Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in extra time to win World Cup for second time
Spain Sunday night won their second World Cup title after defeating 10-man Argentina 1-0 in extra time at the New York, New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Substitute Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 105th minute, capitalizing on a headed pass from Nico Williams.
Argentina played with a man down after midfielder Enzo Fernández was sent off in stoppage time at the end of regular time.
Ferran Torres’ clinical finish in the extra period ended a tightly contested final, giving Luis de la Fuente’s Roja their first World Cup triumph since 2010 and completing a historic Euro-World Cup double.
Spain dominated the game and created more chances than the defending champions, but Argentine goalkeeper, Emiliano Martínez made some beautiful saves to deny Spain an early goal
The deadlock was finally broken in extra time when Nico Williams’ intelligent header found Ferran Torres perfectly positioned to strike a clinical finish past Martinez, giving Spain the breakthrough they had been seeking throughout the final encounter.
The victory represents a remarkable achievement for Spain under Luis de la Fuente, who guided the European champions to complete the Euro 2024 and World Cup 2026 double; a feat not accomplished since Spain’s golden generation in 2008-2010.
Argentina’s bid to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to win the World Cup back-to-back Cups fell short in a World Cup final that demonstrated the evolving nature of modern tournament football.
While Lionel Messi’s quest for a second World Cup crown ended in heartbreak, Spain’s triumph sends them into football history as worthy successors to their illustrious predecessors.
