Wikipedia

2026 FIFA World Cup final

The final match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 23rd edition of FIFA's competition for men's national soccer teams, was played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, part of the New York metropolitan area, on July 19, 2026, and was contested by Spain and defending champions Argentina.

2026 FIFA World Cup final
Spain lifting the FIFA World Cup Trophy
Event2026 FIFA World Cup
Spain Argentina
1 0
After extra time
DateJuly 19, 2026 (2026-07-19)
VenueMetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Man of the MatchFerran Torres (Spain)
RefereeSlavko Vinčić (Slovenia)
Attendance80,663
WeatherFair
80 °F (27 °C)
40% humidity
← 2022
2030 →

The tournament comprised hosts United States, Mexico, and Canada, and 45 other teams who emerged from the qualification phase, organized by the six FIFA confederations. The 48 teams competed in a group stage, from which 32 teams qualified for the knockout stage. En route to the final, Spain finished first in Group H, with two wins and a draw, after which they defeated Austria in the round of 32, Portugal in the round of 16, Belgium in the quarterfinal, and France in the semifinal. Argentina finished first in Group J, with three wins, after which they defeated Cape Verde in the round of 32, Egypt in the round of 16, Switzerland in the quarterfinal, and England in the semifinal. The final took place in front of 80,663 supporters, and was refereed by Slavko Vinčić from Slovenia.

Lamine Yamal had a chance to score for Spain early in the first half when he hit a curl shot, which was saved by Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, and Marc Cucurella had an opportunity to score shortly before half-time but his shot went wide of the goal. In the second half, Ferran Torres had a chance when he met with a header, but his shot was denied by Martínez. Before the end of normal time, Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernández received a second booking, and was sent off after a reckless challenge; shortly afterwards, Yamal took a free kick, but his shot was saved by Martínez. With the match goalless after 90 minutes —and with Argentina becoming the first team in a final to register no shots in regular time— the game went into extra time, in the second period of which Spain broke the deadlock. Torres, who had come on as a substitute, received the ball from a header by Nico Williams and kicked it with a left-footed shot to secure a 1–0 victory for Spain. After the final whistle, a brawl broke out, in which multiple Argentina players were involved.

Spain's win was their second World Cup title and the first since 2010, becoming the first country to simultaneously hold the men's and women's World Cup titles, having won the latter in 2023. Torres was named the man of the match. The match saw the most saves ever in a World Cup final, with 11 by Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez. The match was preceded by the closing ceremony. The match was the first ever World Cup final to include a halftime show, which caused the full halftime break to last over 27 minutes, against International Football Association Board (IFAB) protocol.

Background

Trionda Final ball used in the final.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup was the 23rd edition of the World Cup, FIFA's football competition for national teams, held in United States, Mexico, and Canada between June 11 and July 19, 2026.[1][2] United States, Mexico, and Canada automatically qualified for the finals as tournament hosts, while 206 teams competed for the remaining 45 slots through qualifying rounds organized by the six FIFA confederations and held between September 2023 and March 2026.[1][3][4] The tournament featured 48 teams for the first time, up from 32 in the 2022 World Cup.[2] In the tournament, the teams were divided into twelve groups of four with each team playing each other once in a round-robin format. The top two teams from each group, alongside the eight highest-ranked third-place teams, advanced to the knockout stage.[5][6]

Spain had won the title once before, defeating the Netherlands in the 2010 final in Johannesburg, South Africa.[7] They entered the 2026 final on a streak of 37 matches without a defeat in regulation time—then tied with Italy for the longest in the history of men's international soccer—and won the 2024 UEFA European Championship.[8] Argentina was the defending champions from the 2022 World Cup, having won their third title, after previous victories in 1978 and 1986. They had also finished as runners-up three times, in 1930, 1990 and 2014.[9] The team was also the reigning Copa América champions, having won their 16th title in 2024.[10] Spain and Argentina had played each other fourteen times since 1952, with both teams winning six matches. They had met once at the World Cup, in the group stage of the 1966 tournament, which Argentina won 2–1. Their most recent meeting before the 2026 World Cup was a friendly match in Madrid on March 27, 2018, which Spain won 6–1.[11] Initially, Spain and Argentina were scheduled to meet at the 2026 Finalissima in Qatar in March 2026. The match, however, was cancelled due to the Iran war and an inability to agree on a new venue.[12][13]

The 2026 final was the first time in the tournament's history to feature two reigning continental champions, who were the two top-ranked teams in the FIFA World Ranking.[14] It was also the second to be between two countries that are predominantly Spanish-speaking, after Uruguay and Argentina contested the inaugural 1930 final.[15][16][17] In addition, it was the first time in history that both finalists host the next edition of the World Cup, with Spain serving as a co-host (alongside Morocco and Portugal) and Argentina hosting a centenary match (alongside Paraguay and Uruguay).[18] The official match ball, used in the semifinals, match for third place, and the final, was announced on July 6, 2026. It was a variation of the Adidas Trionda named the Trionda Final. While the technical specifications remain the same, it had a special design with a gold, white, and black color scheme that echoes the FIFA World Cup Trophy.[19][20]

Venue

Stadium

Smoke in the national colors of the two finalists drifts across MetLife Stadium's pitch minutes before the start of the game.

