Spain Win the 2026 FIFA World Cup: Ferran Torres Scores in Extra Time to Beat Argentina 1-0

Spain won the 2026 FIFA World Cup on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Ferran Torres came off the bench to score in the 106th minute, beating Emiliano Martinez with a half-volley from close range.

The final score was 1-0 after extra time. Argentina, the defending world champions, did not have a single shot in 90 minutes of play.

It is Spain’s second World Cup title, 16 years after Andres Iniesta scored in extra time against the Netherlands in 2010. Torres is only the second substitute to score the winning goal in a World Cup final after Germany’s Mario Gotze in 2014 — which also came against Argentina.

Match events

Full match stats: Spain vs Argentina

Argentina had zero shots in 90 minutes. That has never happened in a World Cup final.

Spain controlled the match from the first whistle. They had 66% possession, 20 shots and an xG of 1.94 before Torres scored. Argentina had 0.00 xG across the same 90 minutes. Their first shot of the entire match came from Messi in the 117th minute of extra time.

Argentina became the first team in World Cup final history not to attempt a single shot in 90 minutes.

Emiliano Martinez made 11 saves to keep them in the match — the most by any goalkeeper in a World Cup final since records began in 1966. His performance was the only reason the scoreline read 0-0 at half-time, full-time and into extra time.

Lisandro Martinez went off injured in the 44th minute after picking up a yellow card in the 41st. Argentina lost their best centre-back before half-time.

Otamendi came on. Facundo Medina replaced Cristian Romero in the 70th minute. Argentina used all three of their changes on defenders before the 70th minute while chasing the match with none of their outfield players.

Fernandez’s red card ended Argentina’s resistance before Torres ended the match

In the third minute of second-half stoppage time, with the match at 0-0, Enzo Fernandez made a reckless late challenge on Pau Cubarsi.

Fernandez already had a yellow card from the 82nd minute, given for dissent. Referee Slavko Vincic showed a second yellow and then red. Argentina went into extra time with ten men.

Fernandez is the sixth player sent off in a World Cup final. He is the third Argentine to receive a red card in a final, following Pedro Monzon and Gustavo Dezotti in 1990. That means Argentina players account for three of the six red cards in World Cup final history.

Spain almost scored through Nico Williams in extra time but the goal was ruled out — Mikel Merino fouled Nicolas Otamendi in the build-up. Then, 37 seconds into the second period of extra time, Pedro Porro crossed from the left.

Williams headed back across goal. Torres arrived and hammered a half-volley into the roof of the net. Emiliano Martinez had no chance.

Torres scored 44 days after turning 26. His only goal of the tournament won the World Cup.

Ferran Torres came on in the 62nd minute as a replacement for Oyarzabal. He had not scored once during the tournament before Sunday. His goal in the 106th minute was his third career World Cup strike and the only goal of the 2026 final.

Torres said after the match: “The goal belonged to 47 million people. It wasn’t just mine or the 26 players. Destiny was written, and it was meant for us to win far away from our people.”

He is only the second substitute to score the winning goal in a World Cup final. Mario Gotze did it in 2014 for Germany against Argentina in extra time. Both winning goals against Argentina in the last two finals came from substitutesL.

Lineups

Argentina had zero shots in 90 minutes. That has never happened in a World Cup final.

Spain controlled the match from the first whistle. They had 66% possession, 20 shots and an xG of 1.94 before Torres scored.

Argentina had 0.00 xG across the same 90 minutes. Their first shot of the entire match came from Messi in the 117th minute of extra time.

Argentina became the first team in World Cup final history not to attempt a single shot in 90 minutes. Emiliano Martinez made 11 saves to keep them in the match — the most by any goalkeeper in a World Cup final since records began in 1966. His performance was the only reason the scoreline read 0-0 at half-time, full-time and into extra time.

Lisandro Martinez went off injured in the 44th minute after picking up a yellow card in the 41st. Argentina lost their best centre-back before half-time. Otamendi came on. Facundo Medina replaced Cristian Romero in the 70th minute.

Argentina used all three of their changes on defenders before the 70th minute while chasing the match with none of their outfield players.

Fernandez’s red card ended Argentina’s resistance before Torres ended the match

In the third minute of second-half stoppage time, with the match at 0-0, Enzo Fernandez made a reckless late challenge on Pau Cubarsi.

