Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time to win the 2026 World Cup – as it happened

Key events

• 23h ago

  Ferran Torres' reaction

• 23h ago

  Luis de la Fuente's reaction

• 23h ago

  Rodri wins the Golden Ball

• 24h ago

  Pau Cubarsí wins young player of the tournament

• 24h ago

  Paredes sent off after the final whistle

• 1d ago

  Full time: Spain 1-0 Argentina

• 1d ago

  120+2 min: Great chance for Simeone!

• 1d ago

  120 min: Chance for Argentina!

• 1d ago

  GOAL! Spain 1-0 Argentina (Torres 106)

• 1d ago

  Half time in extra time: Spain 0-0 Argentina

• 1d ago

  103 min: Chance for Merino!

• 1d ago

  96 min: Disallowed goal for Spain

• 1d ago

  Full time: Spain 0-0 Argentina

• 1d ago

  90+8 min: Good save from Martinez!

• 1d ago

  90+3 min: Enzo Fernandez is sent off!

• 1d ago

  67 min: Chance for Torres

• 1d ago

  Half time: Spain 0-0 Argentina

• 1d ago

  5 min: Chance for Lamine Yamal!

• 1d ago

  Team news

• 1d ago

  Argentina's route to the final

• 1d ago

  Spain's route to the final

• 1d ago

  Preamble

It’s time to wrap up our live coverage of the final, and of the 2026 World Cup. On behalf of all the liveloggers and editors, thanks for your company and emails throughout the tournament.

I’ll leave you with David Hytner’s report of a deserved victory for Spain in the final. Goodnight!

Nick Ames

It ended almost as Gianni Infantino and Donald Trump had planned. Earlier on a seemingly endless World Cup final day the trophy had, in a scene perfectly of a piece with the event’s excess, been let out of a Louis Vuitton trunk. Now they shuffled up to the podium together and presented it to a beaming Rodri, fumbling the moment slightly when Trump lingered for Spain’s team photo. Within moments they had made their exit, golden glitter sparkling on a bobbly pitch and the reverberations from a football event of unprecedented scale pulsing far beyond this concreted mini-state in New Jersey.

How to make sense of a heady, intoxicating, often deeply strange tournament that at once appeared fulsomely welcoming and chillingly distant? It concluded with a disorientating fever dream beneath a bright blue American sky, football appearing a sideshow for much of the afternoon even if the game did not exactly help itself. Anyone straining for a parable could, if they wanted, take pleasure in Spain’s success. This was ultimately the triumph of a collective idea in a World Cup nurtured to indulge the cult of the individual.

More from Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni

I feel sad. One could say many things about how we got here, but it’s not worth it. Endless thanks to these players who once again took us to the final.

If they give everything the way they did today, it sets a great example for ‌the people and for our country. You have to pick yourself up again. When you leave everything like that, it’s very hard to find fault with anything.”

[On Lionel Messi] He’s 39 years old now. It was crystal ​clear for me that he was going to play up until he decided not to.

I hope that everyone feels proud of him, of what he’s achieved because he’s the best football player ever to set foot on a pitch. I have no doubt about this, and what he did during this World Cup was incredible. But also what he did before this.

[On his own future] I will talk to the president. I believe it’s only ‌fair that I can ​take this time for myself ​to think this through. I never thought I would get to this place and it’s wonderful.

In order to continue, you need a great deal of things, resetting your mind, rebooting, creating a group like this again – that is very difficult. I am very sorry.

Sam Jones

Neither the approach of yet another enervating heatwave, nor the prospect of heading to work on Monday morning, was going to keep Madrileños huddled indoors when the World Cup, and the stifling streets of the capital, were there for the taking.

With the temperature at 9pm nudging 32C, people across the city and the wider region filled bars, parks, fairgrounds and bullrings to drink, to stripe the streets red-and-yellow with their rojigualda flags, and to test their lungs, their nerves, and, as it turned out, their boredom thresholds.

In the capital itself, the faithful descended on a giant screen by the river Manzanares and trooped into the cavernous concrete confines of the 15,000-capacity Movistar arena. Most, however, appeared to have made for the Plaza de Colón to watch the game under the statue of Christopher Columbus, for whom the square is named. Overhead, sharp against a bright blue July sky, flew the largest flag in Spain: a vexillological behemoth that measures 21m by 14m and weighs 35kg.

He wasn’t wrong, was he?

Charles De Ketelaere is the answer to a future quiz question. He was the only man to score against Spain at this World Cup in 12 hours of football. They never went behind, they were only taken to extra-time in the final. In the parlance of our times, they’re a beautiful, brilliant football team.