The final was played at MetLife Stadium, temporarily renamed New York New Jersey Stadium for the World Cup,[21][22] in East Rutherford, New Jersey, 5 miles (8.0 km) west of New York City.[23] Originally anticipated for late 2023, the stadium was announced as the final venue in February 2024.[24][25] MetLife Stadium, previously known as New Meadowlands Stadium until 2011, opened in 2010 and has a listed capacity of 82,500 seats.[26][27] It is home to the New York Giants and New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL) and had previously hosted Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014,[27] the Copa América Centenario final in 2016,[28] and the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final.[29] Throughout the tournament, the stadium hosted seven other matches, including five group stage matches, a round of 32 match, and a round of 16 match.[30]

Exterior of MetLife Stadium during June 2026; its naming concealed to comply with FIFA's brand protection policy.[22]

In 2022, the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA), which oversees MetLife Stadium, received around $30 million in public funding for a renovation project.[31] In January 2024, they announced plans to remove 1,740 seats in the lower bowl corners to widen the field to meet FIFA's size requirement.[32] Renovations began that month and was divided into two phases, completed in May 2024 and May 2025, during the NFL offseason;[33] several sections of removable bleacher seating were then installed for NFL games.[31][34] In May 2026, a Bermuda grass surface, sourced from North Carolina, was temporarily laid over the field's normal artificial turf for the tournament. The grass was originally supposed to be sourced from New Jersey.[35] The pitch was later criticized by players, including Vinícius Júnior and Adrien Rabiot, with them describing it as "dry and difficult", while visible worn patches were noted by the media.[36][37]

During the tournament, the Meadowlands Rail Line, a shuttle train with no regular service,[38] and a new $35 million busway were planned to be used to transport attendees from the nearest transit hub at Secaucus Junction.[39][40] In April 2026, NJ Transit, which operates the Meadowlands Rail Line, announced that $150 tickets would be issued for the train service, with dedicated queues at New York Penn Station, and $80 fares for express buses. The fares were announced to offset the $48 million cost of providing event service and security that was not subsidized by FIFA and other grants.[41][42] In May 2026, NJ Transit announced that sponsorships and other funds raised would allow train fares to be cut to $105 and later $98.[43][44]

Host selection

In June 2018, the United 2026 bid—composed of the United States, Mexico, and Canada—was awarded by the FIFA Congress to receive the hosting rights of the 2026 World Cup. The bid consisted of sixteen host cities spread across the three countries, with all matches from the quarterfinals onward played in the United States.[45][46] MetLife Stadium was considered an early frontrunner to host the final, due to its proximity to New York City and experience of hosting major sporting events.[47][48][49] In June 2022, the stadium was announced as among of the sixteen host venues, including its competitor SoFi Stadium, a newer stadium in Inglewood, California, near Los Angeles.[50] The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, the Los Angeles area venue that hosted the 1994 men's final and 1999 women's final, was not chosen for the tournament due to its age.[51]

SoFi Stadium was designed primarily for American football with a field that is 69 yards (63 m) wide—narrower than FIFA's recommended dimensions.[52] According to media reports, the stadium's owner, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, was also unhappy with the revenue-sharing deal proposed by FIFA and threatened to cancel their plans to host World Cup matches.[53][54] In early 2023, AT&T Stadium in the Dallas area emerged as a potential host for the final due to its higher capacity of 90,000 seats and scheduled renovations to accommodate a wider field.[55][56] According to The Athletic, the selection of MetLife Stadium came as a "surprise" to local officials, who organized a small viewing party for the announcement. Dallas's bid had been favored—and rumored as the winner in January—and included a simulcast of the match at two nearby venues to increase ticket revenue.[57]

Route to the final

Spain

Spain's route to the final
Opponent Result
1  Cape Verde 0–0
2  Saudi Arabia 4–0
3  Uruguay 1–0
R32  Austria 3–0
R16  Portugal 1–0
QF  Belgium 2–1
SF  France 2–0

