European champions, Spain beat South American champions, Argentina 1-0 in the final to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the MetLife Stadium in New York New Jersey on Sunday night.
The only goal of the game was scored in the second half of extra-time by substitute, Ferran Torres when he was set up by fellow substitute, Nico Williams in the 106th minute.
Argentina were reduced to 10 in the 93rd minute when Enzo Fernandez was issued a second yellow card.
Although the game failed to live up to expectations as it descended into a war of attrition with several stoppages, Spain were deserved winners as they dominated possession with 67%, 20 shots at goal with 2 on target. Argentina had only 2 shots at goal with none on target.
Spain also dominated the individual awards with captain, Rodri voted the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
19-year-old defender, Pau Cubarsi emerged best young player while Unai Simon who only conceded one goal was voted goalkeeper of the tournament.
The only individual award not won by a Spaniard was the highest goal scorer which went to Kylian Mbappe with 10 goals.
The French captain became the first player to win the World Cup Golden Boot twice after earning the award for top scorer at Qatar 2022 with 8 goals.
The 27-year-old was the first man to reach double figures for World Cup goals since Gerd Muller for West Germany in 1970.
Only Just Fontaine, who hit 13 for France in 1958, and Hungary’s Sandor Kocsis with 11 in 1954, have scored more individual goals in a single tournament.
Mbappe is also now the men’s World Cup all-time top scorer with 22 goals, one ahead of Lionel Messi
Victory for Spain means they become the first nation ever to be men’s and women’s world champions at the same time.
Off the pitch, United States President Donald Trump flew in to New Jersey in one of a fleet of helicopters before kick-off, while Shakira, Burns Boy, Madonna and Justin Bieber performed in the first World Cup half-time show, stretching the interval out to 27 minutes.