Spain secured its second men’s World Cup title on Sunday, defeating defending champion Argentina 1-0 in extra time. Substitute Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute, capitalizing on a bouncing ball inside the penalty box with a left-footed strike under the crossbar.
The victory adds to Spain’s 2010 championship. Combined with the 2023 Women’s World Cup title, Spain is now the first nation to hold both the men’s and women’s World Cup trophies at the same time.
Spain set a tournament record by conceding only one goal across eight matches. Throughout the final, Spain maintained offensive control, recording the first 20 shots on goal of the match. Argentina did not register its first attempt until the second half of extra time. Spain also earned nine of the game’s first 10 corner kicks. Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez made 12 saves during the match, setting a record for a World Cup final.
With this result, Spain extended its unbeaten streak to 38 matches, consisting of 29 wins and nine draws. This surpasses Italy’s previous European record of 37 consecutive unbeaten matches set between 2018 and 2021.
Argentina played the final stretches of the match with 10 players. Midfielder Enzo Fernandez received a straight red card during second-half stoppage time following a tackle on Spanish defender Pau Cubarsi. Late in extra time, Argentina had an opportunity to equalize when a corner kick from Lionel Messi deflected toward reserve Giuliano Simeone, whose shot went over the crossbar.
At 65 years old, Luis de la Fuente became the oldest coach to win a World Cup title. Following the final whistle, Spanish players formed an honor guard for the Argentine squad as they walked to the stage to receive their runner-up medals.
The match concluded the largest World Cup in history, featuring 48 teams competing across venues in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The 104-match tournament produced more than 300 total goals, averaging nearly three per match.
The final was attended by a capacity crowd of 80,000 spectators, alongside numerous high-profile figures from entertainment and sports. It also featured the first-ever halftime show at a FIFA World Cup final.
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