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Spain are world champions. They beat Argentina 1-0 in extra time at MetLife Stadium on Sunday night (07:00 NZT Monday morning for Kiwi fans), with substitute Ferran Torres striking six minutes into the second period of extra time to seal Spain’s second World Cup and deny Argentina back-to-back titles. It was 0-0 through 90 minutes; Argentina played the final half-hour down to 10 men after Enzo Fernández was sent off in stoppage time.
Match summary
| Spain | Argentina | |
|---|---|---|
| Result | 1 (won AET) | 0 |
| Scorer | Ferran Torres 106′ | — |
| Shots on target | — | 0 (across 120 minutes) |
| Cards | 0 | 7 yellows + 1 red (Enzo Fernández 90+3′) |
| Saves | Unai Simón 0 | Emiliano Martínez 11 (final record) |
| Attendance | 80,663 | MetLife Stadium, referee Slavko Vinčić (SVN) |
Match data: Wikipedia (2026 FIFA World Cup final); ESPN; Yahoo; FIFA (19-20 Jul 2026).
How Spain won it
"I just saw the ball coming to me and I just shot with the power of all the Spanish people." — Ferran Torres (match-winner), Yahoo Sports, 19 Jul 2026.
Key moments
90 minutes: Scoreless. Spain controlled possession but couldn’t break through Martínez, who made save after save. Argentina offered little going forward — Messi held scoreless.
90+3′ — Enzo Fernández sent off: A reckless challenge sent Cubarsí airborne. Second yellow, straight red. Argentina down to 10 for extra time.
106′ — Ferran Torres 1-0: Porro’s delivery, Williams’ header across goal, Torres’ first-time finish. The rotation forward who came on in the 62nd minute scored his first goal of the tournament to win the World Cup.
Post-whistle flashpoint: Seconds after the final whistle, Leandro Paredes grabbed Eric García by the throat and wrestled Gavi to the ground. Spain players intervened. Media widely reported Paredes was sent off, but FIFA’s official match report says he was not.
What it means
Final standings
| Place | Team | Path |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Spain | Beat Argentina 1-0 (aet) |
| 2nd | Argentina | Lost the final |
| 3rd | England | Beat France 6-4 (18 Jul) |
| 4th | France | Lost bronze final |
Spain won all 8 matches. Their unbeaten run reached 38 — a new outright international record.
The Kiwi angle
A 07:00 NZT Monday morning kick-off — breakfast-time viewing for New Zealand fans who stayed up or woke early. The final delivered on drama: extra time, a red card, and a late winner. Spain were favourites (1.67-1.72 to lift the trophy) and delivered, but only just.
The regulation 1X2 “Draw” won at 2.95-3.00 — a reminder that 90-minute and outright markets can settle differently. For the full tournament wrap, final standings and records see World Cup 2026 final standings. Individual awards: Rodri’s Golden Ball · Mbappé’s Golden Boot.
Gamble responsibly. 18+. See NZ betting law.
