The 2026 World Cup final, held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, went down in history as a triumph for Spanish football. The Spanish national team defeated Argentina 1-0, becoming world champions for the second time in their history. The decisive goal was scored in extra time, when Argentina was already playing with a man down.
Dominance of the 'Furia Roja' and Argentina's unresponsive performance
From the first minutes, the match was dictated by the Spaniards. The 'Furia Roja' confidently controlled the ball, applied aggressive pressing, and constantly forced the opponent into mistakes. The Argentines, known for their technique and experience, looked constrained that evening and failed to impose their style of play.
The match statistics speak for themselves: during the 90 minutes of regular time, the Argentine national team did not take a single shot on target at Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simón. Only after conceding a goal and having one of their players sent off were the 'Albiceleste' able to create a few chances in the opponent's box.
Key moments and the sending-off of Enzo Fernández
The first dangerous moment arose as early as the 5th minute: Dani Olmo cleverly turned in the center of the field and passed to Lamine Yamal, but his shot was confidently parried by Emiliano Martínez. Later, the game occasionally opened up, but it took almost until the end of the half for the next shot on goal. Spaniard Oyarzabal had an excellent chance following a defensive error by the Argentines, but failed to convert it.
In the second half, the situation hardly changed. Spain continued to dictate the rhythm, while Argentina tried to play the second fiddle. However, tension on the pitch grew. After the break, Leandro Paredes came on and soon received a yellow card. But the main disciplinary event was the sending-off of midfielder Enzo Fernández. First, he was warned for arguing with the referee, and then received a second yellow for a hard foul on Pau Cubarsí. The Argentines went into extra time with ten men.
Ferran Torres' decisive goal
In extra time, the pressure from the Spaniards did not subside. In the 106th minute, the efforts of the 'Furia Roja' were rewarded. Nico Williams made a precise through ball to Ferran Torres, and the striker beat Emiliano Martínez, sending the ball into the net. This goal proved to be the only and winning goal of the match.
In the final minutes, the Argentines managed to take several shots, including some on target, but they failed to score. The final whistle confirmed Spain's historic victory.
Show program and celebrities in the stands
The events surrounding the match also became a cause for media attention. Before the kick-off, the stadium was visited by world-class stars. Jennifer Hudson performed the US national anthem, while the official FIFA anthem was presented by a trio of Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger, and Laura Pausini. Hollywood actor Tom Cruise delivered an inspiring speech about football's ability to unite people.
During the half-time interval, a show lasting about 11 minutes took place, featuring Madonna (alongside Ronaldinho and Ronaldo), the group BTS, Justin Bieber, and Shakira. Nigerian musician Burna Boy, conductor Gustavo Dudamel, and the PS22 children's choir with the group Coldplay also appeared on stage. There were no shortages of characters from 'Sesame Street', 'The Muppets', and actors from the series 'Ted Lasso' — Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt.
Special media attention was paid to the appearance of US President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino in the stands. At one point, cameras showed the World Cup trophy being brought directly to Trump's seat.
