Fierce Argentina offer lesson in humility as Spain claim 2026 World Cup title
By Samindra Kunti in New Jersey
July 20 – After a tense battle and extra time, Spain won their second World Cup defeating ten-man Argentina 1-0 following a Ferran Torres strike in the 106th minute.
Spain became the first team to hold the European, Olympic and World titles, cementing its dominance over the modern, possession-based game. The European champions had to dig deep to knock out the 2022 world champions in a spectacular final.
At the sun-drenched MetLife Stadium, there was one last time to take it all in – the good, the bad and the prowess of Spain at this World Cup with a whopping 48 teams dividing the field, making FIFA and the world finals a strange geopolitical juggernaut.
Fans and media lined up for hours outside to clear the secret service checkpoints. Minutes before kick-off US president Donald Trump, accompanied by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, took their seats before Tom Cruise emphasized the bonds of friendship made during the tournament. Cruise intended to deliver a rousing speech but fell flat. Repeating FIFA’s slogan, he said: “Football is a force that unites people.”
With FIFA’s emphasis on entertainment and showbiz, the final started six minutes later.
The showcase event had star power with Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal, but it didn’t live up to its billing.
Instead, it was the worst World Cup final in recent memory, surpassing the 2010 final when Andreas Iniesta won it in extra time for Spain and the 1994 final when Brazil and Italy dragged themselves agonizingly to penalties at the Rose Bowl.
In New Jersey, Spain was improving and playing the game as it should have been. Nevertheless, it was a defensive master class from the Spanish, keeping a clean sheet throughout the match and conceding just ten shots in the entire tournament.
Spain were rarely happy, they missed the guidance that Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal gave you at Euro 2024, but they were still leading the tournament.
Their opponents, Argentina, did not fare well in the finals. They began to destroy and disrupt. The unique styles led to a fighting battle, full of Argentine sportsmanship. The display of provocation, impersonation and foul play ended with a second yellow card and the dismissal of Enzo Fernandez for shouting at Pau Cubarsi and putting him in a full 360º competition, in the 93rd minute.
It took referee Slavko Vincic until the 40th minute to book the Argentinian after Lisandro Martinez fouled Mikel Oyarzabal. Before that the half was a procession of late strikers and off-the-ball shoving, badges and elbows that have been the hallmark of Argentina’s World Cup. Once again the VAR was nowhere to be seen.
The end of the second quarter marked the first time show in World Cup history and FIFA’s attempt to emulate the Super Bowl – nothing sacred. The organizers brought out a galaxy of stars, including BTS, Madonna, Shakira and Justin Bieber, and the result was a 27-minute break in the game rather than the usual – and legal – 15 minutes European teams are fined if they extend the pitch for late arrivals.
In the second half the defending champions were on the back foot with the ball and on the front foot with their threatening efforts. On the wing, Lamine Yamal proved to be active, but chances are coming up. Substitutes Ferran Torres and Nico Williams added more urgency and threatened the title with a long-range effort.
In extra time, Spain saw more goals – Williams’ goal was disallowed due to offside when Martin Zubamendi’s header went wide.
In contrast, Argentina talisman Lionel Messi sat around as the lead looked powerless, but his side were not out of it. One flash of intelligence was all they needed. That moment of salvation never came. This time, Argentina did not pull off a big win.
Instead, it was Spain who won their second World Cup when Torres volleyed the ball past him after Williams played him in in the 106th minute. The strike was similar to Iniesta’s goal in 2010: the importance, the timing and the strike of the opponent.
The Spaniards were not as strong as in Euro 2024, but they strengthened their record. In less than two decades, they have won Euro 2008, 2012 and 2024 and the World Cup in 2010 and 2026.
After the match, the Fifa boss, Gianni Infantino, and US President Donald Trump, were applauded before the presentation of the trophy. Infantino then dragged Trump to the side of the stage – not unlike a carer shepherding an elderly man with dementia – to give Spain space to celebrate their victory. It was another disjointed moment and perhaps a fitting end to the World Cup in Magaland.
Contact the author of this story at [email protected]. All photos by Stephen Gormley
