Full time: Spain are World champions after 16 years, beating Argentina 1-0 in extra time
20/07/2026 01:02

122′
Incredible chance for Argentina — the ball falls to Giuliano, but his effort goes high and wide.

20/07/2026 00:58

120′
A nice cross from Giuliano, but Tagliafico could not get a foot on the ball in time.

20/07/2026 00:57

20/07/2026 00:53
Ferran Torres scored, but the goal was ruled offside.

20/07/2026 00:50
Argentina are now playing with 10 men and are also without any forwards on the pitch apart from Messi.

20/07/2026 00:48

20/07/2026 00:47
Goal! Spain 1-0 Argentina in the 106th minute with Ferran Torres.
A beautiful cross, Williams headed the ball back into the area, and Torres fired the shot to make it 1-0.

Full time

90+8′: Yamal takes the free kick, Martínez clears… The match is over and we are heading to extra time.

20/07/2026 00:16

90+7′: Paredes foolishly brings down Torres and Spain have a free kick six metres outside the penalty area… Pedro Porro and Yamal stand over the ball.

20/07/2026 00:14

90+3′: Spain break forward, Martínez makes an impressive save and, in the aftermath of the play, Enzo Fernández receives a second yellow card for a hard foul on Cubarsí… The incident is being reviewed by VAR.

20/07/2026 00:10

90+1′: Free kick for Argentina, bringing players forward into the opposition box… If they score, it would be considered a robbery.

20/07/2026 00:09

89′: Rodri has open space in the centre outside the box, but his shot is completely off target.

20/07/2026 00:08

87′: Ferran tries to finish first-time but misses.

20/07/2026 00:04

81′: Laporte’s header is blocked again by Martínez.

19/07/2026 23:58

81′: Another corner for Spain.

19/07/2026 23:57

78′: Spain lead 10-0 in shots on target/attempts.

19/07/2026 23:55

77′: Cubarsí fires from distance; although Martínez is caught off guard, he manages to clear.

19/07/2026 23:54

77′: Pedri shoots from the centre but Martínez easily saves.

19/07/2026 23:54

76′: Another strong aerial foul by Paredes on Merino.

19/07/2026 23:52

75′: Nico Williams and Mikel Merino replace Baena and Olmo.

19/07/2026 23:52

71′: Medina and Giuliano Simeone are Scaloni’s final substitutions, with Romero forced off injured (Argentina’s second centre-back to leave the match) along with De Paul. It is clear Argentina are trying to hold on for 0-0 and reach extra time, where Scaloni may introduce Lautaro.

19/07/2026 23:49

67′: Cross into the box, but Ferran Torres cannot score with his header.

19/07/2026 23:44

66′: Spain are completely dominating, but even from two consecutive corners they cannot create a clear chance.

19/07/2026 23:42

64′: Olmo’s shot; Martínez reacts poorly, but the ball goes out for a corner.

19/07/2026 23:41

62′: First intervention from De la Fuente: Pedri and Ferran Torres come on for Ruiz and Oyarzabal.

19/07/2026 23:39

61′: Yamal takes the free kick and the ball hits the wall.

19/07/2026 23:38

60′: Paredes cuts down Porro for the foul just outside the box and protests, claiming he did nothing wrong.

Messi’s effort hits the first post, Mac Allister unable to threaten

19/07/2026 23:25
47’: Argentina’s first corner of the match.

19/07/2026 23:24
46’: Otamendi’s mistake allows Baena to shoot, but Martínez blocks it.

19/07/2026 23:23
Second half kicks off
46’: Paredes is Scaloni’s second substitution, with the experienced defensive midfielder replacing Nico González. Argentina now has no wingers.

19/07/2026 23:22

19/07/2026 23:20
The players of both teams are now returning to the pitch for the second half.

19/07/2026 23:15
The half-time show has concluded with Shakira, and football will resume in a few minutes.

