hydration break
Argentina has had more possession as the game has grown on, but Spain are mostly controlling the match at this point. The first hydration break comes after a foul on Lionel Messi from Rodri in the middle of the field.
Spain, much like against France, have dominated the midfield, and haven’t allowed Argentina to build through the middle of the pitch. Expect to see some Tactical changes from Argentina after the hydration break.
16′ Argentina fashions its first chance with a free kick
Lionel Messi is fouled around midfield, and it earns Argentina a free kick and a chance to breathe after a sustained period of possession from Spain.
The free kick is floated into the penalty area, and just misses the outstretched boot of Lisandor Martinez and goes out for the goal kick.
10′ Spain on the front foot early
Possession favors Spain in the early moments, as the suffocating style of play has Argentina defending early in the match. There have been limited chances to counterattack, with the most threatening opportunity ended by Unai Simon, who flew off his line and cleared a ball about 15 yards away from the halfway line.
Spain has dominated the midfield, with Rodri dictating the tempo of the game in the early moments.
5′ Lamine Yamal has an early chance saved
Lamine Yamal almost gets on the scoresheet in the opening minutes. He receives the pass on the right wing, and with his first action of the game, he looks to play a pass into the midfield. It is deflected and finds the foot of Dani Olmo in the penalty area, who lays off the ball into the path of Yamal.
He takes a shot with his right foot, but Emiliano Martinez is able to smother it and allow Argentina to break.
3′ A slow start as both Argentina and Spain feel the game out
Both sides have been cautious in the opening minutes, with neither side looking to make a mistake. Possession spells both ways, but nothing meaningful as of yet.
1′ Kickoff! Argentina kicks off the World Cup final
The 2026 World Cup final is underway with Argentina kicking us off.
They lose the ball quickly, and Spain is recycling possession.
President Donald Trump is in attendance at MetLife Stadium
Among the guests at the World Cup final, President Donald Trump is at the game.
He is expected to hand the trophy to the winning team at the conclusion of the game.
Argentina can join rare company with a victory over Spain
The defending champions, Argentina, have the chance to join rare company in World Cup history.
If Lionel Messi can lead Argentina to a second consecutive World Cup, the nation would join only Italy and Brazil as nations to win back-to-back World Cup trophies.
Italy were the first to do it, winning the 1930 and 1934 World Cups. Brazil won the 1958 and 1962 editions of the trophy.
Argentina vs. Spain lineups today
Argentina: Emiliano Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico, Gonzalo Montiel, Lisandro Martinez, Cristian Romero, Rodrigo De Paul, Nico Gonzalez, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Julian Alvarez, Lionel Messi
Spain: Unai Simon, Pedro Porro, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsi, Marc Cucurella, Fabian Ruiz, Alex Baena, Rodri, Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal
What time does Argentina vs Spain play today?
Spain vs Argentina TV channel, live stream
Where is Argentina playing Spain today in World Cup?
The Spain vs. Argentina World Cup match will be played at MetLife Stadium — which FIFA is calling New York New Jersey Stadium for the World Cup — in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It’s home to the NFL’s New York Giants and Jets.
Argentina vs Spain announcers
Spain vs Argentina predictions
Has Spain won a World Cup?
Yes. La Roja won its only previous appearance in the World Cup final, beating the Netherlands 1-0 at South Africa 2010. Not only have the Spanish men won a title, the women are the reigning World Cup champions as well, beating England 1-0 in Australia in 2023.
How many World Cups has Messi won?
Argentina has won the World Cup three times before, most recently in 2022. Before that, Diego Maradona won the title in 1986 thanks in part to the “Hand of God.” The Albiceleste’s first World Cup win came in 1976 with an extra-time win over the Netherlands. Messi was responsible for the 2022 trophy. He also played on the 2014 team that reached the final in Brazil but lost to Germany.
World Cup bracket
All times Eastern.
Semifinals
Finals
Golden Boot race 2026
Here’s where the World Cup’s leading goal-scorers stand in the Golden Boot race heading into today’s final:
Spain World Cup schedule
Here’s a look at Spain’s run through the World Cup.
Argentina World Cup schedule
Here’s a look at Argentina’s run through the World Cup.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Spain beats Argentina, wins the 2026 World Cup after Ferran Torres goal
Reporting by Dan Rorabaugh and Liam Rooney, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dan Rorabaugh and Liam Rooney, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida | USA TODAY Network