Spain entered the 2026 World Cup as a favorite to win the tournament, and qualified after securing first place in their qualification group.[58][59] They were drawn into Group H, alongside Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay. Their first match was against World Cup debutants Cape Verde on June 15 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta; the game ended in a 0–0 draw due to a strong defensive performance from Cape Verde and their goalkeeper, Vozinha.[58] Spain then defeated Saudi Arabia 4–0 a week later in Atlanta through a debut World Cup goal for Lamine Yamal, two by Mikel Oyarzabal, and an own goal from Hassan Tambakti.[60] Spain finished atop Group H with seven points after a 1–0 win over Uruguay in their third match, played June 26 at Estadio Akron near Guadalajara, with a goal from Álex Baena minutes before halftime.[61]

As group winners, Spain played Group J runners-up Austria in the round of 32 on July 2 at SoFi Stadium in the Los Angeles area. The team won 3–0 with a pair of goals from Oyarzabal and a header by right-back Pedro Porro to beat Austria goalkeeper Alexander Schlager, who made several key saves in the first half. The performance, described as "dominant" by BBC Sport, was Spain's first win in a World Cup knockout stage since the 2010 final.[62] The team advanced to the round of 16 to play Portugal on July 6 at AT&T Stadium near Dallas. The Spanish attack were given few clear chances to score, but won 1–0 with a stoppage time goal from substitute Mikel Merino.[63] Spain returned to the Los Angeles area for the quarterfinal against Belgium on July 10. The two sides exchanged goals in the first half, with Fabián Ruiz giving Spain the lead in the 30th minute through a rebound off goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Belgium's Charles De Ketelaere equalizing with a header in the 41st minute. Courtois made several saves but left the match with an injury in the second half; his replacement, Senne Lammens, was unable to recover a rebound that fell to Merino's feet to score in the 88th minute and earn a 2–1 victory.[64]

Spain's starting lineup against France in the semifinals.

In the semifinals, Spain faced another tournament favorite, France, on July 14 in Dallas; France had outscored opponents 16–2 in their previous six matches and maintained clean sheets in four matches.[65] By the semifinal, the team had traveled over 12,000 miles (19,000 km) between its base camp in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and matches played in Mexico and the United States.[66][67] Spain's strong defensive performance, led by Rodri in the midfield, withstood France's attack and produced openings that were exploited. A penalty kick won by Lamine Yamal was converted by Oyarzabal in the 22nd minute and was followed by a one-two play with Dani Olmo to Pedro Porro to score in the 58th minute. Spain won 2–0 and booked their place in the final.[65][68]

Argentina

Argentina's route to the final
Opponent Result
1  Algeria 3–0
2  Austria 2–0
3  Jordan 3–1
R32  Cape Verde 3–2 (a.e.t.)
R16  Egypt 3–2
QF  Switzerland 3–1 (a.e.t.)
SF  England 2–1

Argentina entered the tournament also as one of the favorites to win, and earned their World Cup slot by placing first in South American qualifiers.[69][70] They were drawn into Group J, alongside Algeria, Austria, and Jordan.[71] Their first match was against Algeria on June 16 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, near Argentina's base camp.[72] Argentina won 3–0 through a hat trick by Lionel Messi, who equaled the record for most World Cup goals.[73] In their second match against Austria on June 22 at AT&T Stadium near Dallas, Messi scored twice and the team won 2–0.[74] Argentina finished atop the group with nine points after a 3–1 win against World Cup debutants Jordan on June 27 in Atlanta. Giovani Lo Celso scored the opening goal in the 19th minute to give Argentina the lead, which was followed by a penalty that was converted by Lautaro Martínez. Musa Al-Taamari scored for Jordan to break the shutout, but Messi entered the match as a substitute and scored from a free kick in the 80th minute.[75]

As group winners, Argentina played Group H runners-up Cape Verde in the round of 32 on July 3 at Hard Rock Stadium near Miami. Messi opened the scoring in the 29th minute from close range, but a run and finish by Deroy Duarte allowed Cape Verde to equalize in the second half. The match remained tied and went to extra time, where Lisandro Martínez put Argentina in the lead within two minutes. Sidny Lopes Cabral equalized for Cape Verde with a curling shot that beat Emiliano Martínez in the 103rd minute, but was followed by an own goal off the arm of Diney Borges on a corner kick to give Argentina a 3–2 victory.[76][77] In the round of 16 on July 7, Argentina faced Egypt in Atlanta and conceded two goals to Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Ziko. Messi had an earlier penalty kick saved, but provided an assist to Cristian Romero's header before scoring himself to tie the match in the 83rd minute.[78][79] Argentina won 3–2 with a header from Enzo Fernández in the second minute of stoppage time amid controversy over a disallowed goal and penalty by the referee.[79][80]

Argentina's starting lineup during the final.

