Spain vs Argentina —World Cup: Live score and match stats

FT ET | SPAIN ARE THE CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD!

The referee blows the final whistle, and the MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey erupts into a sea of red and gold! Spain has survived a grueling, chaotic, and dramatic 120 minutes to win the World Cup!

Ten-man Argentina fought like warriors until the absolute last second, throwing everything they had left in the tank during those agonizing five minutes of stoppage time, but Spain’s defensive resilience and Ferran Torres' 106th-minute strike proved to be the golden ticket.

Heartbreak for the Albiceleste, who came so close to defying the odds after Enzo Fernández's red card. But the night belongs to La Roja!

FINAL SCORE: Spain 1 - 0 Argentina

Spain stands alone at the top of the football world!

120+1' | FIVE MINUTES OF ADDED TIME!

Unbelievable drama! The fourth official holds up the board, and there will be a minimum of FIVE added minutes to play!

115' | CORNER FOR ARGENTINA!

This is it! This is the moment ten-man Argentina has been praying for!

They win a massive corner late in the game after Eric García is forced to scramble and clear the danger out behind his own goal line. Just five minutes of normal time remaining in extra time.

113' | GOAL DISALLOWED! NO SECOND FOR SPAIN!

Drama once again! Ferran Torres thinks he’s put the game completely to bed as he breaks free behind the exhausted Argentine defense and calmly nestles the ball into the bottom corner. He turns to celebrate, but the linesman's flag is planted firmly in the air—OFFSIDE!

111' | FOUL!

Alexis Mac Allister commits the foul as Argentina desperately tries to win the ball back. Time is ticking away rapidly for the ten-man Albiceleste, and Spain is doing a masterful job of shielding the ball, frustrating their opponents, and running down the clock.

106' | GOAL! SPAIN BREAKS THE DEADLOCK!

FERRAN TORRES HAS DONE IT!

Literally seconds into the second half of extra time, Spain's relentless pressure finally pays off! With Argentina down to ten men and exhausted, Spain carves them open right through the middle. The ball breaks perfectly for Ferran Torres in the center of the box, and he keeps his cool, slipping a left-footed finish past the keeper!

HT ET | HALF TIME IN EXTRA TIME!

The referee blows the whistle to bring an exhausting first 15 minutes of extra time to a close.

Spain completely dominated possession and created a couple of nervy moments—most notably that curling effort from Lamine Yamal—but ten-man Argentina is defending like their lives depend on it. Lionel Scaloni's booking on the touchline perfectly encapsulated the raw emotion and tension out there.

Players are down on the pitch, desperately massaging cramped legs and taking on water. One final 15-minute push separates these two teams from a dreaded penalty shootout.

105' | STOPPAGE TIME ADDED (First Period of Extra Time)

The fourth official signals that we will have a minimum of THREE minutes of added time at the end of this first period of extra time!

104' | YELLOW CARD! (Lionel Scaloni)

The tension on the touchline has boiled over! Argentina's manager, Lionel Scaloni, is absolutely furious with a decision and lets the match official know it in no uncertain terms.

The referee storms over to the technical area and flashes a yellow card to the Argentina boss. Scaloni needs to be careful here—his team is already down to ten men on the pitch, and they cannot afford to lose their leader from the dugout in these crucial final moments of extra time!

101' | MISSED ATTEMPT! (Spain)

So close from the teenager! Lamine Yamal cuts inside onto his lethal left foot just outside the box and lets fly. He strikes it with plenty of intent, but it flashes just wide of the target.

Argentina survives another scare as Spain keeps knocking on the door!

96' | VAR CHECK... NO GOAL!

The stadium erupts as Nico Williams wheels away in celebration after turning in the rebound from Emi Martínez's initial smother—but the linesman's flag is instantly up!

The VAR check is complete, and it confirms the on-field decision: Williams was standing in an offside position when the initial ball deflected through.

