Last updated: September 30, 2026
España vs Argentina was the 2026 World Cup final, and Spain won 1–0 after extra time on July 19 at MetLife Stadium. Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute. Argentina finished with 10 men after Enzo Fernández was sent off. There is no official rematch date yet.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Result: Spain 1, Argentina 0 after extra time in the 2026 World Cup final
- Winning goal: Ferran Torres, 106th minute
- All-time series: Spain lead 7–6, with two draws
- What’s next: no rematch is officially scheduled
España vs Argentina: Final Score and Match Facts
Spain beat Argentina in a tense, bad-tempered final to win their second World Cup. Here are the key facts.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Competition | 2026 FIFA World Cup final |
| Date | Sunday, July 19, 2026 |
| Venue | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey |
| Attendance | 80,663 |
| Final score | Spain 1, Argentina 0 (after extra time) |
| Goal | Ferran Torres (106′) |
| Shots | Spain 20, Argentina 2 |
| Referee | Slavko Vinčić |
Spain also had the higher expected goals, 1.94 to 0.2, according to ESPN. Argentina did not take a shot until the 116th minute.
It was the first World Cup final between the reigning European champions and the reigning Copa América champions, according to Fox Sports. Argentina came in as the defending world champions, and Spain came in as the reigning European champions.
Is There a España vs Argentina Match Coming Up?
No rematch has been officially scheduled. Both teams are back to friendlies and qualifying after the World Cup.
The one fixture fans keep asking about is the Finalissima, which was cancelled earlier this year. More on that below.
How the Final Unfolded
Spain controlled the game from the first whistle. Argentina hung on, and the match stayed scoreless until extra time.
| Moment | What happened |
|---|---|
| First 90 minutes | Spain dominate. Emiliano Martínez keeps it 0–0, and Argentina record no shots. |
| Late in regulation | Martínez stops a free kick from Lamine Yamal that looked like the winner. |
| End of 90 minutes | Enzo Fernández gets a second yellow card and is sent off. Argentina play on with 10 men. |
| 106′ | Ferran Torres scores 37 seconds into the second half of extra time. Spain 1, Argentina 0. |
| 116′ | Lionel Messi takes Argentina’s first shot of the match. |
| Full time | Spain are crowned champions. Players shove each other after the whistle, and Lionel Scaloni steps in. |
Martínez finished with 11 saves, the most ever in a men’s World Cup final. Spain still found a way past him once.
Argentina had scored 19 goals in their first seven games of the tournament. In the final, they managed two shots, and neither was on target. They touched the ball just eight times in Spain’s penalty area.
The Moments People Are Still Talking About
A few moments shaped how this final will be remembered.
A record night for Martínez. The Argentina goalkeeper made 11 saves. ESPN wrote that only his work kept Spain at bay for so long.
Fernández’s red card. Fernández scored the winner against Egypt in the round of 16. In the final, he was sent off for a second yellow card just before extra time.
Spain’s history lap. They won their second World Cup, 16 years after the first. They also became the first nation to hold the men’s and women’s World Cup titles at the same time.
A heated finish. Tempers boiled over after the final whistle. Scaloni had to break up some shoving as Spain began to celebrate.
Messi’s possible goodbye. The 39-year-old captain may have played his last World Cup match. He took Argentina’s first shot in the 116th minute.
What the Result Meant for Each Team
Both teams took a hard road to New Jersey. Here are the opponents they beat along the way.
| Round | Spain beat | Argentina beat |
|---|---|---|
| Round of 32 | Austria | Cape Verde |
| Round of 16 | Portugal | Egypt (3–2) |
| Quarterfinal | Belgium | Switzerland (3–1, extra time) |
| Semifinal | France (2–0) | England (2–1) |
Spain: A Second Star
Spain won their first World Cup in 2010 and their second in 2026. Luis de la Fuente’s team is also the reigning European champion, and it stretched an unbeaten run to 38 matches. Spain beat France 2–0 in the semifinal, then shut down Argentina in the final.