Luis de la Fuente is 65 years old and has never won a major club competition as a manager. He is also one of the top 20 managers of all time.

Lionel Scaloni’s reaction

They (Spain) were better, that’s the truth. But I’ll hold on to an enormous memory of what they’ve done, of what it’s worth to get this far.

We’re great in victory and we have to be great in defeat. Today we’re showing that we know how to lose. We lost the match and we’re owning it.

But that doesn’t mean we’ll stop remembering everything we did to get here.

Rodri, a giant of a human being and a pretty good footballer too, reflects on Spain’s triumph and his comeback from injury

I cannot express it with words. It’s like we’re in a cloud.

It’s been a very tough time. I just want the new generations to see my example as an opportunity – when you go down you can rise again.

This is my philosophy my entire life. Of course, sometimes things go well, things they go wrong.

But always the positivity I said to the lads before the game – we have to go for the game.

We need to face them. We have to look to the eyes and see it. We won this game and then life gives you the World Cup or not.

But we were brave and I was brave in that moment.

Thanks to Francis Fowles for this cracking stat (assuming it’s correct)

Only four players have won the World Cup, European Championship, European Cup/Champions League and Ballon d’Or:

1. Franz Beckenbauer

2. Gerd Muller

3. Zinedine Zidane

4. Rodri

Ed Aarons’ player ratings

Pau Cubarsí Got away with his early error and didn’t put a foot wrong after that. Incredible that he is still only 19. 8

Mikel Merino’s verdict

Unbelievable. It’s the perfect moment for us – we’re such a golden generation with these young players who give everything for this country, for these fans.

It was a game about concentration. We knew we were a better team in terms of football. The pitch was dry and they know how to make the game difficult to you. I think the team was outstanding today and, yeah, we deserved it.

When you are facing a low block, you have to attack the box with bodies on the line and control the transitions. Luckily we have very good crossers of the ball, big threats in the box. That’s the old-school way of scoring goals and we did it.

[What’s the superpower of this team?] The connection. The family we are.

Will Unwin

”I thought it was crap,” Wayne Rooney surmised on BBC after enduring the half-time show. Amid tense final, the interval was always going to be prominent, theoretically bringing light to the shade. Why the two UK broadcasters felt the need to transmit the karaoke session in full we will never know but at least the pundits suffered through it, too.

Ally McCoist said it had “mentally scarred” him as someone in attendance, unlike many of his ITV colleagues who were sat in Brooklyn. The studio has rightly earned them kudos, creating a home alongside the Hudson River with the Brooklyn Bridge providing the dramatic backdrop. With the game only an expensive train ride away, it was a surprise to see Roy Keane, Gary Neville and Ian Wright in familiar surroundings.

Alexander Abnos

Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino were booed as they took to the field for the presentation ceremony of the World Cup final on Sunday.

Trump arrived at the stadium on Marine One, with the president’s helicopter first flying over the stadium about 45 minutes before kick-off. There was little reaction from the crowd as the aircraft flew over the stadium, with Marine One landing nearby a few minutes later. The president was seated in a glassed-in section of luxury seats on the west side of the stadium shortly before kick-off, along with the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino. Other dignitaries and former players sat nearby, including Spain’s king, Felipe VI, Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, and Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum.

Pablo Iglesias Maurer

Playing on the grandest stage in sport for the last time, Lionel Messi seemed almost certain to provide one last memorable moment in this World Cup final.

Yet as the sun ducked behind the west stand of New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, it became clearer and clearer that Argentina had lost the magic they had carried through this tournament. And as Spain gradually wrested control, one was left to confront reality: Messi, and Argentina, had finally run out of time, having long since given in to their worst instincts in a 1-0 defeat.

The lead picture here is a thing of beauty. The rest are pretty good too.

Ferran Torres' reaction

It was ​a goal scored by 47 million ​people – it wasn’t even mine or from the 26 players. It was destined ​to happen; it was ‌meant to be ​a winner.

Whilst ​all finals are tough, when you’re up against [Lionel] Messi, you do get a bit nervous. We played better football. I’ve been heavily criticised throughout the World Cup. Thank God, who always gives me the strength to carry on. God gives things to those who deserve them most.

Luis de la Fuente's reaction

I’m so ‌proud of this generation of footballers who have grown up with this philosophy, remained true to ‌it, made it even better, and set an example as a team and a family – they’re excellent, world-class footballers with exceptional talent.

I’m very moved. Looking back and thinking about them, we’ve won everything, absolutely everything, with this generation of players.

The match should have been decided much earlier ... but this is a World Cup final and you have to dig deep even against ten men, and we’re prepared for anything.