Enzo Fernandez becomes 6th player to get red card in FIFA Final

Enzo Fernandez entered the unwanted record books on Sunday by becoming only the sixth player in FIFA World Cup history to receive a red card in a final. The Argentina midfielder was sent off in the 90+3rd minute of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final against Spain on Sunday (July 19).

Fernandez was shown a second yellow card after committing a foul on Spain defender Pau Cubarsí, reducing Argentina to 10 men in the closing stages of the match.

94' | FOUL!

Giovanni Simeone is certainly showing his fresh legs and high work rate, but he's just been a bit too eager on the press! He clatters into Aymeric Laporte, who cleverly shields the ball and wins a free kick for Spain.

91' | EXTRA TIME UNDER WAY!

The referee blows the whistle and the first period of extra time is officially under way!

FT | FULL TIME!

The referee blows the final whistle, and after 96 minutes of absolute chaos, tactical warfare, and a late red card, these two giants cannot be separated!

But the battle isn't over yet. Take a deep breath, because we are heading into 30 minutes of Extra Time! Spain will look to use their one-man advantage to break the deadlock, while ten-man Argentina will have to dig deeper than ever before.

90+3' | RED CARD! ENZO FERNÁNDEZ IS SENT OFF!

Absolute disaster for Argentina in the dying minutes! Just over ten minutes after picking up his first booking for dissent, Enzo Fernández flies into a reckless challenge and concedes a costly foul.

The referee doesn't hesitate—he flashes a second yellow card, followed quickly by the red! Argentina is down to ten men for the final moments of this match. The tension is off the charts!

90+1' | FOUL! MESSI WINS A FREE KICK!

Oh, what a moment this could be! In the first minute of stoppage time, Aymeric Laporte gets it all wrong and brings down Lionel Messi. Laporte concedes the foul, and Argentina wins a massive free kick in a dangerous position.

The stadium holds its breath. This is absolute prime Messi territory.

90+1' | ADDED TIME!

The fourth official holds up the board, and we are into the first of a minimum of FOUR added minutes! Four minutes for someone to become a hero, or four minutes to hold on for dear life.

82' | YELLOW CARD!

Tempers are flaring as we head into the final ten minutes! Enzo Fernández is booked by the referee, not for a tackle, but for dissent.

80' | CORNER!

Spain is utterly relentless right now! They are camped in the Argentine half, recycling the attack and working it out wide again. This time, it's N. Tagliafico who is forced into a desperate defensive interception to cut off the danger, conceding yet another corner.

78' | CORNER!

Spain's fresh wingers are causing immediate headaches! Nico Williams uses his blistering pace to attack the flank, forcing N. Molina to track back quickly and slide in to deflect the cross behind.

74' | DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION (Spain)

Luis de la Fuente makes another double switch to keep the pressure relentless! Álex Baena—who was walking a very thin disciplinary tightrope—and Dani Olmo leave the pitch.

On come Nico Williams and Mikel Merino! Spain adds Williams' explosive, terrifying pace out wide and Merino's physical presence and aerial dominance in the engine room. The tactical chess match continues!

70' | SUBSTITUTION (Argentina)

Lionel Scaloni rolls the dice and makes an attacking change! Rodrigo De Paul, who has run his socks off in the midfield, makes way. On comes Giovanni Simeone!

This is a clear statement of intent from Argentina. Scaloni is sacrificing some midfield grit for pure goal-scoring instinct, throwing another weapon upfront alongside Julian Alvarez. We are set for a wild finish!

68' | HYDRATION BREAK!

The referee blows the whistle and calls for a temporary pause in the action. Both sets of players head straight for the touchline to grab some water and catch their breath after an incredibly intense start to this second half.

It’s a crucial tactical window for both managers, too. Luis de la Fuente will be telling Spain to keep feeding Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal after those massive chances, while Lionel Scaloni will want Argentina to tighten up defensively and regain control of the midfield.

