Spain are champions of the world for the second time. A single goal was enough to decide the 2026 World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where Spain edged Argentina 1-0 on Sunday to lift the sport's greatest prize in front of a capacity crowd.

It was a final settled by the finest of margins, but few who watched Spain's progress through the tournament will argue they were undeserving. Composed in possession and ruthless when it mattered, they saw out the closing stages against the reigning champions with the assurance of a side that had planned for this moment.

Composed in possession and ruthless when it mattered, Spain saw out the final with the assurance of a side that had planned for this moment.

A Final Decided by the Finest of Margins

Argentina pressed for an equaliser as the match wore on, but Spain defended their lead with discipline and patience, keeping their shape and refusing to be drawn into a scrappy contest. When the final whistle came, the Spanish bench emptied onto the pitch in celebration.

For Argentina, who arrived in New Jersey as the holders, it was a night that ended in painful silence. They had chances, but could not find the goal their pressure deserved.

The Road to New Jersey

Spain reached the final by beating France 2-0 in the semi-finals, having earlier come through a tight quarter-final against Belgium, which they won 2-1. Argentina booked their place with a 2-1 win over England in the last four, following a 3-1 defeat of Switzerland in the quarter-finals.

Across the knockout stage Spain conceded sparingly and controlled the tempo of every match, a template that carried them all the way to the title.

Champions Again

Spain's only previous World Cup triumph came in 2010, when they were crowned in South Africa. Sixteen years on, a new generation has restored them to the summit of the international game, and the trophy returns to Spain for the second time in the nation's history.

Attention now turns to the celebrations awaiting the squad on their return home, and to the questions of what comes next for an Argentina side that pushed them to the very end.