“I actually thought it was a pretty decent game, as it goes,” says James Humphries. “A clash of styles, in that one team had one, and also some drama and some quality defending. Or has the game gone to such an extent that we think 6-4 is a serious scoreline?”

Chill out Jose.

“Shout out to 2010 on the bad World Cup finals list?” says Tom Hopkins. “The Dutch did disgrace themselves in slightly more entertaining fashion that day though.”

Fair point, but at least the villains (sic) had some genuine chances in that game. Off the top of my weary bald head, I’d say the worst men’s World Cup finals, in order, are probably 1990, 2026, 1994, 2014, 2010.

Jacob Steinberg

A worrying thought as a tepid first half drew to a close: was the half-time show going to be better than the football? This was a slog. Argentina could not match Spain’s possession approach but they had ways to level the playing field. There was physicality from Lionel Scaloni’s side, whose aim was to kill the spectacle before taking control in the second half, and they were allowed to take it to the limit by the Slovenian referee, Slavko Vincic. Alexis Mac Allister could have been booked for an early foul on Dani Olmo and the leniency, together with a pitch not conducive to playing flowing football, allowed Argentina to disrupt Spain’s passing game, creating the conditions for one of the most tedious World Cup finals.

“Where are we placing this one in the list of all time worst World Cup finals?” writes Kári Tulinius. “My first instinct is to put this second behind 1994, but at least that gave us the tragedy of Roberto Baggio’s penalty miss. I’m already struggling to remember anything about this game.”

I’m not sure 1994 was as bad as we remember I can’t see 1990 ever being surpassed.

Roy Keane on Rodri

He’s got the full package – his decision making, being an option for his team-mates, when to play one- or two-touch. He’s a big strong boy, helps out with set-pieces; he seems like a really top pro.

If you’re talking about the greatest midfielders in the history of the game, he has to be up there. He turns up all the time. Every time he gets the ball, he makes the right decision. The guy’s amazing.

The World Cup roll of honour

• 5 Brazil

• 4 Italy, Germany

• 3 Argentina

• 2 Uruguay, France, Spain

• 1 England

Now, Spain players are crowding around a replica shirt with a difference – there are two stars above the crest. Time to hand you back to Rob Smyth for more reaction.

Rodri hoists the trophy aloft and the ticker-tape cannons go off. The World Cup is handed around players, then to manager Luis de la Fuente, before coaching staff are invited on to the podium en masse. Every person touching that gold trophy is fulfilling a lifelong dream – even the Spanish royal family look a touch overawed.

King Felipe VI, the king of Spain, is also in the queue of dignitaries lined up to congratulate the world champions. Trump tells Rodri “you’re my favourite player” – and then stops the Spain captain for another chat as he’s about to lift the trophy.

Even Infantino looks embarrassed at this point, but Trump insists on standing alongside the Spain players, who eventually focus on the business of celebration.

As Spain head up to collect their medals – and the trophy – here are Ed Aarons’ player ratings from the final. Rodri 9, Enzo Fernández 3.

Argentina go up and collect their silver medals, and it’s all too much for Lionel Messi. Having worn a downbeat, bemused expression since the final whistle, the tears now start to flow. It’s almost certain that the greatest player of all time has played his last World Cup match, and that’s sad whoever you support.

The Golden Boot goes to Kylian Mbappé, although he’s not here to receive any award in person. The France forward scored 10 goals, with Messi unable to overtake him in this year’s chart or the all-time standings today.

Rodri wins the Golden Ball

And people thought he was over the hill. The Spain midfielder has been back to his metronomic, unflappable best at this World Cup, and a deserving winner. He gets a “well played” from Trump, and a trophy to go alongside his Ballon d’Or. Somewhere in Brazil, Vinícius Jr turns the telly off.

Pau Cubarsí wins young player of the tournament

The Barcelona centre-back gets the nod over teammate and clubmate Lamine Yamal, and it’s thoroughly deserved; Spain conceded one goal in the entire tournament. On that theme, Unai Simón has won the Golden Glove – and opts against a repeat of Emi Martínez’s antics in 2022 with the trophy.

I should also point out that the president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, and the Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, are also here for the presentation. We’ll start with the referees, but now they’re handing out some individual prizes …

Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino make their way on to the pitch, to plenty of jeers and whistles from the crowd. On the BBC’s coverage, Wayne Rooney labels Infantino’s white trainers “stupid”, which I enjoyed.

We’re getting close to trophy time; there is a huge replica of the World Cup in the centre of the pitch, and now Sergio Ramos is bringing out the real thing. A perfect choice, Ramos: he’s Spanish but also loved a bit of skulduggery in his playing days.