Grab a drink, because these final 20 minutes are going to be electric!

67' | SAVED BY DIBU!

The substitutes almost combine for the breakthrough! Spain works the ball into a dangerous area, and Ferran Torres rises highest in the center of the box to meet it with a powerful header. It looks destined for the back of the net, but E. Martínez showcases his world-class reflexes, making a brilliant save to deny Spain the opening goal!

65' | CORNER!

Spain keeps the pressure turned up! The fresh substitutes are already making an impact, moving the ball quickly and forcing the Argentine defense to turn it behind. Spain wins the corner, and the crowd builds the noise as the ball is placed!

62' | DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION (Spain)

Luis de la Fuente rings the changes to injection fresh energy and creativity into the Spanish attack! Mikel Oyarzabal and Fabián Ruiz make way, with Ferran Torres and Pedri stepping onto the pitch.

With Pedri's vision in the midfield and Torres' directness upfront, Spain is clearly looking to unlock this stubborn Argentine defense. We have an explosive final 30 minutes ahead!

61' | SAVED!

Lamine Yamal tries to conjure up a moment of absolute magic! The young star cuts inside onto his lethal left foot and unleashes a curling effort from outside the box. It looks threatening, but the Argentine keeper reads it well, moving across to make the save and keep it scoreless!

60' | FOUL!

L. Paredes is right in the thick of the action, but he's playing a dangerous game. Already on a yellow card, the midfielder gets far too tight and concedes a foul on Pedro Porro. Porro wins the free kick, and Paredes gets a stern look from the referee. He needs to watch his step!

58' | SUBSTITUTION (Argentina)

Lionel Scaloni makes his second change of the match, looking for fresh legs on the right flank! N. Molina comes on to replace G. Montiel at right-back.

Montiel, who was heavily involved over the last few minutes drawing fouls and conceding that recent corner, makes way. Molina will bring plenty of energy and overlapping pace to both counter Spain's wingers and help Argentina transition into attack!

56' | CORNER!

Spain breaks forward and shifts the pressure back onto the Argentine defense! They look to unlock the flanks, forcing G. Montiel into a hurried clearance to concede the corner.

A big chance now for Spain to throw their big men forward and test the Albiceleste from the set piece!

54' | FOUL!

Role reversal from the first half! Pedro Porro gets caught on the wrong side of J. Alvarez and commits the foul. Alvarez wins the free kick in a promising position, giving Argentina a chance to swing a dangerous ball into the box.

52' | YELLOW CARD!

L. Paredes gets himself into the referee's book just seven minutes after coming on! Not for a challenge, but for dissent. He goes a step too far arguing a decision, and the official wastes no time flashing the yellow card. A needless booking that puts the substitute under immediate pressure!

51' | FOUL!

Álex Baena is in trouble again, committing his second foul in the space of a minute. This time he leaves a bit too much on G. Montiel, who wins the free kick. The referee is having a word—Baena needs to be careful here!

50' | FOUL!

Álex Baena gets a bit too eager trying to win the ball back and clips R. De Paul. The referee spots it immediately, and De Paul wins the free kick to give Argentina a chance to reset and control the pace.

48' | CORNER!

Argentina answers right back! They push deep into Spanish territory and force Aymeric Laporte into a desperate clearance, conceding the corner. A massive opportunity here for the Albiceleste to test Spain from a set piece!

46' | SAVED!

What a start to the second half! Spain immediately go on the attack as Álex Baena lets fly with a stinging, right-footed effort from well outside the box. It looks bound for the corner, but E. Martínez is equal to it, making a sharp save to keep the score level!

46' | SUBSTITUTION (Argentina)

We are back underway for the second half, and Lionel Scaloni has made a tactical move during the interval! L. Paredes enters the pitch, replacing N. González.

It looks like Argentina is shifting gears to pack the midfield, add some steel, and wrest control of the tempo away from Spain. Let's see how this shapes the next 45 minutes!