Fernandez already had a yellow card from the 82nd minute, given for dissent. Referee Slavko Vincic showed a second yellow and then red. Argentina went into extra time with ten men.

Fernandez is the sixth player sent off in a World Cup final. He is the third Argentine to receive a red card in a final, following Pedro Monzon and Gustavo Dezotti in 1990. That means Argentina players account for three of the six red cards in World Cup final history.

Spain almost scored through Nico Williams in extra time but the goal was ruled out — Mikel Merino fouled Nicolas Otamendi in the build-up. Then, 37 seconds into the second period of extra time, Pedro Porro crossed from the left.

Williams headed back across goal. Torres arrived and hammered a half-volley into the roof of the net. Emiliano Martinez had no chance.

Torres scored 44 days after turning 26. His only goal of the tournament won the World Cup.

Ferran Torres came on in the 62nd minute as a replacement for Oyarzabal. He had not scored once during the tournament before Sunday. His goal in the 106th minute was his third career World Cup strike and the only goal of the 2026 final.

Torres said after the match: “The goal belonged to 47 million people. It wasn’t just mine or the 26 players. Destiny was written, and it was meant for us to win far away from our people.”

He is only the second substitute to score the winning goal in a World Cup final. Mario Gotze did it in 2014 for Germany against Argentina in extra time. Both winning goals against Argentina in the last two finals came from substitutes.

Tournament awards

Spain’s records from this World Cup

Messi’s World Cup career ends with Golden Boot but no third title

Lionel Messi finished the 2026 World Cup with 8 goals and 4 assists — 12 goal involvements in total. He won the Golden Boot on goal tally, leading Mbappe on the tiebreaker of assists (4 to 3). He is 39 years old. He played 120 minutes in the final and had Argentina’s first shot of the match in the 117th minute.

Messi has now appeared in three World Cup finals (2014, 2022, 2026). He won one. He scored 21 World Cup goals across his career — the all-time record. He will turn 43 in 2030. Whether he appears at a fourth World Cup is a question only he can answer.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said: “They were the better side — that’s the truth. We have to place immense value on this, because it takes so much effort.”

All-time Football World Cup winners list

Honest Verdict

The scoreline says 1-0 after extra time. The match said 1-0 after 10 minutes. Spain had 1.94 xG. Argentina had 0.00 in 90 minutes. Emi Martinez made 11 saves to keep Argentina in a match they had no right to still be in at full time. The Fernandez red card did not change the outcome. It changed when the outcome arrived. Spain were going to win this. The only question was whether Martinez could hold out for 120 minutes. He could not hold out for 106. Torres’s goal was deserved, correct and inevitable.

FAQs

Who won the FIFA World Cup 2026?

Spain won the FIFA World Cup 2026 by beating Argentina 1-0 after extra time on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Ferran Torres scored the only goal in the 106th minute. It is Spain’s second World Cup title after 2010.

Who scored in the Spain vs Argentina World Cup 2026 final?

Ferran Torres scored Spain’s winning goal in the 106th minute of extra time. Torres came on as a substitute in the 62nd minute. Nico Williams provided the assist with a header across goal from a Pedro Porro cross. It was Torres’s only goal of the entire tournament.

Why was Enzo Fernandez sent off in the World Cup 2026 final?

Enzo Fernandez received two yellow cards in the World Cup 2026 final. His first came in the 82nd minute for dissent. His second came in the 90th+3 minute for a reckless foul on Pau Cubarsi. He became only the third Argentine player sent off in a World Cup final, following Pedro Monzon and Gustavo Dezotti in 1990.

Who won the Golden Ball at the FIFA World Cup 2026?

Lamine Yamal of Spain won the Golden Ball as the best player at the 2026 World Cup. Yamal was 19 years and 6 days old in the final, making him the third-youngest player to appear in a World Cup final after Pele in 1958 and Giuseppe Bergomi in 1982.

How many times has Spain won the World Cup?

Spain have won the World Cup twice — in 2010 and 2026. Both finals were decided by a single goal in extra time. Andres Iniesta scored the winner in 2010 against the Netherlands. Ferran Torres scored the winner in 2026 against Argentina.

Where can Pakistan fans watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 final highlights?

Pakistan fans can watch FIFA World Cup 2026 final highlights and replays on Tapmad, which holds official FIFA broadcasting rights in Pakistan. The app supports mobile and low-data viewing for 4G users.