The team returned to Kansas City for their quarterfinal match against Switzerland on July 11, played in hot and humid conditions. Alexis Mac Allister scored with a header in the 10th minute to give Argentina the lead, but the match was tied in the 67th minute by Dan Ndoye.[81] Switzerland lost Breel Embolo five minutes later to a red card after the video assistant referee determined there was a case of mistaken identity for another foul, which resulted in a second yellow card. Argentina eventually won 3–1 in extra time through a long-distance strike by Julián Alvarez and a rebound from Lautaro Martínez.[81][82] Argentina advanced to the semifinal on July 15 in Atlanta, where they faced England, a longtime rival in the World Cup.[83] After Anthony Gordon goal in the 55th minute gave England the lead, head coach Thomas Tuchel switched to a five-defender formation with several substitutions.[84][85] Messi provided assists for the equalizer in the 86th minute by Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez's winning header in the second minute of stoppage time. Argentina won 2–1 to reach their second consecutive World Cup final.[84]

Entertainment

Closing ceremony

Artistic performance during the closing ceremony

The closing ceremony began at 1:40 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−4), 80 minutes before the initial kickoff. It was headlined by Post Malone[86] and also featured performances by Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams, and IShowSpeed, as well as an appearance from Tom Cruise. Jennifer Hudson sang the United States national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner".[87]

Spain's national anthem was performed by the Spanish brass quintet Spanish Brass [es], while Argentine singer María Becerra sang Argentina's national anthem.[88]

Halftime show

Madonna and the Brazilian player Ronaldo during the halftime show

The 2026 final was the first to feature a halftime show, similar to those in the NFL's Super Bowl. The show was announced by FIFA on November 28, 2024, with Global Citizen listed as the co-producer.[89] It was curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay.[90] The performance also aimed to raise $100 million for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.[91] The show was headlined by Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber and BTS.[92] It also included guest performances by Gustavo Dudamel, New York Philharmonic, Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, Bijan Mortazavi, Electric Mayhem, Burna Boy, Ghetto Kids, The Muppets, Emmanuel Kelly and PS22 Chorus, as well as guest appearances by Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt as their characters from the television series Ted Lasso.[93]

The halftime show was criticized by commentators and fans as being too commercialized and an unwanted Americanization of the match.[94][95] The halftime break lasted over 27 minutes,[96][97] which broke the IFAB Laws of the Game which state that the halftime break cannot exceed 15 minutes.[95][98][99] On the BBC live broadcast of the match, Wayne Rooney said of the halftime show, "It was crap."[100]

Pre-match

On July 16, 2026, Slavko Vinčić, from Slovenia, was named as the referee of the final, together with fellow Slovenes Tomaž Klančnik and Andraž Kovačič as assistant referees and  Adham Makhadmeh and Mohammad Al-Kalaf from Jordan as the fourth official and reserve assistant referee. The VAR team consisted of Bastian Dankert, Nicolas Gallo, and Khamis Al-Marri. Tatiana Guzman and Guillermo Pacheco served as standby VARs.[101] Earlier in the tournament, Vinčić officiated the Brazil–Morocco and Jordan–Algeria matches in the group stage and the Mexico–Ecuador match in the round of 32.[102][103] He had previously taken charge of the 2022 UEFA Europa League final and 2024 UEFA Champions League final. He also was one of the referees at the UEFA Euro 2020, 2022 World Cup, UEFA Euro 2024, and 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. He become the first Slovenian to referee a World Cup final.[103]

Dignitaries in attendance

US president Donald Trump attended the match and later presented the trophy to the winning team, which received 30 championship rings similar to those used by North American sports leagues.[104] King of Spain Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, with Leonor, Princess of Asturias, Infanta Sofía and Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez attended the match to watch their country's national team in the final. Citing his superstitious beliefs, Argentine president Javier Milei declined to attend.[105][106] Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian prime minister Mark Carney, representing the two other co-hosts, attended the final after being invited by Trump.[107]

Although UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin attended the tournament's June 11, opening match in Mexico City, he boycotted the final after a dispute with FIFA over a suspended disciplinary ban issued to United States player Folarin Balogun.[108] Čeferin, representing the European confederation of which Spain is a member, criticized FIFA's decision to defer Balogun's automatic suspension after he received a red card during a round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which the United States won 2–0.[109] In contrast, CONMEBOL President Alejandro Domínguez attended the final to support Argentina alongside Argentine Football Association (AFA) President Claudio Tapia.[110] Rafael Louzán, President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), also attended the match.[111]

