EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., July 20 — Spain captured its second FIFA World Cup title in the early hours of Monday, defeating a 10-man Argentina 1-0 in a grueling extra-time final at MetLife Stadium before a crowd of 80,663 and an estimated global television audience of over 1.5 billion.
The decisive moment arrived in the 106th minute. After Ferran Torres saw a golden opportunity thwarted by Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez in the 67th minute, the forward finally broke the deadlock in extra time with a clinical finish following a swift counter-attack.
The match’s turning point occurred deep into second-half stoppage time when Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernández was shown a second yellow card, reducing the defending champions to 10 men for the entirety of extra time. Despite their numerical disadvantage, Argentina pressed for an equalizer, but the Spanish defense — marshaled with composure throughout the tournament — held firm to secure the 1-0 victory.
The triumph ends a 16-year drought for La Roja, whose only previous World Cup title was claimed in South Africa in 2010. For Argentina, the defeat is a bitter end to a campaign that saw them reach a second consecutive final after their 2022 victory in Qatar.
The 2026 tournament, the first to feature an expanded 48-team format hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, has set new benchmarks for the sport’s commercial footprint. According to preliminary estimates, the expanded 104-match format is projected to generate nearly $8.9 billion in total revenue, driven by approximately $3.9 billion in broadcasting rights and up to $2.8 billion in sponsorships. Furthermore, total ticketing and hospitality revenues for the entire tournament are expected to reach around $3 billion, reflecting unprecedented commercial demand across 16 host cities.
The final capped a month-long tournament that produced several historic runs, notably Morocco reaching the semi-finals and Japan advancing to the quarter-finals for the first time.
The next men’s World Cup is scheduled for 2030, featuring a unique multi-continent format spanning Spain, Portugal, Morocco, and three South American nations to mark the centenary of the tournament.