Half-time postbag

“Ah, I see they’re showing the muppets. And also Jim Henson’s famous creations, etc” – James Humphries.

“Can’t they have a two-hour concert with a penalty shoot-out at half-time, instead of this dross. Much more of this will cause me to lose the will to live. Out, at least, the will to carry on watching” – Asia Narcizo.

“Yamal did not take his chance and the game has grinded into a scrappy match-up. Super Merino will be the one to win this game for Spain. He’s the one who can unlock this game” – Imad Sabi.

“Spain must be a nightmare to play against, like being suffocated by a boa constrictor. As its victim breathes out, the snake tightens the grip, making it more and more difficult to breathe. When Spain advance, they occupy every bit of space their opponents leave unguarded. It’s undoubtedly impressive, but hard to warm to as a neutral” – Kári Tulinius.

“Do we name this the bathtub derby” – Krishnamoorthy V.

“At a watch party for refugees in our community, and every time Lamine Yamal touches the ball everyone under the age of 20 goes berserk. Messi will draw more attention in the second half, to be sure, but I think it’s hard to underestimate the enthusiasm he has within the Muslim youth community in particular…” – Chris Amirault.

“Your referencing Barry Davies’ commentary from that ‘91 FA Cup Spurs Arsenal semi-final makes me think of my favourite Davies line from that game, after Lee Dixon had upended (I think) the late Justin Edinburgh. ‘Well, if Lee Dixon’s had a worse-timed tackle this season I’m glad I didn’t see it. That really is a dreadful tackle for an international full-back’” – Martin Gamage.

“I’d like to reassure Niall Mullen about the credibility of this World Cup. As the great TV philosopher G. Costanza once said: It’s not a lie if you believe it” – Giovanni Cafagna.

It's Justin Bieber's turn to perform

It's Justin Bieber's turn to perform, and he's brought out by Jason Sudeikis playing Ted Lasso and Brendan Hunt as his assistant coach Beard.

The tempo comes way down with Bieber's first song "Everything Hallelujah".

Half-time entertainment

Those of you who followed our liveblog of Switzerland v Canada may remember a charming half-time poem from Ollie, aged. 12. I’m delighted to say he’s written another poem for the final.

What a sensational World Cup!

Two more games to wrap it up.

48 teams, now down to four.

Football’s Big Apple munched down to the core.

Argentina v Spain for World Cup glory!

To finally end this thrilling story.

Messi’s on the for the Golden Boot

But will Yamal finally score that beaut?

In the semis, Spain made France look poor.

They managed to shut out that deadly front four.

Spain’s midfield held on to the ball

And Mbappé just couldn’t answer the call.

Meanwhile, in the other game,

Thomas Tuchel took some blame

For putting five in at the back

When we really needed to attack!

England’s run ended in tears

To the deafening sound of Argentine cheers.

Rooney, Hart and Richards dismayed

But admired the way that Messi played.

Right now I feel I need a day off

To recover from that third place play-off.

What a game! Jude’s skills were sick!

That banger from Rice! Bukayo’s hat-trick!

Spain v Argentina: the biggest match this year!

Hopefully it brings us lots to cheer.

Who will win it? I don’t know…

Please just give us a hell of a show!

HALF TIME!

The referee blows the whistle to bring an intense, tactical, and hard-fought opening 45 minutes to a close. Both Spain and Argentina have had their moments, looking dangerous on the break but repeatedly thwarted by the offside trap and a couple of crucial defensive stops.

Lisandro Martínez's yellow card is the biggest talking point so far as both teams head down the tunnel to regroup. Grab a drink, catch your breath, and we'll be back for the second half of the 2026 World Cup final shortly! Spain 0 - 0 Argentina

45+3' | FOUL!

Mikel Oyarzabal gets a bit too aggressive in the press as the first half winds down, giving away a foul deep in Argentina's half. A pressure-relieving free kick for the Albiceleste.

