History was made on Sunday night as Spain and Argentina met in what turned out to be a rather turgid World Cup 2026 final. Spain were the dominant team throughout but needed an extra-time goal from Ferran Torres to find a breakthrough.
As such, La Roja become the first nation to ever complete a Euros and World Cup double on two separate occasions, following up their win over England in the European Championships final two years ago.
Argentina, the reigning world champions, were reduced to ten men in the last minute of normal time when Enzo Fernandez was given his marching orders for two bookable offences and Torres made them pay. Follow Spain vs Argentina back below with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog, with expert analysis from Dom Smith at the New York/New Jersey Stadium.
Spain vs Argentina latest news
- Rodri lifts World Cup trophy
- Spain win the World Cup
- GOAL! Torres breaks deadlock in extra-time
- NO GOAL! Williams effort does not stand
- RED CARD! Enzo Fernandez sent-off
Dom Smith at New York/New Jersey Stadium
00:07 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
"A deserved victory."
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) July 19, 2026
🗣️@MrDomSmith reacts to #Spain beating #Argentina in the #FIFAWorldCup final.#ESPARG pic.twitter.com/pvvNUxpBRz
23:51 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Spain are champions of the world 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/wGNmY2KIx8
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 19, 2026
The crowning moment
23:46 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Rodri lifts the World Cup
23:44 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
No interference from Donald Trump this time as Rodri lifts the World Cup.
Spain 1-0 Argentina
23:38 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
The Spain players are going up in number order to collect their winner’s medals.
Spain 1-0 Argentina
23:37 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Argentina players, lead by a tearful Lionel Messi, pick up their runners-up medals.
The 2022 winners simply did not turn up today, not helped by Enzo Fernandez’s red card either.
Player of the tournament...Rodri!
23:34 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
It’s a clean sweep for Spain as Rodri wins the Golden Ball.
Back to his best!
Golden Glove award
23:33 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Unai Simon wins it. He’s conceded just one goal all tournament.
Didn’t have much to do tonight.
Cubarsi picks up award
23:32 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Time for some awards before we get to the World Cup trophy presentation.
Young Player of the Tournament goes to Pau Cubarsi.
Spain 1-0 Argentina
23:28 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Infantino and Donald Trump are booed as they make their way out.
The US president will be presenting the World Cup trophy.
Spain 1-0 Argentina
23:27 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
The World Cup ceremony is about to begin.
The winning moment...
23:17 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Spain win the World Cup after conceding just one goal all tournament 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/8swmERdMAn
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 19, 2026
Double blow for Messi
23:14 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
No second World Cup for Lionel Messi and he’s also missed out on the Golden Boot award.
That winning goal...
23:10 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
SPAIN HAVE THE BREAKTHROUGH! 🇪🇸
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 19, 2026
Spain have toiled and toiled but Ferran Torres finally gets them ahead against Argentina in the World Cup final! pic.twitter.com/7UBOS3Yled
Spain 1-0 Argentina
23:09 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Leandro Paredes kicked off in the middle of the pitch after the final whistle.
Spain 1-0 Argentina
23:07 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Ferran Torres hit an extra-time winner as Spain beat Argentina 1-0 to win the World Cup.
The European champions won their second world title - a first since 2010 - with victory in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Lionel Messi was eyeing a second World Cup triumph of his career at 39 years of age, but he was denied as the holders, down to ten men after Enzo Fernandez’s red card, were beaten in extra time.
Spain 1-0 Argentina
23:03 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Ugly scenes at the full-time whistle, Argentina players not taking the loss well at all.
FULL-TIME
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SPAIN WIN THE WORLD CUP!
Spain 1-0 Argentina
23:01 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
120+3 min: Simon comes to claim a free-kick and that will ease the pressure for Spain. Just have to keep the ball and the World Cup trophy is theirs.
Spain 1-0 Argentina
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120+1 min: CHANCE!
Messi’s corner is cleared as far as Simeone but he shoots over.
Spain 1-0 Argentina
22:57 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
120 min: Superb defending from Spain to stop a sure-fire equaliser.
