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Spain Beats Argentina 1-0, Wins 2026 World Cup

7/22/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the final on July 19, 2026 to win the World Cup.
Lionel Messi scored eight goals and finished second in the Golden Boot race.
Kylian Mbappé led the tournament with ten goals, becoming the all-time leader with 22 goals in 22 matches.
Norway returned to the knockout stage, upset Brazil 2-1 before losing 2-1 to England in the quarter-finals.

History

Historical Context

In 2010 Spain captured its first FIFA World Cup, beating the Netherlands 1-0 after Andrés Iniesta’s 116th-minute volley in Johannesburg. The victory gave Europe its tenth title, overtaking South America’s nine, and marked the first European triumph on non-European soil. Spain’s win followed decades of near-misses, the nation’s best prior finish being fourth in 1950.

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Story summary

Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the final on July 19, 2026 to win the World Cup.
Lionel Messi scored eight goals and finished second in the Golden Boot race.
Kylian Mbappé led the tournament with ten goals, becoming the all-time leader with 22 goals in 22 matches.
Norway returned to the knockout stage, upset Brazil 2-1 before losing 2-1 to England in the quarter-finals.

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