45+1' | ADDED TIME!

We're into the first of a minimum of FOUR added minutes. Plenty of time left in this opening half for either side to snatch a crucial opening goal before the referee blows for the break!

43' | CLOSE!

Spain threating just before the break! Fabián Ruiz slides a tidy pass wide to M. Cucurella, who lets fly with a powerful left-footed shot from outside the box. It flashes across the face of goal and misses just to the right, letting Argentina off the hook.

41' | YELLOW CARD!

The game's first booking! Lisandro Martínez goes into the referee's notebook after a cynical challenge to break up a dangerous attack. He concedes the foul and picks up a yellow card, meaning he'll have to walk a tightrope for the rest of this final.

36' | FOUL!

N. Tagliafico is in the thick of it again, flying into a challenge but mistiming it completely. He concedes the foul on Rodri, who wins the free kick to keep the tempo in Spain's favor.

35' | OFFSIDE!

Spain's attack is halted once more! M. Cucurella makes a darting run down the flank but goes a fraction too early, caught out by the assistant referee's flag and called offside.

34' | FOUL!

J. Alvarez works hard tracking back but gets a bit too physical, conceding the foul on Pedro Porro. Porro wins the free kick to ease the pressure for Spain and allow them to build from the back.

33' | FOUL!

Rodri leaves a bit too much on his man, stopping a dangerous break in its tracks. He concedes the foul after clipping A. Mac Allister, who wins the free kick to keep Argentina moving forward.

28' | FOUL!

Whistle blows for a handball! A. Mac Allister is caught using his arm to control the ball, halting Argentina's momentum and gifting possession right back to Spain.

25' | DRINK BREAK!

It's time for the penultimate hydration break of the 2026 World Cup final! The players head to the touchline to rehydrate and regroup as both managers look to issue some crucial tactical adjustments in this high-stakes showdown.

23' | CORNER!

Spain pushing forward again! R. De Paul is forced into desperate defensive action and concedes the corner under pressure, giving Spain another set-piece opportunity.

22' | OFFSIDE!

Now it's Argentina's turn to be denied by the flag! N. González tries to spring the offside trap, but the linesman spots him drifting past the last defender and calls him offside.

21' | OFFSIDE!

Spain think they're in, but the linesman's flag goes up instantly! Mikel Oyarzabal is caught mistiming his run and is called offside, cutting the attack short.

20' | FOUL!

Dani Olmo attempts to press high up the pitch but gets a bit too overzealous, conceding the foul on E. Fernández, who smartly wins the free kick to get Argentina moving again.

18' | FOUL!

N. Tagliafico goes in a bit too aggressively to break up the play and concedes the foul, giving the opposition a chance to reset from the set-piece.

16' | FOUL!

Álex Baena gets too tight to L. Messi and clips him, conceding the foul. Messi wins the free kick, and Spain will need to be on high alert here.

14' | FOUL!

Dani Olmo looks to turn and spark an attack, but A. Mac Allister stops him in his tracks with a mistimed challenge, conceding the foul and giving Spain a free kick in a promising position.

12' | CORNER!

Danger brewing for Argentina! Oyarzabal leaps high to challenge for a dangerous cross whipping in from the left, but Martínez reads it brilliantly and sends it out for a Spain corner.

5' | SAVED!

Lamine Yamal cuts inside from the right of the box and lets fly with a sharp, left-footed strike, but E. Martínez tracks it well and makes the save to deny the opening goal.

2' | FOUL!

Early physical stuff here! Pedro Porro goes in late and concedes the foul, bringing down N. González, who wins the free kick for Argentina.

0' | KICKOFF!

Argentina get us underway! The referee blows the whistle, and Argentina start with the ball, looking to establish early dominance.

