Even the ‘God of Football’ was unable to defeat the ‘Invincible Armada,’ which had developed into the most advanced and refined version of football. Spain, ranked number one in the FIFA rankings, beat Argentina 1-0 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final held at New York New Jersey Stadium on the 20th, with a crucial goal from forward Ferran Torres in the second half of extra time, earning their second World Cup title in 16 years since their victory in the 2010 South Africa World Cup.
As the first whistle blew, both sides fought fiercely, showcasing intense pressing and advanced passing strategies. In the 4th minute of the first half, Lamine Yamal took an early shot, soon after Lionel Messi made a successful run past Spain’s defense, yet both efforts were stopped by the goalkeeper’s quick reactions.
Spain slowly took control, but neither team managed to generate clear chances despite continuous pressing and counterpressing. In the 38th minute, Spanish striker Mikel Oyarzabal received a pass close to the opponent’s arc and took a mid-range shot, which went straight to the goalkeeper. In the 42nd minute, left-back Marc Cucurella tried a left-footed shot from mid-range near the penalty area but failed to hit the target.
Argentina encountered a problem when key defender Lisandro Martínez fell to the ground with a thigh injury and was replaced. Experienced player Nicolás Otamendi took his place. Argentina did not manage to take a single shot in the first half, and Messi had difficulty maintaining control of the ball.
At an extraordinary halftime performance during a World Cup final, BTS showcased their popular track ‘Dynamite’ after Madonna. K-pop became the focal point of the world’s most significant sporting event. Subsequent acts from Justin Bieber and Shakira added to the extended break before the second half commenced.
Argentina brought on Leandro Paredes in place of Nicolás González, adopting a 4-4-2 diamond setup. Nevertheless, Spain’s control became more pronounced as time passed, with their accurate buildup play and counterpressing, guided by defensive midfielder Rodri, consistently challenging Argentina’s defense.
Argentina made their third substitution in the 12th minute of the second half, swapping out right-back Gonzalo Montiel for Nahuel Molina. Spain reacted in the 16th minute by introducing Ferran Torres and Pedri in place of Oyarzabal and Fabian Ruiz. During the 18th minute, Dani Olmo took a long-range shot, but Emiliano Martínez once again produced a vital save.
Spain’s continuous pressure and buildup generated chances to attack, yet Argentina’s strong defense remained unshaken. In the 21st minute, Ferran Torres headed Lamine Yamal’s cross, but the ball once more went directly to Martínez. A break for hydration was then announced.
Following the break, Argentina implemented another strategic adjustment, replacing center-back Cristian Romero and Rodrigo de Paul with Facundo Medina and Giuliano Simeone to strengthen their right side.
Spain, having difficulty overcoming Argentina’s defense, made another change in the 29th minute, introducing Nico Williams and standout substitute Mikel Merino in place of Dani Olmo and Alex Baena.
With the game largely settled by a single goal, Spain’s pressure increased in the 30th minute, yet Argentina’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez kept making crucial stops. In the 31st minute, Spanish central defender Pau Cubarsí jumped high to take a strong shot from within Argentina’s penalty area, but Martínez once more prevented him.
Spain’s rising number of crosses created additional corner-kick chances. In the 35th minute, Nico Williams’ pass reached Aymeric Laporte, who headed it directly towards Martínez once more. In the 43rd minute, Rodri took an unexpected long-range shot from a forward position, which went over the crossbar.
In the final moments of the match, Messi secured a free-kick in the central-right area of the opposing team’s half, though it didn’t result in a goal-scoring opportunity. Spain quickly launched a counterattack, with Nico Williams taking a strong shot using his right foot, which Martínez managed to save.
A significant moment happened when Argentina’s main midfielder Enzo Fernández collided with Spain’s central defender Pau Cubarsí during a fierce challenge, leading the referee to show a yellow card. This was Fernández’s second caution, resulting in his ejection. Argentina was left with only 10 players on the field.
In the 51st minute of added time, Spain secured a crucial free-kick close to the arc. Yamal’s strike bent towards the goal, yet Martínez leapt to save it, sending the game into extra time. Argentina had not recorded a single shot during regular play, whereas Spain had 14 attempts, nine of which were on target, but they couldn’t find the net.
In the second minute of additional time, Spain secured possession via aggressive forward pressure and generated another opportunity with an accurate cross, yet Martínez executed another remarkable save to prevent Nico Williams from scoring with a header.
In the 5th minute, Spain’s right-wing cross reached Mikel Merino, whose shot was stopped by the goalkeeper. The loose ball went to Nico Williams, who attempted to score, but the referee called a foul on Merino, invalidating the goal.
Spain took a courageous move in the 8th minute, introducing Martín Zubimendi and Eric García in place of Rodri and Aymeric Laporte. Argentina countered by bringing on defender Marcos Senesi to replace Julián Álvarez, signaling their readiness for a penalty shootout. In the 12th minute, Nico Williams delivered a cross from the left wing that was headed by Mikel Merino, just missing the right corner of Argentina’s goal.
At the beginning of the second half of extra time, Spain eventually managed to score. A long pass from the right side reached Nico Williams, who had moved to the left side of the penalty area. He headed the ball down to Ferran Torres, who was running in from behind, and Torres fired a strong left-footed shot into the upper center of the goal. Argentina’s unyielding defense finally gave way.
Argentina, trailing by a goal and playing with one fewer player, made a last-ditch effort led by Messi but found it difficult to break through Spain’s strong defense. In the 11th minute, Messi took a strong left-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it hit Mikel Merino’s face and went off course.
In the final moments of extra time, Argentina secured a free-kick and generated a crucial opportunity via Messi’s pass and Giuliano Simeone’s cross from the side. However, the shot was deflected by a Spanish defender and just missed the goal. A corner kick then came, and the ball reached Giuliano Simeone in the middle of the penalty area, but his shot barely went over the crossbar.
Argentina’s last efforts in added time, such as a free-kick, were halted by Spain’s defensive line. The 2026 FIFA World Cup held in North America was won by Spain.
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