FIFA World Cup 2026 Final: Schedule, Teams, Venue & Results
Spain are world champions. Spain won the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final, beating Argentina 1-0 after extra time at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday, July 19, with Ferran Torres scoring the winner in the 106th minute.
It is Spain’s second world title after 2010, and it makes them the first nation to hold the men’s and women’s World Cups at the same time. Argentina fell one step short of becoming the first back to back champions since Brazil in 1962.
This page has the full result and key moments, how both finalists got there, the halftime show, and the records this final set.
Quick facts about the World Cup 2026 final:
| Result | Spain 1-0 Argentina (after extra time) |
| Winning goal | Ferran Torres, 106th minute |
| Date | Sunday, July 19, 2026 |
| Venue | MetLife Stadium (New York New Jersey Stadium), East Rutherford, NJ |
| Match | M104, the 104th and final match of the tournament |
| Referee | Slavko Vinčić (Slovenia) |
| Halftime show | Madonna, Shakira, BTS, Justin Bieber and Burna Boy, curated by Chris Martin |
| Golden Ball | Rodri (Spain) |
| Golden Boot | Kylian Mbappé, 10 goals |
Last updated: July 19, 2026, after the final
FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Result: Spain 1-0 Argentina
After 90 scoreless minutes, Ferran Torres settled the final with a thunderous finish in the 106th minute. Spain’s possession game smothered the defending champions, who managed just two shots in 120 minutes with none on target, and Rodri controlled the midfield to keep Lionel Messi away from dangerous areas.
| Match | Date | Result | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| M104 | Sun, Jul 19 | Spain 1-0 Argentina (AET) | Spain are world champions |
The night carried plenty of history beyond the trophy. Spain now hold the men’s and women’s World Cups at the same time, a first for any nation. Enzo Fernández was sent off late, only the sixth red card in a World Cup final, and Messi, 39, finished what is likely his last World Cup with eight goals and four assists.
The individual awards underlined Spain’s dominance. Rodri won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player, Unai Simón claimed the Golden Glove after a record 650 consecutive minutes without conceding, Pau Cubarsí was named Best Young Player, and Ferran Torres was Man of the Match in the final. Kylian Mbappé won a second straight Golden Boot with 10 goals and became the World Cup’s all time leading scorer with 22 career goals.
In the third place match, England beat France 6-4 in a ten goal thriller at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on July 18. Bukayo Saka scored a hat trick, with Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa and Jude Bellingham also on target, while Mbappé struck twice in defeat. England take the bronze medals.
For every result of the tournament, see the World Cup 2026 schedule.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Teams: How Spain and Argentina Got There
Spain reached the final with a 2-0 win over France at AT&T Stadium near Dallas on July 14. Mikel Oyarzabal converted a first half penalty won by Lamine Yamal, and Pedro Porro finished a quick exchange with Dani Olmo in the 58th minute. The European champions conceded just one goal in the entire tournament, and their knockout run reads Austria 3-0, Portugal 1-0, Belgium 2-1 and France 2-0.
Argentina arrived with another late comeback in Atlanta on July 15. Anthony Gordon put England ahead in the 55th minute, but Enzo Fernández leveled with an 85th minute strike from distance and Lautaro Martínez headed the winner in stoppage time, with Messi assisting both goals. Their knockout run reads Cape Verde 3-2, Egypt 3-2, Switzerland 3-1 and England 2-1.
The final also crowned a new generation. Lamine Yamal, at 19, became the first teenager to start in both a World Cup final and a European Championship final, and he leaves New Jersey a world champion.
You can revisit both semifinals on the World Cup 2026 semifinals page, or download a free printable blank bracket to keep as a souvenir of the tournament.
Where the World Cup 2026 Final Was Shown
In the United States, the final aired on FOX in English and on Telemundo in Spanish, with streaming on the FOX One and FOX Sports apps and Spanish coverage on Peacock. Replays and highlights are available on the same platforms.