Argentina: So Close Again
Argentina’s run to the final was full of drama, with two comeback wins and two extra-time victories. It ended with a loss. The final was their seventh, and they have now lost four of them.
España vs Argentina Head-to-Head Record
The two teams have now met 15 times. Spain lead by one win, seven to six, with two draws. Spain have scored 20 goals to Argentina’s 18.
| Date | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| July 13, 1966 | World Cup group stage | Argentina 2, Spain 1 |
| Sept. 7, 2010 | Friendly, Buenos Aires | Argentina 4, Spain 1 |
| March 27, 2018 | Friendly, Madrid | Spain 6, Argentina 1 |
| July 19, 2026 | World Cup final | Spain 1, Argentina 0 (aet) |
In 1966, Luis Artime scored twice at Villa Park to send Spain home. In 2018, Isco scored a hat trick while Messi was out injured. The 4–1 Argentina win in 2010 came just months after Spain won their first World Cup.
Until the 2026 final, that 1966 game was the only World Cup meeting between the two.
What Happened to the Finalissima?
Fans expected Spain and Argentina to meet earlier this year in the Finalissima, the match between the European and South American champions. It never happened. Here is the timeline.
- Dec. 18, 2025: UEFA and CONMEBOL announced the game for March 27, 2026, at Lusail Stadium in Qatar.
- March 15, 2026: UEFA cancelled it, citing the political situation in the region.
- The dispute: UEFA said Argentina rejected its alternatives, including a game in Madrid, and was only available on March 31, which did not work. CONMEBOL’s president later declared Argentina the winners, saying Spain had not shown up. Spain’s coach, Luis de la Fuente, put the blame on Argentina.
- After the final: An ESPN Argentina reporter said the game could be played in November 2026 in Qatar. UEFA and CONMEBOL had not confirmed it.
As of September 30, there is still no official announcement of a new date.
Three Takeaways From España vs Argentina
Looking back, three things stand out from the final.
- Spain were the better team. Twenty shots to two tells most of the story, and the expected-goals gap was just as wide.
- Argentina’s luck ran out. Their run was full of late drama, but this time there was no comeback. Fernández’s red card made a late rally even harder.
- The rivalry is wide open. Seven wins to six is about as close as an all-time record gets.
People Also Ask
Who won España vs Argentina in the World Cup final?
Spain won 1–0 after extra time on July 19, 2026. It was Spain’s second World Cup title, following 2010. Argentina, the defending champions, finished the match with 10 players after Enzo Fernández was sent off. Spain had 20 shots to Argentina’s two.
Who scored the winning goal in España vs Argentina?
Ferran Torres scored the only goal in the 106th minute, 37 seconds into the second half of extra time. Argentina took no shot until the 116th minute, when Lionel Messi tried his luck from distance. Emiliano Martínez made 11 saves to keep the game level until then.
What is the España vs Argentina head-to-head record?
Spain lead 7–6 with two draws in 15 meetings. Spain have scored 20 goals to Argentina’s 18. Before the 2026 final, their only World Cup meeting was a 2–1 Argentina win in 1966. The 6–1 Spain win in 2018 is the biggest margin in the series.
Why was the España vs Argentina Finalissima cancelled?
UEFA cancelled the March 27, 2026 game in Qatar, citing the political situation in the region. UEFA and Argentina could not agree on another date or venue, and each side blamed the other for the failure.
When do Spain and Argentina play again?
No rematch is officially scheduled. A report said the Finalissima could be played in November 2026 in Qatar, but UEFA and CONMEBOL had not confirmed it. Check the official federation pages for updates.
The Bottom Line
España vs Argentina ended with Spain lifting the World Cup after a 1–0 win in extra time. Ferran Torres scored the only goal, and Argentina never found a way back.
The all-time series now favors Spain by one win. The cancelled Finalissima leaves some unfinished business between the two sides, and Messi’s future with Argentina is still an open question.
No rematch is officially scheduled. When a date is announced, it will be one of the biggest matches on the calendar and another chapter in a long rivalry.
Bookmark this page and check back for updates.