Here is David Hytner’s match report from the New York New Jersey Stadium, as we will never have to call it again after tonight.

Niall McVeigh

Thanks, Rob. Shall we have a look at the scenes over in Spain?

A replay of Ferran Torres’s goal shows that he was being tracked by Simeone, who then pulled up on the edge of the area with an injury. That gave Torres the space he needed to score.

That was pretty intense, so I’m going to take a break and hand over to Niall McVeigh for a bit.

Alexis Petridis

Like hydration breaks and Donald Trump’s ability to get refereeing decisions overturned by simply phoning up the president of Fifa and complaining, the final half-time show is an innovation of the 2026 World Cup that comes with a degree of controversy attached. For one thing, its existence automatically means the World Cup final breaks the International Football Association’s 15-minute half-time mandate.

For another, its obvious antecedent lies in the NFL’s Super Bowl, where the half-time entertainment has mushroomed over the decades from a few marching bands to one of the big pop events of the year. To its detractors, it smacks of America not so much embracing the World Cup as imposing itself upon it.

Modern sport, we’re told, is all about the individual. Your boy has 422 gazillion Instagram followers, blah blah blah.

Spain and Paris Saint-Germain, the best teams in the world, beg to differ. The best team usually wins the World Cup, but rarely has the T-word been as operative in 2026.

Matt Hughes

Spain finally broke Argentina’s dogged resistance in extra time to win the men’s World Cup for the second time with a 1-0 victory.

The Barcelona winger Ferran Torres scored the only goal of a disjointed game that was almost ruined by Argentina’s deliberate spoiling tactics, which backfired when they were reduced to 10 men for extra time by the late dismissal of Enzo Fernández for two yellow cards.

Paredes sent off after the final whistle

As in 1990, Argentina’s attempt to defend their trophy has ended with two men being sent off in the final. Paredes could have been sent off several times during the game.

One of the Argentina players punched a Spanish substitute in the stomach as well. Can you be given a retrospective red card for incidents after the final whistle?

Spain have become the first team to hold the World Cup in both men’s and women’s football. Their triumph at this tournament brooks no argument. They’re the purest football team in the world and the best.

It took them a long time to break down a fiercely resilient Argentina, but Ferran Torres assumed the Iniesta role by scoring the winning goal in the 106th minute.

There’s some aggro in the middle of the pitch, and apparently Paredes is throwing punches. What a bedside manner.

Spain are world champions!

120+2 min: Great chance for Simeone!

Messi’s near-post corner is only half cleared to Simeone, who is leaning backwards and shoots over from 10 yards! That’s Argentina’s best chance of the game by a mile.

120+1 min Five minutes of added time. Blimey.

120 min: Chance for Argentina!

So close to an equaliser! After a short free-kick from Messi, Simeone got round the back and hammered a low cross that was brilliantly turned past the near post by Cubarsi. He had to make that.

117 min Messi collects a bouncing ball 25 yards out and wallops a shot that smashes Merino straight in the coupon, knocking him off his feet. That’s Argentina’s first attempt at goal all night; their xG is now 0.04.

Play is stopped while Merino is checked for concussion.

116 min What the hell was that? Williams beats Molina on the left, moves into the area and tries to find Torres with a showboaty flick when a simple low pass would suffice. He makes a total mess of it and knocks the ball out of of a goalkick.

If Spain don’t win the World Cup, he’ll regret that for the rest of his natural-born days.

115 min Messi takes a short corner on the right, gets it back and curls a big, dipping cross that briefly startles Simon before landing on the roof of the net.

115 min Ferran Torres is a very good player, not a great one. But he is a few minutes away from joining the best club in world football.

These are the men who have scored the winning goal in a World Cup final: Angelo Schiavio, Alcides Ghiggia,Helmut Rahn, Gerd Muller, Jorge Burruchaga, Andreas Brehme, Andres Iniesta, Mario Gotze.

114 min: Torres has a goal disallowed. It looked very tight as he ran through from the halfway line to beat Martinez, but the semi-automated technology confirmed the decision straight away.

111 min Mac Allister is booked for a foul on somebody or other. Argentina look semi-resigned to their fate.

110 min That was Spain’s 20th attempt at goal, 12 on target. Argentin- ah you know that.

108 min If Argentina win the World Cup from here, they will go down as football’s greatest mentality monsters.

Spain go in front 37 seconds after the restart. Pedro Porro’s deep cross from the right is headed back deftly by Nico Williams. Ferran Torres runs onto the ball, 10 yards out, and slams it into the roof the net with his left foot!

GOAL! Spain 1-0 Argentina (Torres 106)

Ferran Torres has won the World Cup for Spain*!

* Probably