Match

Summary

First half

Argentina kicked off the match at 3:06 p.m. EDT (7:06 p.m. UTC) in temperatures of 80 °F (27 °C) with 40% humidity, in front of a crowd of 80,663. The weather at Teterboro Airport, 4.4 mi (7.1 km) from the stadium,[a] was recorded as fair before kick-off.[114] Four minutes in the game, Spain had a chance when Lamine Yamal passed the ball to Dani Olmo, who returned it back, leaving Yamal in front of the goal. He took the shot, which deflected off Lisandro Martinez's foot and was saved by Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez. On fourteen minutes, Alexis Mac Allister fouled Dani Olmo during a tackle, in which the referee denied giving a yellow card. Two minutes later, Yamal hit a curl shot toward the goal, but the ball landed softly in Martínez's hands. On 39 minutes, Mikel Oyarzabal hit a 20-yard (18 m) low shot from a long-range effort, which was saved by Martínez once again. On 41 minutes, Lisandro Martinez was booked for a foul on Oyarzabal. After this play, Argentina was forced to make a substitution when Lisandro Martínez was injured and was unable to continue; he was replaced by Nicolás Otamendi in the 44th minute.[115][116]

Second half

At the start of the second half, Spain capitalized on an Argentine buildup error, with the ball falling to Alex Baena, whose shot was saved by Martínez just one minute in, in the 46th. Spain continued to press, and in the 53rd minute, Fabián Ruiz tried a collective play with Oyarzabal in search of a chance, which did not materialize. A minute later, Dani Olmo attempted a cross looking for Cucurella, but Gonzalo Montiel intervened to prevent the ball from reaching him. The clearest chance in the second half came in the 66th minute, when Yamal drove down the right flank to the byline and delivered a cross that Ferran Torres met with a header, but Martínez held onto it.[116]

The closing minutes of the second half were dominated by Spain, with more crucial saves from Martínez. In the 76th minute, he denied a shot from Pedri, and a minute later he did the same to stop an effort from Pau Cubarsí. In the 80th minute, Nico Williams got to the byline and sent in a cross that Aymeric Laporte rose to meet with a header, only for it to end up safely in Martínez's hands.[116]

Argentina had their first real chance of the match in the 3rd minute of added time, when Giuliano Simeone hit a low cross from the right, but Unai Simón intercepted the ball with ease. On the resulting counterattack, Williams carried the ball for 30 meters before taking a powerful shot from the edge of the box, which was also saved by Martínez.[116] A few seconds later, Argentina lost one player after Enzo Fernández was sent off for a second yellow card, when his attempt to win a loose ball resulted in a reckless challenge against Cubarsí.[117]

In the final seconds of regular time, Yamal struck a free kick that Martínez managed to deflect away, sending the match into extra time.[116] With the expiration of regular time, Argentina became the first team to fail to register a shot during the 90 minutes of a World Cup final.[118]

Extra time

Ferran Torres, the match's sole goalscorer

In the 93rd minute, Williams was not able to head a Pedri cross with enough power, and Martínez dove to his right to make the save.[119] Three minutes later, Williams appeared to score, after the ball fell to him following a play done by Merino, but the goal was disallowed because Merino had stepped on Otamendi's foot. Merino then headed a chance wide of Martínez's goal in the 102nd minute. At the start of the second period of extra time, Torres received a ball headed down back by Williams, and struck it with his left foot to beat Martínez, putting Spain in the lead, 1–0.[116]

After the goal, Argentina began to press in search of an equalizer, which led to counterattacking chances. In the 113th minute, Torres went in front of goal against Martínez and appeared to score his second goal, but it was ruled out for offside. Two minutes later, Messi attempted to catch Simón off guard with a cross from the attacking third that drifted toward the Spanish goal, passing over the crossbar. In the 116th minute, Williams created another opportunity and found himself in a favorable position inside Argentina's box after outrunning Nahuel Molina, but was unable to connect with the ball to shoot or find a teammate to extend Spain's lead. In the 117th minute, Messi's shot from the edge of the box, Argentina's first of the match, struck Merino in the face as the midfielder blocked it, leaving him down on the pitch as the match entered its final minutes.[119][120]

In the 120th minute, Argentina's final buildup came from a Simeone pass toward Marcos Senesi in the box, but Cubarsí cleared the danger for a corner.[121] The resulting corner kick led to a scramble inside the goal area, with the Spanish defense kicking the ball out of bounds. The next corner was deflected by Nicolás Tagliafico on the near post and fell to Simeone's feet, but his desperate attempt from close to the penalty spot went well over the bar.[122] In the final minutes, Spain kept possession away from their own goal, while a long free kick from Martínez was comfortably dealt with by the Spanish defense before the final whistle confirmed Spain's title.[119]

