Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, a result that extended their unbeaten run to 38 consecutive matches and broke a tie with Italy for the longest such streak in the history of men’s international football.
Ferran Torres, a second-half substitute, scored the only goal in the 106th minute of extra time after 90 minutes ended goalless. The win gave Spain their second World Cup title — their first since 2010 — and made them the first nation to simultaneously hold the men’s and women’s World Cup trophies, having won the latter in 2023.
Spain entered the final on a 37-match unbeaten streak, level with Italy’s record set between 2018 and 2021. The World Cup final victory pushed them to 38, a mark spanning from 2024 through the conclusion of this tournament. During that run, Spain won the 2024 UEFA European Championship — their record fourth continental title — and now the 2026 World Cup.
The final itself was a cagey affair. Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez recorded 11 saves, the most by any keeper in a World Cup final, keeping the reigning champions level through regulation. Spain’s Unai Simón kept a clean sheet at the other end, capping a tournament in which he conceded just once across the knockout stage and won the Golden Glove as the competition’s outstanding goalkeeper.
Spanish midfielder Rodri was awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. France’s Kylian Mbappé won the Golden Boot with 10 goals, becoming the tournament’s all-time leading scorer and the first player since Gerd Müller in 1970 to reach double figures in a single World Cup. Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsí took the Young Player Award.
Spain’s path to the final included a 3-0 win over Austria in the round of 32, a 1-0 victory against Portugal in the round of 16, a quarterfinal win over Belgium, and a semifinal defeat of France. Argentina, the 2022 champions, reached the final by beating Cape Verde, Egypt, Switzerland, and England in the knockout rounds.
The 2026 tournament was the first World Cup to feature 48 teams and the first co-hosted by three nations — the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Nearly 7 million fans attended across 104 matches, setting an all-time World Cup attendance record. The final drew 80,663 spectators under clear skies at MetLife Stadium, refereed by Slavko Vinčič of Slovenia.
Spain’s unbeaten streak now stands as the benchmark in men’s international football. The previous record of 37, held by Italy, had stood since 2021. Spain’s run also produced the highest Elo rating ever recorded for a national team, surpassing the 1954 Hungarian Golden Team.
Sources
- FIFA.com
- Wikipedia — 2026 FIFA World Cup
- Wikipedia — 2026 FIFA World Cup final
- Wikipedia — Spain national football team