The ultimate showdown in East Rutherford: Spain and Argentina confirm lineups for World Cup final

The grandest prize in global football has reached its definitive peak as European champions Spain and defending world champions Argentina collide at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, for the historic FIFA World Cup 2026 final. Both managers have locked in their starting combinations for a titanic clash of contrasting philosophies, pitting La Roja's virtually unbreachable defensive system against the magic and attacking freedom of a legacy-defining Albiceleste squad.

Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has finalized his 4-2-3-1 setup, building around the incredible defensive record that has seen his side concede just a single goal across the entire tournament.

Unai Simón commands the goalmouth behind a highly disciplined back four featuring the veteran presence of Aymeric Laporte and teenage defensive prodigy Pau Cubarsí in the center, flanked by fullbacks Marc Cucurella and Pedro Porro. The elite midfield double-pivot features tournament anchor Rodri partnered with Fabián Ruiz, providing structural rigidity and immense tactical control.

In the final third, Dani Olmo operates in his favored playmaker slot, flanked by the inventiveness of Álex Baena and the blistering, fearless dribbling of teenage icon Lamine Yamal on the wing. Mikel Oyarzabal receives the crucial mandate to lead the line as the central striker, carrying five goals of his own into this pinnacle fixture. De la Fuente holds elite game-changing options in reserve, keeping Nico Williams, Gavi, and Pedri on a loaded substitute bench.

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni counters with a robust and dynamic 4-4-2 shape designed to control the tempo while maximizing structural width. Standard-bearer Emiliano Martínez guards the net behind an immovable central defensive core of Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martínez, flanked by fullbacks Gonzalo Montiel and Nicolás Tagliafico. The four-man midfield layout sees Enzo Fernández and Alexis Mac Allister linking up centrally, with Leandro Paredes providing defensive cover while Nicolás González drops into a deeper wide role to counter Spain's overlapping threats. The frontline centers completely around the fluid, hyper-lethal combination of Manchester City's Julián Alvarez and the legendary captain Lionel Messi, who sits atop the tournament charts with eight goals and four assists. Scaloni keeps high-impact personnel ready on the bench, with Lautaro Martínez, Giovani Lo Celso, and veteran defender Nicolás Otamendi poised to enter the fray.

Spain National Football Team

Starting Line-up
23 Unai Simón (GK), 12 Pedro Porro (D), 22 Pau Cubarsí (D), 14 Aymeric Laporte (D), 24 M. Cucurella (D), 16 Rodri (M), 8 Fabián Ruiz (M), 10 Dani Olmo (M), 19 Lamine Yamal (M), 15 Álex Baena (M), 21 Mikel Oyarzabal (A)

Substitutions
1 David Raya, 2 Marc Pubill, 3 Alejandro Grimaldo, 4 Eric García, 5 Marcos Llorente, 6 Mikel Merino, 7 Ferran Torres, 9 Gavi, 11 Yéremy Pino, 13 Joan García, 17 Nico Williams, 18 Martín Zubimendi, 20 Pedri, 25 Víctor Muñoz, 26 Borja Iglesias

Manager
Luis de la Fuente Castillo

Argentina National Football Team

Starting Line-up
23 Emiliano Martínez (GK), 4 Gonzalo Montiel (D), 13 Cristian Romero (D), 6 Lisandro Martínez (D), 3 Nicolás Tagliafico (D), 24 Enzo Fernández (M), 20 Alexis Mac Allister (M), 5 Leandro Paredes (M), 15 Nicolás González (M), 10 Lionel Messi (A), 9 Julián Alvarez (A)

Substitutions
1 Juan Musso, 2 Marcos Senesi, 7 Rodrigo De Paul, 8 Valentín Barco, 11 Giovani Lo Celso, 12 Gerónimo Rulli, 14 Exequiel Palacios, 16 Thiago Almada, 17 Giuliano Simeone, 18 Nico Paz, 19 Nicolás Otamendi, 21 J. López, 22 Lautaro Martínez, 25 Facundo Medina, 26 Nahuel Molina

Manager
Lionel Sebastián Scaloni