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Spain are world champions! Ferrán Torres sinks Argentina in extra time (1-0) to give La Roja a second star
Spain are the 2026 World Cup champions. At New York's MetLife Stadium, La Roja claimed their second star —their first since South Africa 2010— by beating Argentina (1-0) in extra time of a brutal final. After a goalless 0-0 across the 90 minutes, Ferrán Torres, fresh off the bench, scored on 106' finishing a Nico Williams assist. Spain were vastly superior (65% possession, 20 shots to 2 and 12 on target to none), but ran into a colossal Emiliano 'Dibu' Martínez, named man of the match (9.8) despite defeat. Argentina, the reigning champions, are denied a Messi encore, and the captain ends the tournament on eight goals. The Golden Boot goes to Kylian Mbappé (10). Luis de la Fuente's generation string together a European Championship and a World Cup and are crowned the greatest in Spain's history.
England take bronze in a ten-goal thriller (4-6): Saka hat-trick and Mbappé brace
England are third at the 2026 World Cup after beating France (4-6) in a goal fest at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium. Tuchel's side raced to 4-0 by half-time with a Declan Rice strike (3'), an Ezri Konsa header (18') and two from Bukayo Saka (37' and 45+1'), but France clawed almost all of it back after the break through a Kylian Mbappé brace (48' and 66') and Bradley Barcola's goal (54') for 4-3. Saka completed his hat-trick from the spot (87') and, in stoppage time, Ousmane Dembélé (90+6') and Jude Bellingham (90+8') set the final 4-6. Mbappé, with two goals and an assist, was the match's top-rated player (10) and moves clear at the top of the Golden Boot on ten goals, two ahead of Messi, who can still catch him in the final. England take third place; France finish fourth.
Spain-Argentina, the 2026 World Cup dream final: European champions against world champions, Spain's passing game against Messi's know-how
The 2026 World Cup closes with a final for the ages. On 19 July, at New York's MetLife Stadium, Spain and Argentina fight for the title: the European champions against the world champions, Spain's best generation since 2010 against a Lionel Messi chasing a second star in a row. Two ways of understanding football —Spain's possession and pressing against the Albiceleste's craft and lethal finishing— go head to head. We review how each side got here, their strengths and the keys to the tie.
Argentina come from behind to beat England in the dying moments (2-1) and will play the 2026 World Cup final against Spain
Argentina are in the 2026 World Cup final after a comeback for the ages. At Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the world champions were losing until the 85th minute and turned the game around (2-1) in the final five minutes. Anthony Gordon had put England ahead on 55' (assisted by Morgan Rogers), but Enzo Fernández levelled on 85' and Lautaro Martínez made it 2-1 on 90', both goals set up by a sublime Lionel Messi. The Albiceleste were vastly superior —65% possession, 15 shots to 5 and 1.80 expected goals to 0.54— and Messi, provider of two assists, was named man of the match (8.6). Argentina meet Spain, who knocked out France yesterday, in the final on 19 July (MetLife). England bow out in a semi-final once again.
England-Argentina, all set in Atlanta: line-ups for the semi-final that decides Spain's final opponent
The second semi-final of the 2026 World Cup and one of the most electric rivalries in the game's history. England and Argentina fight for a place in the final at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium (kick-off 19:00 UTC), and the winner will meet Spain —already through— on 19 July. Thomas Tuchel goes with a 4-2-3-1 led by Bellingham and Kane; Lionel Scaloni answers with a 4-4-2 and Messi and Julián Álvarez up top. Here are the confirmed line-ups.
Spain sink France (2-0) to reach the 2026 World Cup final: Oyarzabal and Porro lead La Roja
Spain are in the 2026 World Cup final. At Arlington's AT&T Stadium, the European champions beat France (2-0) in a rematch of the Euro 2024 semi-final and once again knocked out Les Bleus. Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring from the penalty spot on 22' and Pedro Porro settled it on 58', finishing off a Dani Olmo assist. It was a tight contest —51-49 possession and ten shots each— but Spain were more clinical and had a superb Unai Simón (three saves) to keep a clean sheet. France, with Mbappé subdued and booked, found no way through and bow out in the semi-finals for the second World Cup running. Porro, scorer of a goal and author of a superb display, was named man of the match (8.1). La Roja await their final opponent: the winner of England-Argentina, played on Wednesday.