Kickoff at 3:00 PM ET landed at 12:00 PM Pacific, 8:00 PM in London and 9:00 PM across much of Central Europe, prime time for Europe and afternoon viewing across the United States.
World Cup 2026 Final Halftime Show
The 2026 final staged the first live halftime show in World Cup history. Madonna, Shakira, BTS, Justin Bieber and Burna Boy headlined the 11 minute performance, curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin and produced with the nonprofit Global Citizen. Coldplay appeared alongside New York’s PS22 Chorus, conductor Gustavo Dudamel took part, and characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets joined the show.
The performance supported the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative aiming to raise 100 million US dollars to expand access to quality education and football for children worldwide.
World Cup 2026 Final Venue: MetLife Stadium
MetLife Stadium sits in East Rutherford, New Jersey, just west of New York City. FIFA renamed it New York New Jersey Stadium for the tournament under its stadium sponsorship rules, and it seated 82,500 for the World Cup.
This was the first World Cup final in the stadium’s history and the first on US soil since the Rose Bowl staged the 1994 final, and it ended with Spain lifting the trophy in New Jersey.
FAQ About the World Cup 2026 Final
Who won the World Cup 2026 final?
Spain won the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final, beating Argentina 1-0 after extra time at MetLife Stadium on July 19, 2026. Ferran Torres scored the only goal in the 106th minute. It is Spain’s second world title after 2010.
How did Spain reach the World Cup 2026 final?
Spain beat Austria 3-0, Portugal 1-0, Belgium 2-1 and France 2-0 in the knockout rounds, conceding just one goal in the entire tournament. They then beat Argentina 1-0 in the final to win their second world title.
How did Argentina reach the World Cup 2026 final?
Argentina beat Cape Verde 3-2, Egypt 3-2, Switzerland 3-1 and England 2-1 in the knockout rounds, coming from behind in several of those wins. In the final they fell 1-0 to Spain in extra time, one step short of becoming the first nation to retain the trophy since Brazil in 1962.
Who scored in the World Cup 2026 final?
Ferran Torres scored the only goal of the final, a powerful finish in the 106th minute of extra time. Argentina managed just two shots in 120 minutes, with none on target, as Spain won 1-0.
Who won the Golden Boot at the 2026 World Cup?
Kylian Mbappé won the Golden Boot with 10 goals, his second in a row, and became the World Cup’s all time leading scorer with 22 career goals. Lionel Messi finished with eight goals and four assists in what is likely his final World Cup.
Who won the Golden Ball at the 2026 World Cup?
Rodri of Spain won the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament. Unai Simón won the Golden Glove after a record 650 consecutive minutes without conceding, and Spain defender Pau Cubarsí was named Best Young Player.
Who was the referee for the World Cup 2026 final?
Slavko Vinčić of Slovenia refereed the final, the first Slovenian to take charge of a World Cup final, with Bastian Dankert of Germany on VAR. Jesús Valenzuela of Venezuela refereed the third place match, which England won 6-4 against France.
Who won the last World Cup final before 2026?
Argentina won the 2022 World Cup final, beating France on penalties after a 3-3 draw in Qatar. In 2026 they returned to the final as defending champions but lost 1-0 to Spain in extra time.
Had MetLife Stadium hosted a World Cup final before?
No. The 2026 final was the first World Cup final at MetLife Stadium and the first on US soil since the Rose Bowl staged the 1994 final. Spain lifted the trophy in front of 82,500 seats in New Jersey.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 Final gave the biggest World Cup ever a fitting ending: Spain 1-0 Argentina, decided by Ferran Torres in extra time at MetLife Stadium, with the first halftime show in tournament history along the way.
Spain leave as world champions for the second time, holders of both the men’s and women’s crowns, and the tournament closes with Rodri taking the Golden Ball, Mbappé the Golden Boot as the World Cup’s new all time leading scorer, and Messi what is likely his final World Cup bow.
