Spain vs. Argentina: Who Became the World Soccer Champion?
20 July 02:23
The 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina ended with a score of 1–0. The “Albiceleste” did not manage a single shot on goal against Unai Simón during regulation time. It was only after conceding a goal in extra time that Messi and company were able to create a few scoring chances. This was reported by Sport RBC.UA, as cited by "Komersant Ukrainian".
Spain vs. Argentina – 1–0 (in extra time)
Goal: Ferran Torres, 106.
Pre-match show
Before the opening whistle, world-class stars took the field at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Jennifer Hudson performed the U.S. national anthem. She was followed by a trio—Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger, and Laura Pausini—who performed the official FIFA anthem.
Finally, Hollywood actor Tom Cruise delivered an inspiring speech about the World Cup’s power to unite people. This was followed by live performances of the national anthems of Spain and Argentina—and then the stars of the evening took the field.
Spain in Control, but Few Chances
The Spaniards completely dominated the start of the match—”La Furia Roja” confidently controlled the ball, stunned their opponents with their pressing, and constantly forced the Argentines into mistakes.
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This control led to the first shot on goal—in the 5th minute, Olmo cleverly turned in the center of the field and set up a chance for Yamal. But Emiliano Martínez confidently saved Lamin’s shot.
After that, the game opened up temporarily, and both teams created their own chances thanks to pressure during transitions. However, the next shot on goal didn’t come until nearly the very end of the half—a defensive error by the Argentines put Oyarzabal in a scoring position, but he failed to convert.
Exciting events were unfolding not only on the field—at one point, the cameras showed the U.S. and FIFA presidents in the stands. And at that very moment, the World Cup trophy was brought to Donald Trump.
Mini-Super Bowl at Halftime
FIFA had announced the halftime show for the final in advance—it lasted about 11 minutes, just as promised. But during this break, Madonna (along with Ronaldinho and Ronaldo), BTS, Justin Bieber, and Shakira all took the stage.
In addition to these headliners, the stadium also hosted Nigerian musician Burna Boy, Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, and the PS22 children’s choir, featuring Coldplay. Characters from “Sesame Street” and “The Muppet Show” also made appearances here and there, as did actors Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt. They appeared in their roles from the soccer series “Ted Lasso.”
Enzo’s Self-Removal, Pressure from “La Furia Roja”
In the second half, the pattern of the match remained virtually unchanged—Spain controlled the ball and the game. The Argentine national team tried to play on the counter, but chances arose only near the Albiceleste’s goal.
But what’s worth noting is the gradual increase in fouls on the field. Leandro Paredes, who entered the game at halftime, ignited the action and received a yellow card just a few minutes later.
But it wasn’t him who saw the red card—it was Enzo Fernández. The Argentine midfielder received his first yellow card for arguing with the referee and his second for a hard foul on Pau Cubarsi. So, in the end, the Albiceleste entered extra time down a man.
Fateful Extra Time
During the extra 30 minutes, Spain’s pressure didn’t let up. And in the 106th minute, that pressure paid off—Nico Williams passed to Ferran Torres, and the “Furia Roja” forward beat Emiliano Martínez.
The Argentines managed to get off a few shots in the final minutes, including some on goal. But they were unable to score. And when the final whistle blew, it was official— Spain had become world champions for the second time in history!
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