FIVE ADDITIONAL MINUTES AS PANIC SETS IN THE SPAIN DEFENCE.
Spain 1-0 Argentina
22:56 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
119 min: Merino is back up on his feet and fine to carry on. Argentina are pushing forward now, can they strike late and take this game to penalties?
Spain 1-0 Argentina
22:54 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
117 min: WHAT ON EARTH?!?
Superb play from Williams to get away from Molina then he messes up the next action. Not sure what he was attempting there.
Merino then puts his head on the line, literally, taking Messi’s effort right on the forehead.
Spain 1-0 Argentina
22:52 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
115 min: Messi gets too much on a whipped cross, though Unai Simon has to keep an eye on the ball as it lands on the top of his net.
NO GOAL!
22:50 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
113 min: Spain with a goal to protect are probably the last team you want to face as they keep the ball so well and Torres thinks he’s scored a second but he is caught offside...just.
Spain 1-0 Argentina
22:48 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
110 min: Mac Allister booked as things become rather desperate for Argentina. They need a goal to have any hope of defending their crown.
Dom Smith at New York/New Jersey Stadium
22:45 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Lift-off at long last. Argentina are down and deflated. Spain have scored the goal they believe can win them their second World Cup in 16 years.
GOAL! Spain 1-0 Argentina | Ferran Torres ‘106
22:44 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
106 min: SPAIN LEAD!
Finally a goal, Ferran Torres finds a way through for Spain in extra-time, fine strike after a knock down from Nico Williams.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:42 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
106 min: Back underway. We are heading towards a penalty shootout, unless someone can grab this game by the scruff of the neck.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:39 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Half-time in extra-time, and it’s still goalless.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:38 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
105+1 min: Argentinian supporters are making noise, clearly seeing some encouragement from the players having been dominated by Spain for large periods.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:33 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
102 min: CHANCE!
Great ball in by Williams, Merino shakes off his marker but heads wide. You were expecting him to score.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:32 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
102 min: Yamal tries to bend an effort into the far corner but he gets it all wrong.
Argentina respond with a defensive change as Senesi takes over from Alvarez.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:29 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
98 min: Double change for Spain as Zubimendi and Garcia replace Rodri and Laporte.
NO GOAL!
22:27 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
96 min: Williams has the ball in the net, but the goal is not going to count.
Foul spotted by Merino, that’s soft!
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:25 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
It has just flashed up on the big screen that Spain have had 16 attempts on goal. Argentina: zero.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:25 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
94 min: Spain with 16 attempts to Argentina’s zero.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:24 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
93 min: Williams gets on the end of Pedri’s lovely clipped cross but can’t make good contact with the ball and Martinez makes the save.
KICK-OFF!
22:21 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Underway in the first period of extra-time.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:16 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
There goes the whistle to signal extra-time.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:15 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
90+8 min: Yamal takes but Martinez flings himself across his goal to make the save.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:14 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
90+6 min: Torres draws a foul from Paredes - also on a yellow card - and Spain have a free-kick in a very dangerous position. It favours Porro, this could be the final kick of the World Cup final...
Dom Smith at New York/New Jersey Stadium
22:12 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Well then... might that change things! It's an awful tackle from Fernandez that could, from a stricter ref, have been a straight red. Makes no odds though because the Chelsea man is off. Argentina are down to ten men and Spain will fancy their chances now, even if it means extra time.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:11 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
90+4 min: RED CARD!
Enzo Fernandez sent-off for a second bookable offence. Really daft tackle to make when already on a yellow card and so close to extra-time.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:10 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
90+3 min: Chances at both ends as Simeone’s cross is poor before Williams shoots straight at Martinez on the break.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:08 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
90+1 min: Into four minutes of stoppage time and Messi is fouled. Free-kick is well away from goal, but it’s a chance to send the defenders up.