Details

Spain 1–0 (a.e.t.) Argentina
 [Report 1]
Attendance: 80,663

Spain[123]
Argentina[123]
GK23Unai Simón
RB12Pedro Porro
CB22Pau Cubarsí
CB14Aymeric Laportedownward-facing red arrow 99'
LB24Marc Cucurella
DM16Rodri (c)downward-facing red arrow 99'
CM10Dani Olmodownward-facing red arrow 75'
CM8Fabián Ruizdownward-facing red arrow 62'
RF19Lamine Yamal
CF21Mikel Oyarzabaldownward-facing red arrow 62'
LF15Álex Baenadownward-facing red arrow 75'
Substitutions:
FW7Ferran Torresupward-facing green arrow 62'
MF20Pedriupward-facing green arrow 62'
MF6Mikel Merinoupward-facing green arrow 75'
FW17Nico Williamsupward-facing green arrow 75'
MF18Martín Zubimendiupward-facing green arrow 99'
DF4Eric Garcíaupward-facing green arrow 99'
Manager:
Luis de la Fuente
GK23Emiliano Martínez
RB4Gonzalo Montieldownward-facing red arrow 58'
CB13Cristian RomeroYellow card 90+2'downward-facing red arrow 70'
CB6Lisandro MartínezYellow card 41'downward-facing red arrow 44'
LB3Nicolás Tagliafico
RM7Rodrigo De Pauldownward-facing red arrow 70'
CM24Enzo FernándezYellow card 82' Yellow-red card 90+3'
CM20Alexis Mac AllisterYellow card 111'
LM15Nicolás Gonzálezdownward-facing red arrow 46'
CF10Lionel Messi (c)
CF9Julián Alvarezdownward-facing red arrow 102'
Substitutions:
DF19Nicolás Otamendiupward-facing green arrow 44'
MF5Leandro ParedesYellow card 52'upward-facing green arrow 46'
DF26Nahuel Molinaupward-facing green arrow 58'
DF25Facundo Medinaupward-facing green arrow 70'
FW17Giuliano Simeoneupward-facing green arrow 70'
DF2Marcos Senesiupward-facing green arrow 102'
Manager:
Lionel ScaloniYellow card 105'

Man of the Match:
Ferran Torres (Spain)[124]

Assistant referees:[123]
Tomaž Klančnik (Slovenia)
Andraž Kovačič (Slovenia)
Fourth official:
Adham Makhadmeh (Jordan)
Reserve assistant referee:
Mohammad Al-Kalaf (Jordan)
Video assistant referee:
Bastian Dankert (Germany)
Assistant video assistant referee:
Nicolás Gallo (Colombia)
Support video assistant referee:
Khamis Al-Marri (Qatar)

Match rules[125]

Statistics

Overall statistics[Report 1]
Statistic Spain Argentina
Goals scored 1 0
Total shots 20 2
Shots on target 12 0
Ball possession 65% 35%
Corner kicks 9 4
Fouls committed 21 25
Offsides 4 1
Yellow cards 0 7
Red cards 0 1

Post-match

Spain's players celebrating after the final whistle.

After the match concluded, multiple altercations broke out between Argentina's and Spain's players.[126] Argentina's defender Nahuel Molina was seen striking Spain's captain Rodri in the stomach, who was running to celebrate their team's victory. Rodri instantly turned back around to confront him, in which Eric García spotted them and ran over to stop them. Shortly after, Leandro Paredes tackled García, who fell to the ground, resulting in a physical altercation. Just as he was getting up, Paredes shoved him by the throat, and shortly after, Argentina's coaching staff protected García from him. Paredes then wrestled Gavi to the ground, with substitute Thiago Almada getting involved as he ripped his training bib.[127][128][129] Simultaneously, Argentina's assistant coach Roberto Ayala allegedly grabbed Spain's Dani Olmo by the shirt before punching him in the face.[130][131] Multiple media outlets reported that Paredes was shown a red card after the incident,[132] but the red card did not appear in FIFA's official match report results.[Report 1]

The actions of the Argentinian side after the end of the match were described as a "disgrace to football" by several international media outlets.[133] Paredes was criticized for his violent behavior during and after the match,[134] and Messi was also criticized for attempting to have Marc Cucurella sent off for briefly covering his mouth.[135] Some media outlets called Spain's victory a "victory for football."[136] FIFA announced an investigation in the behavior of the Argentinian players and staff, including Paredes, Molina and Ayala.[137][138]

Following the match, Yamal and Messi embraced and exchanged words, a moment described by FIFA and several media outlets as symbolic of a generational transition in football, with Messi approaching the end of an illustrious career and Yamal, regarded as one of the sport's most promising talents, at the start of his.[139][140] The encounter drew additional resonance from a 2007 photograph in which Messi, then 20 years old, bathed the infant Yamal during a charity photo session while in FC Barcelona, an image that had attracted renewed media attention in the context of their meeting on the pitch nearly two decades later.[139]

Spain's Ferran Torres, who scored the only goal of the final, was named as the man of the match.[124] In the awards ceremony after the match, Spain's Rodri was named as the Golden Ball winner as the best player of the tournament, while teammate Unai Simón won the Golden Glove as the best goalkeeper of the World Cup. Compatriot Pau Cubarsí won the FIFA Young Player Award as the best young player of the tournament. Argentina's Lionel Messi won the Silver Ball as the second-best player of the tournament, while also securing the Silver Boot with eight goals in the tournament (only behind the ten of Kylian Mbappé).[141]

