World Cup Daily: Spain outclasses Argentina in final

For the longest time, the 2026 FIFA World Cup final was eerily reminiscent of the 1994 final at the Rose Bowl when the United States last hosted the tournament. 

On that fateful day, a Brazil side led by the legendary Romario attacked with plenty of purpose but was continually disrupted by Italy who put in a masterclass in defending through 90 minutes of regulation time and an extra 30 minutes. Brazil eventually pulled it out via a penalty shootout to hoist the World Cup for a fourth time as Roberto Baggio’s famous miss sealed the win for the South Americans. 

Fast forward 32 years. Sunday’s World Cup final was back on American soil, and it looked like Spain and Argentina were destined to battle it out in a shootout after the South Americans did everything they could to thwart the stylish Europeans at every turn. 

But Spain would not be denied, its class eventually came to the fore, as Ferran Torres came off the bench to score the winner in extra time and deliver a second World Cup to La Roja. 

THE RESULT 

Spain 1, Argentina 0 | Match report | Match stats 

THE BIG TAKEAWAY 

Sensational Spain deserved winner over dour Argentina 

Full credit must go to Spain, who outclassed Argentina by a fair distance in Sunday’s final in New York, preventing it from becoming the third nation to repeat as World Cup champions – and the first since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. 

The Spanish held their nerve in a tense affair against the Argentinians, capping off a brilliant run at the World Cup that saw them go undefeated in eight games (seven wins) while only conceding a single goal. Spain captain Rodri was positively regal in marshalling a midfield that smothered Lionel Messi (who was anonymous in the match) and the rest of his teammates. Spain registered 20 total shots compared to just two from Argentina and it was Rodri who was running the show in midfield en route to winning the Golden Ball as the tournament MVP. 

As good as Spain was on the day, you have to ask questions of Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni and why he set his team up to play in such a negative fashion. One can understand why he took that approach after Enzo Fernández was sent off in second half injury time. But the South Americans entered this match with the best attack at the World Cup – 19 goals coming from eight different players, including Messi who had eight. 

Yet, rather than fully unleashing Argentina, Scaloni had his side play ultra-defensively right from the opening kickff. They sought to destroy, not create, and until Ferran Torres’ goal in the 106th minute, it looked as though Messi and his cohorts were going to pull off another improbable win. 

But fortune favoured the brave and Spain took advantage of a gutless showing by the defending champions to win the World Cup for the first time since 2010. 

MOMENT OF THE DAY 

Just 37 seconds into the second extra time period, La Roja deservedly took the lead after effectively working the ball down the right side. Fullback Pedro Porro's cross to the back post was expertly kept alive by Nico Williams, whose exquisite knock back pass was thumped into the roof of the net by Ferran Torres. 

PHOTO OF THE DAY 

Nothing more needs to be said: 

STAT OF THE DAY 

While Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez was kept remarkably busy, his counterpart Unai Simón was pretty much a spectator and didn’t have a lot to do thanks in large part to the South Americans’ dreadful tactics. 

FAN OF THE DAY 

Elmo was rubbing shoulders with some pretty big celebrities before kickoff: 

THREE STARS OF THE DAY 

1. Ferran Torres (Spain): The FC Barcelona has scored 25 goals during his national team career, but none are bigger or more important than the clinical game winner he bagged in Sunday’s final. In doing so, he became the first substitute to score in a World Cup final since Mario Götze’s extra time winner for Germany sunk Argentina twelve years ago in Rio. 

2. Nico Williams (Spain): Like Torres, the Atletico Bilbao winger made a big impact when he was subbed on in the second half, giving Spain’s attack a definitive spark with his deft touch and probing play. And it was his fabulous cushion headed pass that set up Torres’ game-winning goal. 

3. Emiliano Martínez (Argentina): It was a man-of-the-match effort for the South Americans by the Aston Villa goalkeeper who set a new World Cup record with 12 saves in the final. Martínez kept Argentina in the game longer than it deserved and the game would have been settled in regulation time if not for his heroics.