New Jersey: What happened Sunday night at MetLife Stadium will be remembered for years. The final of the FIFA World Cup 2026 remained goalless for 90 minutes.
The match went into extra time and in the 106th minute, Ferran Torres scored the goal which decided everything. Spain won the World Cup for the second time by defeating Argentina 1-0. Messi’s team could not win the second consecutive title.
Why did the goal not come in the first 45 minutes?
Spain had the ball from the beginning. They kept attacking, but Argentina’s defence stood like a wall. Argentina also counterattacked with speed 2-3 times, but Spain’s defenders stopped it every time. Just because of this, the score remained 0-0 till half time.
Did Argentina suffer a big blow in the first half?
Argentina also got a big blow when Lisandro Martínez got injured just before the end of the first half. He had to leave the field. The coach brought on Otamendi. And Messi? 2-3 Spanish players kept following him throughout the match. Messi did not get any space to play.
What changed in the second half?
After the break, both the coaches exchanged cards. Spain sent Torres and Pedri into the field. Argentina brought in Paredes. The match opened. Chances were created, but no one could finish. And then in the 88th minute Enzo Fernandes got a second yellow card. He was out and Argentina had 10 players. That one goal of Torres’ extra time was going on. Spain was continuously applying pressure. In the 106th minute, a brilliant move was made and the ball reached Torres. He moved the net with one touch. 1-0. After that Argentina tried, but a comeback with 10 players was not possible. The whistle blew and the Spanish players lay down on the field.
Why is this victory special?
Spain conceded only 1 goal in the entire tournament. Even in the final, he did not let Argentina breathe. After 2010, now the trophy again in 2026. After 16 years, Spain showed that their football is still different from the rest of the world.