Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the 2026 World Cup final, securing the country’s second title and first since 2010. Forward Ferran Torres scored the match's only goal in the 106th minute of extra time. The victory followed a match in which Spain maintained high levels of ball possession against an Argentine defense that did not record a shot attempt during the first 90 minutes of regulation.
FIFA officials announced an investigation following the match into whether Argentine players violated conduct codes during post-game physical clashes on the field. The match saw a late red card issued to Argentina, leaving the team with ten players during the final period of extra time. Following the loss, the Spanish team returned to Madrid, where they were met by crowds of supporters celebrating the win.
The 2026 tournament, hosted in North America, generated approximately $15 billion in revenue for FIFA, according to reporting by The Guardian. This figure exceeded initial financial projections. The event featured first-time successes for smaller nations such as Cape Verde and Curacao, alongside high television ratings and sold-out stadium attendance throughout the competition.
The final also marked a significant point in the career of Argentine captain Lionel Messi, aged 39, who reached his third World Cup final with the national team. While Messi has not officially commented on his future participation with the national squad, analysts noted the tournament as a conclusion to Argentina's reign as defending champions following their 2022 victory in Qatar.