Dom Smith at New York/New Jersey Stadium
22:07 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Spain are definitely probing now as we approach stoppage time. What is it with American World Cup finals? The last one, in 1994, was the only final that ended 0-0.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:07 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
89 min: Rodri with time and space, but the Spain captain unleashes an effort that is high and wide.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:04 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
87 min: Merino lifts a ball into Torres and he swivels and shoots, but can’t wrap his foot around the ball and Martinez watches the effort drift wide.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:03 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
85 min: Argentina still have not managed a single shot.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:00 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
82 min: Fernandez earns himself a booking for dissent. He wanted a foul, referee said no and his reaction puts him in trouble.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:58 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
81 min: Pedri and Williams combine, the latter gets to the byline and manages to stand up a cross to the back post for Laporte who heads straight at Martinez.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:57 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
80 min: It’s all Spain at this point as Porro wins yet another corner.
Dom Smith at New York/New Jersey Stadium
21:55 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Plenty of substitutions and yet not much change in terms of the rhythm of the game yet. We really need a mistake or a moment of inspiration to blow this World Cup final wide open.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:54 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
77 min: Pedri gets a shot way but he was being shoved in the back by Alvarez. He wonders why he’s not won a free-kick.
Double save from Martinez follows and then Spain win a corner.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:52 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
75 min: Baena and Olmo make way for Williams and Merino.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:50 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
73 min: Argentina to commit bodies forward, but Simeone’s cross is really poor. Not a good first impression after coming on.
Wayne Rooney issues damning verdict of World Cup final half-time show
21:50 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Wayne Rooney issued a damning verdict of the World Cup final half-time show after the star-studded spectacle in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Stars of showbusiness took to the MetLife Stadium pitch at the interval of Spain vs Argentina, with the score goalless at the break.
It prompted the much-talked about half-time show, which saw the likes of Madonna, Burna Boy, Shakira, Justin Bieber and The Muppets all feature, under the guidance and composition of Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:48 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
70 min: Back from the hydration break and Romero and De Paul are replaced by Medina and Simeone. I make that five Argentina changes now.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:44 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
67 min: Martinez gets the call from Tagliafico to leave a cross, only for the Argentina defender to concede a corner. Lamine Yamal’s first cross is poor, but his second cross finds Ferran Torres who heads straight at Martinez.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:42 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
65 min: Vital touch from Paredes to head Yamal’s dangerous cross away before Martinez flaps at another cross which he manages to get away with.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:41 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
64 min: Martinez with a scary moment as he spills Olmo’s shot and concedes a corner. Argentina fortunate to get away with a couple of fouls on Baena and Pedri there.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:39 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
61 min: Yamal strikes his free-kick right into the Argentina wall and that’s followed by fine work from Alvarez to win a throw-in.
Double change for Spain sees Ferran Torres and Pedri replace Oyarzabal and Fabian.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:37 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
60 min: Paredes, already on a yellow card, clips the left leg of Porro and Spain have a free-kick in a dangerous position. Lamine Yamal grabs the ball, is this the moment to spark this World Cup final into life?
Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:35 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
58 min: That defensive block was Montiel’s final action of the game as he is replaced by Molina. Straight swap at right-back, could say the latter offers a bit more going forward.
Dom Smith at New York/New Jersey Stadium
21:34 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Serious work ethic from Montiel to get first to Olmo's pull-back in order to deny Cucurella a shot on goal.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:34 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
56 min: Superb defending from Montiel as he tracks Cucurella onto the penalty spot and gets in front of the Spain defender to clear Olmo’s cut-back for a corner.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:33 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
55 min: Spain cut through Argentina with two passes, but they try to walk the ball in the net and lose the chance. Fabian tried to lay the ball back for Oyarzabal but Argentina got enough bodies back.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:30 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
52 min: Bit of commotion between both sets of players as Paredes shoves Rodri down off the ball, he does the same to Olmo which earns him a yellow card.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:28 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
51 min: Late tackle from Baena on Montiel draws a scream from the Argentina defender. Replays showed there wasn’t much in that, certainly no reason for all the drama.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:26 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
49 min: Looks like Scaloni is readying two more Argentina changes.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:23 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
46 min: Paredes is on for Gonzalez at the break as Baena tests Martinez with a sighter after sloppy play from Argentina,
KICK-OFF!
21:22 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Back underway in New Jersey.
Rooney verdict on half-time show
21:19 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
“I thought it was crap.”
