Spain's Extra-Time Triumph: FIFA World Cup 2026 Results
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is over. Played from 11 June to 19 July 2026 in the United States, Canada and Mexico, it ended with Spain lifting the trophy after a 1-0 extra-time win over Argentina in the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. This page brings together the final result, the full knockout bracket, the tournament dates and the top scorers — everything you need to look back on the first 48-team World Cup.
Spain's triumph was their second World Cup title, after South Africa 2010, and it came against the defending champions: Argentina had won the previous tournament in Qatar in 2022. The final, played in front of 80,663 spectators on 19 July 2026, stayed goalless for 90 minutes before substitute Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute, from a Nico Williams header, to settle it. Argentina had already been reduced to ten men, after Enzo Fernandez was sent off for a second yellow card late in normal time, and they could not find an equaliser in extra time. The match was refereed by Slavko Vincic of Slovenia.
How Spain reached the final
Spain's route to the trophy was a steady climb through the new knockout bracket. They finished first in their group with two wins and a draw, then beat Austria 3-0 in the Round of 32, Portugal 1-0 in the Round of 16, Belgium 2-1 in the quarter-finals and France 2-0 in the semi-finals, before outlasting Argentina in the final. It was a run built on control: Spain dominated possession in the final, but needed extra time because Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez repeatedly denied them, and because Argentina, even with ten men, defended with great discipline.
Argentina's own road to the final had been dramatic throughout. They won all three group games, then beat Cabo Verde 3-2 in the Round of 32, Egypt 3-2 in the Round of 16, Switzerland 3-1 in the quarter-finals and England 2-1 in the semi-finals. For Lionel Messi, aged 39, the final looked like his last World Cup match, and he could not add a fourth world title to Argentina's collection — the defending champions remain short of becoming the first nation to retain the trophy since Brazil in 1958 and 1962.
Spain's coach, Luis de la Fuente, became the oldest World Cup-winning coach at 65, and Spain finished unbeaten while conceding only a single goal.
The full knockout bracket: results
The 2026 tournament introduced a Round of 32, because 48 teams were split into 12 groups of four and the top two in each group, plus the eight best third-placed teams, advanced to a 32-team knockout stage. From that point on, every tie was single elimination: level after 90 minutes, a match went to extra time and then to penalties.
Round of 32 (28 June – 3 July 2026)
Canada 1-0 South Africa · Brazil 2-1 Japan · Paraguay 1-1 Germany (Paraguay won 4-3 on penalties) · Morocco 1-1 Netherlands (Morocco won 3-2 on penalties) · Norway 2-1 Ivory Coast · France 3-0 Sweden · Mexico 2-0 Ecuador · England 2-1 DR Congo · Belgium 3-2 Senegal · USA 2-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina · Spain 3-0 Austria · Portugal 2-1 Croatia · Switzerland 2-0 Algeria · Egypt 1-1 Australia (Egypt won 4-2 on penalties) · Argentina 3-2 Cabo Verde · Colombia 1-0 Ghana.
The shock of the round was Germany's exit: the four-time champions lost on penalties to Paraguay. The three host nations all advanced, setting up a Round of 16 in which each of them would face a European opponent.
Round of 16 (4 – 7 July 2026)
France 1-0 Paraguay · Morocco 3-0 Canada · Spain 1-0 Portugal · Belgium 4-1 USA · Norway 2-1 Brazil · England 3-2 Mexico · Argentina 3-2 Egypt · Switzerland 0-0 Colombia (Switzerland won 4-3 on penalties).
This was the end for all three hosts: the United States lost to Belgium, Mexico lost to England and Canada lost to Morocco. Norway's 2-1 win over five-time champions Brazil was the standout result, while Spain edged Portugal 1-0 in an all-Iberian tie.
Quarter-finals (9 – 11 July 2026)
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| France vs Morocco | 2-0 |
| Spain vs Belgium | 2-1 |
| England vs Norway | 2-1 |
| Argentina vs Switzerland | 3-1 |
The quarter-finals produced a historic last four: Spain, Argentina, France and England are all former world champions, the first time all four semi-finalists had previously won the tournament.
Semi-finals, third-place play-off and final
| Round | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Semi-final, 14 July, Arlington | Spain vs France | 2-0 |
| Semi-final, 15 July, Atlanta | Argentina vs England | 2-1 |
| Third place, 18 July, Miami | England vs France | 6-4 |
| Final, 19 July, New Jersey | Spain vs Argentina | 1-0 after extra time |
The third-place play-off was one of the highest-scoring games of the tournament, with England beating France 6-4 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. France, despite the Golden Boot winner in their side, finished fourth.
Top scorers: Mbappe's Golden Boot
Kylian Mbappe won the Golden Boot as the tournament's top scorer with 10 goals for France, including a double in the third-place play-off against England. Lionel Messi finished second with 8 goals and 4 assists for Argentina, while Jude Bellingham of England and Erling Haaland of Norway scored 7 each, and Harry Kane of England scored 6.
Mbappe had already finished as top scorer at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, making him the first player since 1930 to win the Golden Boot at two different World Cups. See also our World Cup 2026 top scorers guide.
The first 48-team World Cup
The 2026 edition changed the shape of the tournament. With 48 teams in 12 groups of four, 104 matches were played across 16 stadiums: 78 in the United States, 13 in Canada and 13 in Mexico. The opening match, on 11 June, saw Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 at Mexico City Stadium. All matches from the quarter-finals onward were played in the United States, and total attendance was reported at around 6.8 million.
The expanded format also produced early drama: Italy, another four-time champion, did not even qualify for the tournament, and Germany went out in the first knockout round. But the latter stages still belonged to the traditional powers, and the final four were all former winners. Spain's victory also moved them level with France and Uruguay on two world titles, behind Brazil (5), Italy and Germany (4) and Argentina (3).
For the full tournament story in Spanish, see our Mundial 2026 hub and our complete 2026 World Cup fixture guide. To understand another tournament format, read our Champions League format explained.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Spain won the 2026 FIFA World Cup, beating Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final on 19 July 2026 at MetLife Stadium. Ferran Torres scored the only goal, in the 106th minute.
When was the 2026 World Cup played?
The tournament ran from 11 June to 19 July 2026, hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. It was the first World Cup with 48 teams and 104 matches.
Who was the top scorer at the 2026 World Cup?
Kylian Mbappe of France won the Golden Boot with 10 goals, ahead of Lionel Messi of Argentina with 8 goals.
Who finished third at the 2026 World Cup?
England finished third, beating France 6-4 in the third-place play-off on 18 July 2026 in Miami. France finished fourth.
Where can I find the official 2026 World Cup results?
Official results and statistics are published on FIFA's 2026 World Cup pages, and the full knockout bracket is set out on this page.
Sources
- 2026 FIFA World Cup final, Wikipedia — date, venue, attendance, referee, finalists' routes.
- Al Jazeera: Spain battle past 10-man Argentina 1-0 in extra time to win 2026 World Cup — Torres 106th-minute goal, Fernandez dismissal, second Spanish title.
- World Cup Tipster: 2026 knockout bracket and complete results — Round of 32 to final scores.
- Mappr: World Cup 2026 knockout stage, bracket, stadiums and schedule — 48 teams, 104 matches, attendance.
- FIFA: 2026 World Cup official pages.