Coming into North America, the 2026 World Cup winner always looked most likely to be a repeat victor. Six of the seven countries with the shortest odds to lift the trophy had at least one championship already in their history. Spain, the 2010 winner, arrived as the slight favourite over two-time champion France, while defending champion Argentina sat sixth on the odds board, behind Spain, France, England, Brazil and Portugal.
Spain entered the final as a slight favourite, but with eight starters back from Qatar in 2022, Argentina arrived full of comfort and confidence. Shadows had crept across MetLife Stadium as a final dominated by Spain at an absurd clip lurched into extra time without a breakthrough. Lionel Messi and Argentina had no business clinging to hope of a second consecutive championship after failing to create a shot or even link a few passes.
Then came the moment Spain had waited for all afternoon, and, frankly, for 16 years since its last global title. Thirty-nine seconds into the second half of extra time, Ferran Torres thumped in an eight-yard shot and La Roja finally shattered 10-man Argentina's spirit to claim a 1-0 victory. The reigning European champions stretched their unbeaten run to 38 matches and captured their first World Cup since Andres Iniesta's extra-time winner against the Netherlands delivered Spain's maiden title in 2010.
The scoreline flattered Argentina. After scoring 19 goals in seven matches, La Albiceleste managed just two shots, neither of which was on target, and touched the ball just eight times in the penalty area. Spain had 20 shots, 12 on target and 31 touches in the box. In its seventh final, Argentina lost for the fourth time, falling short of becoming the first repeat winner since Brazil in 1962.