Spain are champions of the world for the second time. Ferran Torres’ extra-time goal settled the 2026 final in New Jersey on July 19, beating Argentina 1–0 and denying Lionel Messi’s Argentina a fourth star. It ends a 16-year wait since Spain’s first triumph in South Africa in 2010, and lifts La Roja level with France (1998, 2018) and Uruguay (1930, 1950) on two titles apiece.
The win caps a remarkable record of efficiency on the biggest stage. This was Spain’s 17th World Cup out of 23 editions, yet only their second final, and they have now won both, each by the same scoreline: 1–0 in extra time, against the Netherlands in 2010 and Argentina in 2026. For most of their history that pedigree looked unlikely; before 2010, Spain’s best finish was fourth place at the 1950 tournament in Brazil, and they had made a habit of quarter-final exits. There is also a broader crown to note: having beaten France in the semi-final, Spain arrived at the trophy as reigning European champions from Euro 2024, making them one of the few nations ever to hold the continental and world titles at the same time, a double they themselves last completed between 2010 and 2012. And as only the second European side to win a World Cup staged in the Americas, after Germany in 2014, they have broken one of the tournament’s oldest patterns of home-continent advantage.