FIFA president Gianni Infantino and US president Donald Trump presented the trophy to captain Rodri; both Infantino and Trump were booed by many of the fans in attendance.[142][143] Trump spoke briefly with Rodri and several other Spanish players on the podium, who appeared eager to lift the trophy, but then delayed doing so while he remained with the team.[144] Infantino attempted to lead Trump out of the way of the trophy lift, but he initially insisted on remaining alongside the players, before eventually stepping aside, positioning himself at the edge of the victory photograph.[145]

Spain became the first country to simultaneously win both the men's and women's World Cups, having won the latter in 2023,[146][147] and became the first team to win the FIFA World Cup immediately after winning the Olympic gold medal since Italy in 1936 and 1938.[148] Argentina's Lionel Messi became the second player in history to play in a World Cup final for the third time, after Brazil's Cafu had done so in 2002.[149] The final also featured eleven saves by goalkeeper Martínez, the most ever recorded in a World Cup final.[150]

Aftermath and reactions

The referee's decision to rule out Williams' goal in the 96th minute, stemming from a foul by Merino who stepped on Otamendi's foot during the build-up,[151] provoked mixed reactions. Several fans and players noted that the contact was minor and of a nature that referees sometimes overlook in the penalty area,[152][153][154] and highlighted that Otamendi had his arm around Merino prior to the incident.[155] During the match, Spain supporters sarcastically chanted "Infantino" following the disallowed goal, referencing allegations of FIFA favoring Argentina.[153]

Celebrations broke out among supporters across various parts of Spain.[156][157] In Ciudad Rodrigo, Salamanca, a 13-year-old died and three others were injured when the fountain at the Glorieta del Árbol Gordo collapsed over them.[158] A 20-year-old also died in Sonseca during what was reported as a convulsion. Across Spain that evening, more than 80 people were reported injured and approximately 12 arrested.[159] In New York City, celebrations broke out in several parts of the city, including Times Square, Central Park, and Little Spain, Manhattan.[160] In Mexico City, where there is a large Spaniard community, several Spain supporters and Mexico national team fans celebrated at the Fountain of Cybele.[161][162] In Buenos Aires, Argentina, fans gathered at the Obelisk to support the team,[163] though celebrations were marred by riots in which supporters threw stones, glass bottles, and other objects at police.[164][165][166] Riot police responded with water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets to disperse the crowds. Local police reported at least fifteen arrests and several injuries during the clashes.[167][168]

The Spain national team returned to Madrid the next day and was welcomed at the Madrid–Barajas Airport.[169] The World Cup victory parade happened at 7:00 pm CEST (UTC+2) through central Madrid, where the attendance was expected to be over a million,[170][171] although the number ended up being closer to two million.[172][173] The parade concluded at Plaza de Cibeles, where the Spanish team did a trophy lift in front of a large crowd.[174]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Distance measured using Google Maps distance calculator, between Teterboro Airport, coordinates 40°51′00″N 74°03′39″W / 40.8501°N 74.0608°W and MetLife Stadium, coordinates 40°48′49″N 74°04′27″W / 40.8135°N 74.0743°W[112][113]

