Spain won the 2026 FIFA World Cup, beating Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final on Sunday, 19 July 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It's Spain's second World Cup title, following their win in 2010, and makes them the first nation ever to hold the men's and women's World Cup titles at the same time.
The final
A tight, defensively disciplined final was goalless through 90 minutes and the first period of extra time. Ferran Torres settled it just 39 seconds into the second period of extra time, converting from close range for the only goal of the game. Spain's captain Rodri lifted the trophy after marshalling the midfield throughout the tournament, while Argentina and Lionel Messi were left to reflect on a final defeat that ended their bid for back-to-back titles.
Every award winner
| Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| Golden Ball (Best Player) | Rodri (Spain) |
| Silver Ball | Lionel Messi (Argentina) |
| Bronze Ball | Kylian Mbappé (France) |
| Golden Boot (Top Scorer) | Kylian Mbappé — 10 goals |
| Golden Glove (Best Goalkeeper) | Unai Simón (Spain) — 1 goal conceded, 7 clean sheets in 8 games |
| Best Young Player | Pau Cubarsí (Spain) |
Mbappé became the first player in World Cup history to win back-to-back Golden Boots, having also topped the scoring charts at Qatar 2022. Messi actually led the race for most of the tournament — including a hat-trick in Argentina's opening match — before Mbappé overtook him in the closing rounds to finish on 10 goals to Messi's 8.
Group stage and knockout snapshot
The 2026 tournament was the first with 48 teams, split into 12 groups of four, with the top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed sides advancing to a brand-new Round of 32. For the full breakdown of how that expanded bracket worked all the way through to the final, see our dedicated knockout stage guide.
A tournament of records
The expanded format delivered record audiences to match: the final drew 62.8 million viewers across all US platforms, and group-stage matches averaged just over 5 million viewers — a 92% increase on 2022. International soccer viewership in the US had already grown roughly 60% since 2018 heading into the tournament, and the 2026 World Cup looks to have accelerated that trend further rather than being a one-off spike.
What it means for Messi
A runner-up medal and a Silver Ball still cemented Messi's tournament as one of the finest of his career even in defeat, but it leaves his international future uncertain. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said afterwards he hoped "everyone feels proud of him, of what he's achieved," while stopping short of confirming whether the final was Messi's last World Cup appearance.
Relive every moment from the tournament in our World Cup 2026 hub, including the extra-time and penalty rules explained in our knockout tie-breaker guide.
For the official record, see FIFA's match centre for the final and the official Golden Ball announcement.
FAQ
Who won the 2026 World Cup?
Spain, beating Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final on 19 July 2026 at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey. It's Spain's second World Cup title.
What was the final score and who scored?
Spain won 1-0 after extra time. Ferran Torres scored the only goal, 39 seconds into the second period of extra time.
Who won the Golden Boot and Golden Ball at the 2026 World Cup?
Kylian Mbappé won the Golden Boot with 10 goals. Rodri won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player, with Messi taking the Silver Ball and Mbappé the Bronze Ball.
Did Lionel Messi win the World Cup in 2026?
No — Argentina lost the final 1-0 to Spain. Messi finished as the tournament's Silver Ball winner and second-top scorer with 8 goals.
How many teams played in the 2026 World Cup?
A record 48 teams, up from 32 in 2022, split into 12 groups of four with a new Round of 32 added to the knockout stage.
