It was the inaugural encounter between the top two FIFA-ranked teams in a World Cup match in history.
The FIFA World Cup 2026™ concluded this past Sunday with an exhilarating final, as Spain secured their second FIFA World Cup™ title following a 1-0 victory over Argentina.
Spain’s second-ever FIFA World Cup championship.
There were a total of 308 goals scored during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with only one goal conceded by Spain.
Held at the vibrant New York-New Jersey Stadium, La Roja made history as the winners of the inaugural 48-team, 104-match FIFA World Cup.
With the teams tied at 0-0 after 90 minutes, attacker Ferran Torres scored the only goal of the match in the 106th minute, securing the title for Spain. This victory makes Spain the first nation to hold both the FIFA World Cup and FIFA Women’s World Cup™ trophies simultaneously.
It is the third time in the last four World Cup finals that Argentina has finished as the runner-up.
Throughout the first seven games of the tournament, Argentina scored a total of 19 goals, the highest among all participating nations. In this match, it was the fourth time since 1966 that a team did not record a shot on target in the final, and this was the third time Argentina experienced this occurrence.
Spain conceded the fewest goals by a champion over an eight-game span, with only one goal allowed.
Spain achieved seven shutouts, the highest number in a single World Cup tournament to date.
Lionel Messi now has a record of one victory and two appearances in FIFA World Cup finals.
The highly anticipated final also featured the FIFA World Cup Topps Final Halftime Show—a significant celebration that combined elements of sport, music, and global cultural impact. Produced by Global Citizen, the Chris Martin-curated FIFA World Cup 2026 Topps Final Halftime Show was co-headlined by Madonna, Shakira, BTS, and Justin Bieber. Additional performers included Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, the New York Philharmonic, and the PS 22 Chorus, alongside Coldplay.
Following Sunday’s final, the official award recipients for the tournament were announced. Spain led the accolades, with Rodri receiving the adidas Golden Ball Award, Unai Simón being honored with the adidas Golden Glove Award, and Pau Cubarsí receiving the Young Player Award presented by Aramco.
A total of 6,810,966 spectators attended the record-breaking 23rd edition of the tournament, which was the first to be co-hosted by three countries – Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Collectively, these attendees witnessed 308 goals across the 16 stadiums, as fans around the world came together to celebrate football over a 39-day event that set new standards in the sport.
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FIFA Contributed to this column
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