World Cup 2026: Spain defeats Argentina!!!

Finally, Spain is World Champion after 16 years, beating Argentina 1-0 in extra time!…

Sixteen years after South Africa, in exactly the same way, Spain was crowned World Champion for the second time in its history. In 2010 it was Andrés Iniesta in the final against the Netherlands, who had redeemed the “Roja” in the 116th minute of extra time, in the early hours of July 20, 2026 Ferran Torres took the “baton” in the 106th minute of extra time (0-0 in the regular match) to send Luis De la Fuente’s team to the top of the world with a 1-0 victory over Argentina at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

The expulsion of Enzo Fernandez in the late stages of the final played a decisive role in its outcome. An Argentina that was permanently locked in its defense – especially in the second half – with zero final attempts, it was obvious that its goal was to send the match to extra time and then to penalties. Scaloni’s team did not succeed and fatally failed to make the back to back in the finals, after 2022 and the trophy it won in Qatar in the penalty shootout against France.

Lionel Messi ends his career with the National Team in this way, having won the precious trophy 4 years ago and completing the tournament as the second scorer with 8 goals behind Kylian Mbappe with 10 goals.

The first 45 minutes of the final were bad in terms of quality, with Spain trying more to attack and Argentina in a permanent defensive position looking for a counterattack. The two teams, however, generally avoided taking risks by guarding their backs more.

Two good moments occurred during this period, both for “Roja”. With Yamal in the first minutes being in a shooting position opposite Martinez, but his finish was not good. In the 38th minute, Oyarzabal’s shot from the semicircle of the area found E. Martinez ready.

“Roja”, as in the first half, was the team in the second that tried to develop more rationally and find the corridors to score, but this was not possible. The Argentine defense easily or, with difficulty, closed all the gaps and kept the score. Offensively, “Albiceleste” was completely… indifferent!

In the 64th minute, Martinez had a hard time saving Olmo’s shot for a corner, at a time when Spain were increasing their pressure, while three minutes later the Argentine goalkeeper blocked Torres’ close-range header. Martinez was again in the right position in the 77th minute when Kubarsi’s volley was deflected in.

The final caught fire in the 90’+3 when Vinčić showed Enzo Fernandez a second yellow card for a foul on Laporte. The Argentines protested strongly to the Slovenian referee not about whether it was a foul, but about the card the Chelsea ace received. VAR agreed with the “lord” of the final, and so Argentina entered extra time with a player less.

Although the second half was an attacking monologue by the Spaniards, Emiliano Martinez proved to be the “guardian angel” of the Argentine goal and on at least five occasions did not allow the Iberians to take the lead. Even in the 90’+7 he was there in the direct foul of Yamal, clearing the ball to a corner and immediately after that Vinčić whistled the end…

The extra half hour

A phase that will certainly be discussed occurred in the 97′. Nico Williams sent the ball into the net with a shot, but seconds earlier the Slovenian referee had whistled for an attacking foul by Merino on Otamendi, something that did not seem to be the case in all the replays shown on television. The goal, however, did not count…

Spain missed a huge opportunity in the 103rd minute with Merino unable to get a close header after a cross from Nico Williams.

Football… justice was served at the start of the second half of extra time. Nico Williams “headbutted” Ferran Torres and the Barcelona striker in the 106th minute “executed” Martinez (1-0), who this time could do absolutely nothing.

The Barça striker scored a second goal in the 115th minute, which did not count as it had started from offside.

Referee: Slavko Vinčić (Slovenia)
Yellows: L. Martínez, Paredes, Fernandes, Romero
Reds: 90’+3 Fernandes (second yellow).

Line-ups of the two teams:

SPAIN (Luis de la Fuente): Simon, Porro, Kubarsi, Laporte (99′ Eric Garcia), Cucurella, Rodri (99′ Thubimendi), Ruiz (62′ Pedri), Baena (75′ N. Williams), Olmo (75′ Merino), Yamal, Oyarzabal (62′ Ferran Torres).

ARGENTINA (Lionel Scaloni): E. Martinez, Montiel (58′ Molina), Romero (70′ Medina), L. Martinez (44′ l.tr. Otamendi), Tagliafico, De Paul (70′ Simeone), Fernandez, McAllister, N. Gonzalez (46′ Paredes), Alvarez (102′ Senesi), Messi.

Source: APE-MPE

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