2026 World Cup Final Result: Spain 1–0 Argentina AET
RESULT (19 Jul): Spain 1–0 Argentina AET. Ferran Torres 106' (Nico Williams assist). Enzo Fernández red card (ARG) 90'. Martínez 10 saves; Argentina 0 shots on target across 120 min. Golden Ball: Rodri (Spain); Golden Boot: Mbappé (France, 10g, new all-time WC career record 22g); Golden Glove: Unai Simón (Spain); Best Young Player: Pau Cubarsí (Spain). 3rd place: England 6–4 France. Sources: FIFA, ESPN, CBS Sports.
The context
RESULT, July 19, 2026: Spain won the 2026 FIFA World Cup, defeating Argentina 1–0 after extra time at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey. Substitute Ferran Torres scored the only goal in the 106th minute (Nico Williams assist). Enzo Fernández received a second yellow card in the 90th minute for fouling Pau Cubarsí, reducing Argentina to ten men for the final half-hour plus extra time. Argentina recorded zero shots on target across 120 minutes; Emiliano Martínez made 10 saves. Awards: Rodri (Spain), Golden Ball; Kylian Mbappé (France, 10 goals), Golden Boot, a new all-time World Cup career record of 22 goals; Unai Simón (Spain), Golden Glove; Pau Cubarsí (Spain, 19), Best Young Player. US President Trump joined the trophy ceremony on the pitch. Sources: FIFA, ESPN, CBS Sports, Reuters.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup reached its climax on Sunday, July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, just outside New York City. Kick-off is 3pm Eastern Time, an afternoon slot in the United States that lands in prime time across Europe (9pm in France, Spain and Germany, 8pm in the UK). At roughly 82,500 seats it is the biggest stadium of a tournament that expanded to 48 teams and 104 matches for the first time.
The final is Argentina vs Spain. Spain beat France 2-0 on July 14 (Oyarzabal penalty 22’, Porro 58’) at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, a seventh win from seven. Argentina followed on July 15, coming from behind to beat England 2-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta: Anthony Gordon put England ahead (55’), but Enzo Fernández (85’) and Lautaro Martínez (90’+2’) struck late, both set up by Lionel Messi. England and France, the two beaten semi-finalists, contest the third-place play-off on July 18 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami (5pm ET). Between the four semi-finalists they hold nine World Cup titles, from Argentina’s three to the single stars of England and Spain.
Watching is straightforward in most major markets. In the United States the match is on Fox in English and Telemundo in Spanish; in the UK it is free-to-air on BBC or ITV, in France on TF1 or M6, in Germany on ARD or ZDF, and in Spain on RTVE, with streaming options alongside each. FIFA has confirmed a first-ever World Cup halftime show, curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin and headlined by Madonna, Shakira and BTS, borrowing the spectacle of the Super Bowl for the world’s biggest single-sport final.
After the whistle, the winners lift the FIFA World Cup trophy, and the individual honours follow: the Golden Ball for the best player, the Golden Boot for the top scorer (Mbappé and Messi shared the lead on eight goals, with Messi still involved in the final), and the Golden Glove for the best goalkeeper. Sources: FIFA, Fox Sports, ESPN, CBS Sports, Reuters.