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Spain Clinches 2026 World Cup With Extra-Time Winner

Capping a 38-match unbeaten run, Spain’s win leaves FIFA under scrutiny over reported political contacts alongside a surge in online racial abuse.

Overview

  • Spain defeated Argentina 1–0 in extra time at MetLife Stadium on Monday, July 20, 2026, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal in the 106th minute.
  • The victory gives Spain its second World Cup title and completes an unbeaten tournament that extended the national team's run to a world-record 38 matches.
  • Officials disallowed earlier Spanish goals in extra time, including a 97th-minute strike by Nico Williams, and VAR and referee decisions shaped the match outcome.
  • The Times reported that President Donald Trump phoned FIFA president Gianni Infantino to press for overturning Folarin Balogun’s suspension and that the disciplinary committee chair later reversed the ban; that account remains reported rather than independently confirmed here.
  • FIFA’s social-media protection unit said it reviewed more than six million posts and found abusive content rose about 13 times versus 2022 with roughly 10% being racist insults, a spike that adds pressure on FIFA as Spain prepares to co-host the 2030 World Cup and talks continue about expanding future tournaments.