Wayne Rooney not a fan of the 11-minute show, then.
Dom Smith at New York/New Jersey Stadium
21:15 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
This has been the strangest half-time I've experienced in a long time, probably since the Chelsea fans celebrating an eight-year-old Fulham fan missing a penalty at Craven Cottage during the interval.
World Cup half-time show LIVE
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Fireworks to signal the end of the half-time show.
That was, well...something.
World Cup half-time show LIVE
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Shakira and Burna Boy are performing the anthem they co-wrote for this World Cup.
World Cup half-time show LIVE
21:10 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Justin Bieber’s performance has gone down well amongst the crowd, but here comes Shakira.
World Cup half-time show
21:04 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Ronaldinho and Ronaldo with an appearance there!
Get them on the pitch to liven the game up, I say.
Manchester United dealt major injury blow
21:03 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Manchester United have been dealt a huge injury blow as Lisandro Martinez hobbled off in the World Cup final.
The Argentina defender was forced off in the first half at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, as he and his side faced Spain.
Martinez had just been booked for a foul on Mikel Oyarzabal, crunching through the back of the Spanish centre-forward, but the centre-back went down following the challenge.
Dom Smith at New York/New Jersey Stadium
21:01 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Not been vintage stuff, has it! Think we all knew it would be tight and cagey but this taken things to an extreme.
It hasn't been hugely inspiring. Yet...
Half-time show
20:59 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Don’t go anywhere, the World Cup half-time show is on the way...
HALF-TIME
20:56 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Spain 0-0 Argentina
It's the game many expected, Spain the better team but nothing to show for it.
Lionel Messi subdued, Lamine Yamal lively.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
20:54 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
45+3 min: Messi tracking back. Yes, you read that correctly!
Defensive work form the Argentina captain to help win the ball back before drawing a foul from Oyarzabal.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
20:51 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
45 min: Into four minutes of stoppage time.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
20:49 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
43 min: Cucurella takes aim from range but Martinez watches the ball go wide. Argentina goalkeeper had his angles covered.
Worry for the holders as Martinez signals that Lisandro Martinez needs to go off. Otamendi ready to come on.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
20:47 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
41 min: Lisandro Martinez into the book for a tackle on Mikel Oyarzabal from behind.
Dom Smith at New York/New Jersey Stadium
20:46 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
That was a chance, you know! Oyarzabal had enough time there that he will be frustrated at himself for firing so close to Martinez's midriff.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
20:45 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
39 min: Spain beginning to turn the screw as Mikel Oyarzabal is denied by Emiliano Martinez.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
20:44 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
38 min: Defending for Argentina to do, they deal with the Spain danger but they are having major issues getting out.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
20:39 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
33 min: Chance for Argentina to send up their defenders for a free-kick which is played short and then possession is lost. Wasted venture for Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez that.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
20:35 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
29 min: Wonderful play from Yamal as he turns Tagliafico on the touchline and the Argentina left-back is left with no other choice but to bring down the youngster.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
20:33 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
27 min: On we go with the first half, perhaps the hydration break will spark this game into life.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
20:30 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
24 min: Messi tries to wriggle his way past two Spain players but is pulled back. Argentina have a free-kick but it will not be taken until after the first hydration break of the World Cup final.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
20:27 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
21 min: The image the world was waiting for.
Dom Smith at New York/New Jersey Stadium
20:25 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Well it's been a pretty physical battle out there so far! Each challenge has seemed robust at the very least.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
20:24 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
18 min: Good defending from Porro just as it looked like Gonzalez had the beating of the Spain right-back.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
20:23 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
17 min: Really good clip into the box from De Paul, just couldn’t pick out Gonzalez round the back. At the other end, Yamal produces a sublime first touch before sending in a teasing low cross which Martinez claims.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
20:21 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
15 min: Mac Allister with a crunching tackle on Olmo, leaving the Spain midfielder in a heap on the floor. No yellow card produced as the Argentina No20 gets away with just a warning.
This is bubbling up nicely.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
20:18 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
12 min: Baena’s corner is a deep one and it finds Olmo at the back post, but Romero is quick to close down the midfielder’s first touch.
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