19/07/2026 23:12
Shakira is now ready to entertain the crowd.

19/07/2026 23:10
The half-time show began with Madonna, while Ronaldinho and Ronaldo appeared on the pitch.
The baton was then passed to Gustavo Dudamel and the K-pop group BTS, alongside Ted Lasso and Justin Bieber.

19/07/2026 23:07
Half-time whistle
A poor spectacle so far, with Spain trying to play football while Argentina is mainly focused on defending.

19/07/2026 22:55
45+1’: Unai Simón gets to Álvarez first. Argentina can only look dangerous through long balls, as Spain’s pressing has been excellent.

19/07/2026 22:52

19/07/2026 22:51
44’: The forced substitution is completed, with Otamendi coming onto the pitch.

19/07/2026 22:50
Diego Martínez has a problem. Otamendi gets up and will replace him.

19/07/2026 22:49
43’: Cucurella’s shot goes half a metre wide of the post. Spain are completely dominating.

19/07/2026 22:49
41’: First yellow card of the match for Lisandro Martínez’s foul on Oyarzabal.

19/07/2026 22:46
39’: Quick Spanish combination play, Oyarzabal shoots, but his effort goes straight at the goalkeeper and Martínez saves comfortably.

19/07/2026 22:45
So far, the VIP guests in the stands are providing more excitement than the final itself…

19/07/2026 22:39
The match resumes

27′ – Cooling break
Play has been paused for the scheduled hydration break.

22:31
Emiliano Martínez comfortably gathers another Spanish attempt. Aside from a lively three-minute spell, the match has lacked rhythm.

22:29
23′ – Spain win a corner just before the hydration break.

22:25
17′ – Argentina earn a free kick, but Nico González cannot get to the ball in time.

22:21
16′ – The first hard tackle straight out of the Argentine playbook as Alexis Mac Allister introduces himself to Dani Olmo with a crunching challenge. Referee Slavko Vinčić keeps his cards in his pocket.

22:20
13′ – Olmo’s first touch lets him down, but Spain maintain the pressure.

22:18
12′ – Spain win their first corner after an awkward clearance by Lisandro Martínez.

22:17
11′ – Spain are dominating possession and are focusing most of their attacks down Argentina’s left flank through Lamine Yamal.

22:12
6′ – Yamal is denied at the last moment in a similar move, and Argentina immediately counter. Unai Simón rushes outside his penalty area to stop Lionel Messi. The final is beginning to come alive.

22:12
5′ – Dani Olmo slips Yamal through one-on-one, but from a tight angle inside the six-yard box he cannot beat Emiliano Martínez.

3′: As expected, the opening minutes have been cautious, with both teams feeling each other out.

22:08
A reminder of the starting lineups:

SPAIN: Simón, Porro, Cubarsí, Laporte, Cucurella, Rodri, Fabián Ruiz, Baena, Olmo, Yamal, Oyarzabal

ARGENTINA: Emiliano Martínez, Montiel, Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Tagliafico, De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Mac Allister, Nico González, Messi, Julián Álvarez

22:07
Kick-off!

The match gets underway after a six-minute delay.

22:06

22:05
We’re already running behind schedule, something almost unheard of for a football match—especially a World Cup final. Imagine what that could mean for the halftime show.

22:04
Both teams are on the pitch, and we’re moments away from kick-off.

21:58
The two players who left an unforgettable mark on the World Cup finals of 1978 (Argentina 3-1 Netherlands) and 2010 (Spain 1-0 Netherlands), Mario Kempes and Andrés Iniesta, carried the World Cup trophy onto the field.

21:57

21:54
The stadium is completely sold out despite the soaring ticket prices.

21:50

21:49
The United States national anthem has concluded, and Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger have now taken the stage.

21:48
Spain’s 2010 World Cup heroes have arrived in New York.

21:47
Scenes from Madrid.

21:46
Images from the warm-ups of the two finalists.