Spain have won the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating defending champions Argentina 3-2 following extra time in a dramatic final played at the New York New Jersey Stadium.
The victory secured Spain’s second World Cup title, 16 years after the European side claimed its maiden trophy in South Africa in 2010.
The Spanish team showed resilience throughout the encounter, combining attacking flair with defensive discipline to overcome an Argentine side determined to retain the trophy it won in Qatar four years ago.
Argentina had been aiming to become the first nation in more than 60 years to successfully defend the World Cup title.
However, Spain held firm and scored the decisive goal in extra time to seal the historic victory.
The result capped an impressive tournament for Spain, who emerged as one of the competition’s standout teams and reinforced their position among international football’s elite.
For Argentina, the defeat brought an end to their hopes of securing back-to-back World Cup titles, although reaching consecutive finals further demonstrated their consistency at the highest level.
The 2026 tournament was the first World Cup to feature 48 teams and was jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The expanded competition also produced a major milestone for African football, with Ghana reportedly becoming the first African country to reach the knockout stage of the enlarged tournament.
In the third-place playoff, England defeated France 6-4 in a high-scoring encounter to finish with the bronze medal.
Spain’s triumph is expected to trigger widespread celebrations across the country as the new world champions prepare to return home with the coveted trophy.