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  137. ↑ Hughes, Matt (July 20, 2026). "Argentina players face bans as Fifa opens investigation into World Cup final brawls". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
  138. ↑ "FIFA opens investigation into Argentina over post-World Cup final incidents". www.euronews.com. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
  139. 1 2 "How fresh Messi-Yamal image signals changing of the guard". FIFA. July 19, 2026. Archived from the original on July 21, 2026.
  140. ↑ McNulty, Phil (July 20, 2026). "Lamine Yamal 'completes football' at 19 as Argentina betray Messi". BBC News.
  141. ↑ "FIFA World Cup awards: Rodri, Cubarsi, Simon and Mbappe honoured". FIFA. July 19, 2026.
  142. ↑ Bushnell, Henry (July 19, 2026). "Trump booed by World Cup final crowd, takes part in trophy presentation". The Athletic. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on July 20, 2026. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  143. ↑ Abnos, Alexander (July 19, 2026). "Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino booed before US president attempts to crash Spain celebrations". The Guardian. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  144. ↑ Arnold, Jon. "Donald Trump awards World Cup trophy to Spain, sticks around for celebrations". USA Today. Archived from the original on July 20, 2026. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  145. ↑ "Trump intenta entorpecer la celebración de España tras ganar el Mundial". Infobae (in Spanish). July 19, 2026.
  146. ↑ Litman, Laken (July 19, 2026). "How Spain's Men's And Women's National Teams Rose Above The Rest Of The World". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on July 20, 2026. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  147. ↑ Singh, Abhishek (July 20, 2026). "Spain become 1st nation to simultaneously hold men's and women's FIFA World Cup titles". The Financial Express. Archived from the original on July 20, 2026. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  148. ↑ Del Manto, Camila (July 20, 2026). "Espanha é a 1ª seleção a conquistar os títulos Olímpico e Mundial em sequência no futebol masculino em 88 anos". Olympic Games (in Portuguese).
  149. ↑ "Lionel Messi Becomes Second-Ever Player To Appear In 3 Men's World Cup Finals". Fox Sports. July 19, 2026. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  150. ↑ Chavkin, Daniel (July 19, 2026). "Most saves in a World Cup final: Where Emiliano Martinez's stellar goalkeeping vs. Spain ranks in FIFA history". The Sporting News – via Yahoo Sports.
  151. ↑ "Why didn't Spain goal count vs. Argentina? Explaining World Cup final call". USA Today. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
  152. ↑ Cons, Roddy (July 19, 2026). "Nico Williams goal disallowed in Spain vs Argentina World Cup final: Why was it ruled out?". Diario AS.
  153. 1 2 "Spain left 'perplexed' and 'bemused' after disallowed goal: 'It's a clear and obvious error'". Football360. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
  154. ↑ "Spain fans rage after VAR chalks off Nico Williams' World Cup final goal". India Today. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
  155. ↑ "Should Nico's goal have stood?: VAR, Argentina and the questions that won't go away". The Daily Star. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
  156. ↑ "Las celebraciones de España tras ganar su segundo Mundial, en imágenes". El País (in Spanish). July 19, 2026.
  157. ↑ Lyons, Emmet (July 20, 2026). "Spain rejoices in World Cup victory, even if some fans say Trump lingered too long in team's photo-op – CBS News". CBS News. Archived from the original on July 20, 2026. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  158. ↑ "Muere un adolescente tras el derrumbe de una fuente en Ciudad Rodrigo en las celebraciones del Mundial". El Confidencial (in Spanish). July 20, 2026.
  159. ↑ "Celebraciones nocturnas por victoria de España dejan dos muertos y más de 80 heridos". La Jornada (in Spanish). July 20, 2026.
  160. ↑ Dhaliwal, Naveen; Kliger, Hannah; Ramos, Andrew (July 19, 2026). "Fans who couldn't score tickets to World Cup final in N.J. head to NYC watch parties". CBS News.
  161. ↑ George, Israel (July 29, 2026). "Españoles en CdMx celebran triunfo de España en la Copa Mundial 2026". La Afición (in Spanish). Milenio.
  162. ↑ Méndez, Arturo (July 19, 2026). "Festejaron en la capital: Miles de aficionados se reunieron en la Cibeles de la CDMX para celebrar el campeonato del mundo". ESTO (in Spanish). Organización Editorial Mexicana.
  163. ↑ "Represión, corridas y al menos 15 detenidos en el Obelisco tras los festejos por la Selección" (in Spanish).
  164. ↑ Cailer, Adam; Care, Adam; Davies, Ethan (July 20, 2026). "Fans riot in Argentina after World Cup defeat to Spain". Belfast Live. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  165. ↑ "Argentina fans throw stones at police in Buenos Aires after World Cup final loss". Channel News Asia. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  166. ↑ Smith, Emily (July 20, 2026). "Argentina fans hurl rocks at riot police after World Cup defeat". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  167. ↑ "Without Messi, Argentine team set for low-key homecoming". France24. July 20, 2026. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  168. ↑ "Argentina fans clash with police in Buenos Aires after World Cup final defeat". The Business Standard. July 20, 2026. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
  169. ↑ Naishadham, Suman (July 20, 2026). "Spain's World Cup champions return home for royal welcome and parade through Madrid". AP News. Archived from the original on July 20, 2026. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  170. ↑ Jones, Sam (July 20, 2026). "More than a million people expected at Spain's World Cup celebration in Madrid". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on July 20, 2026. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  171. ↑ France-Presse, Agence (July 20, 2026). "Spain's World Cup heroes return home ahead of victory parade". Courthouse News Service. Archived from the original on July 20, 2026. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  172. ↑ "Dos millones de personas reciben a la selección de España". dw.com (in Spanish). Retrieved July 21, 2026.
  173. ↑ Gosende, Ana; Vicedo, Paula (July 20, 2026). "Dos millones de personas inundan las calles de Madrid: "En 2030 la Copa volverá a ser nuestra"". El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved July 21, 2026.
  174. ↑ Pérez Díaz, Aaron; La Casa, Rafa (July 21, 2026). "Dos millones de personas honraron a los reyes del mundo: la Selección desborda Madrid en el recibimiento a los héroes". El Confidencial (in Spanish).

Reports

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