Spain tops Argentina in extra time to win 2026 World Cup

Spain defeated defending champion Argentina 1-0 after extra time on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Substitute striker Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute, earning Spain its second men’s World Cup title, capping off the first World Cup to feature 48 teams and be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. 

The final was a tense defensive battle for more than 100 minutes. Spain spent much of the match with the ball, moving it around while looking for a way through Argentina’s defense. The defending champion Argentina hoped to become the first nation to win the World Cup consecutively since Brazil in 1962. The team defended well behind a tournament-record 11 saves from goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez but struggled to create many scoring chances as the match remained scoreless through regulation.

Spain finally broke through in the second half of extra time. After a cross into the box, winger Nico Williams headed the ball to Torres, who calmly finished from close range to give Spain the lead. Argentina pushed for a late equalizer, but Spain’s back line held strong. 

Spain was one of the tournament’s most consistent teams from start to finish. Midfielder Rodrigo Hernández Cascante was named the tournament’s best player after anchoring Spain’s midfield, while goalkeeper Unai Simón earned the Golden Glove Award for his performance throughout the competition. The victory also made Spain the first nation to hold both the men’s and women’s FIFA World Cup titles at the same time. 

For Argentina, the loss was a disappointing end to their title defense. Captain Lionel Messi and Argentina entered the tournament hoping to win back-to-back World Cups after raising the trophy in 2022. Instead, they fell one win short. Despite the loss, Argentina showed that they haven’t lost a step. 

Although the championship was decided on the opposite coast, UC Santa Barbara had a role to play in connection to this summer’s World Cup. Austria chose Harder Stadium as their training base before opening group play, giving Gauchos and local soccer fans a chance to watch a World Cup team prepare just weeks before the tournament began. Although their run ended in the Round of 32 against the eventual champion Spain, Austria’s time at UCSB gave the university a unique place in this year’s World Cup.