Ferran Torres scored the only goal of the game on Sunday as Spain beat 10-man Argentina 1-0 after extra-time to win their second World Cup.
The European champions dominated the match at the MetLife Stadium but struggled to find a breakthrough against the streetwise defending champions.
Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez made a string of saves to deny Spain, but the match changed complexion in second-half stoppage-time when midfielder Enzo Fernandez was sent off for a second yellow card after a reckless tackle on Pau Cubarsi.
Extra-time followed a familiar pattern, with Spain probing for the opening goal against a deep-lying Argentina.
The breakthrough eventually came in the early moments of the second period of extra-time when substitute Torres finished crisply following a brilliant knock-back by Nico Williams.
Luis de la Fuente’s Spain conceded just one goal in seven matches on their way to the final, suffocating opponents with their slick possession game.
Lionel Messi’s Argentina battled their way through the knockout rounds, coming back from the dead against Egypt and recovering from a goal down to beat England in the semi-finals.
Extra-time
The European champions shaded possession at the MetLife Stadium and had almost all the chances but could not find a breakthrough.
Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez was sent off for a second yellow card following a reckless challenge in stoppage time.
Lionel Messi’s Argentina are aiming for a fourth World Cup crown while Spain are seeking to win the trophy for a second time.
Half-time show
Musical headliners Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, BTS and Coldplay were joined by Brazilian soccer icons and “Ted Lasso” actors in a spectacular first-ever World Cup final halftime show on Sunday.
The star-packed, Super Bowl-style extravaganza — a first for soccer’s showpiece event — also featured a tribute to football icon Pele, and a rendition of “Seven Nation Army” led by Gustavo Dudamel and featuring musicians from the US, Venezuela and Iran.
“Sesame Street” and “The Muppets” characters joined Coldplay and a New York elementary school choir to close out a performance designed to raise money for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which promotes access to sport for under-privileged children.
The 12-minute performance meant the total halftime break in the match between Spain and Argentina lasted 27 minutes.
Largest since Live Aid?
Organizers had billed the halftime show as “the single largest gathering of artists united for a cause since Live Aid,” and “the most-watched 11 minutes of broadcast music performance in history”.
FIFA chief Gianni Infantino predicted “a couple of billion” people would tune in.
The 2026 World Cup Final halftime show 🎵 pic.twitter.com/aiMGFyeArn
— B/R Football (@brfootball) July 19, 2026
The extended interruption to soccer’s most important game had drawn some criticism over the potential impact on players’ performance.
While highly unusual for soccer, the show was slightly shorter than most recent Super Bowl halftime performances, which have typically been around 13-14 minutes long.
The crowd erupted with a roar as the show began with Madonna being transported through tunnels beneath the MetLife Stadium on a dune buggy driven by Brazil soccer legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho.
Her performance of “Music” led to an orchestra featuring the New York Philharmonic, Venezuela’s Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra and Iranian violinist Bijan Mortazavi performing the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” — a rock hit that has become a global US soccer stadium staple.
Footage of the Norway fans’ “Viking row” celebration from this tournament led into K-pop sensation BTS performing their smash hit “Dynamite,” rewritten with soccer-specific lyrics, before “Ted Lasso” star Jason Sudeikis and his “Coach Beard” sidekick Brendan Hunt made a surprise appearance.
They introduced Canadian pop megastar Bieber, who performed an emotional, World Cup-tailored version of “Everything Hallelujah,” before Shakira and Nigerian singer Burna Boy ramped the energy back up with this World Cup’s anthem, “Dai Dai,” accompanied by Ugandan dancers.
‘Driving force’
Ggiant screens showed footage of Brazil’s late soccer icon Pele from 1977, addressing the crowd at the old Giants Stadium on this same New Jersey site following his final professional game. Pele passed away in 2022, months after the last World Cup.
PS22 Chorus, a New York school choir that has gone viral globally with YouTube covers of popular hits, closed out the show, with Coldplay — whose singer Chris Martin curated the entire performance — and characters from “The Muppets” and “Sesame Street.”
The FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund was described by organizers as the “driving force” behind the halftime show.
It disburses cash to community groups that provide education and sport to under-priviliged children in countries from Ghana and South Africa to France and the United Kingdom.
The fund aims to raise $100 million. It had passed $60 million before the show, including a $1 donation from every World Cup ticket sold, plus contributions from corporations, nation states and private donors.
FIFA has already announced 58 groups that will receive grants, reaching 400,000 children worldwide.
Even before the game, a parade of stars took the microphone to whip up the crowd.
Post Malone headlined a closing ceremony, and Tom Cruise delivered a monologue about football unifying the world — but was largely drowned out in the stadium by singing fans.
Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger and Jennifer Hudson were among further A-list performers.
The European champions shaded possession at the MetLife Stadium in a game of few clear-cut chances.
Teenager Lamine Yamal had an early effort while Mikel Oyarzabal shot straight at Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez later in the opening period.
New Real Madrid signing Marc Cucurella came close for Spain as he flashed a shot across goal shortly before half-time.
Lionel Messi’s Argentina are aiming for a fourth World Cup crown while Spain are seeking to win the trophy for a second time.
Trump Arrival
US President Donald Trump arrived on Sunday for the World Cup final at the MetLife Stadium near New York where Argentina will take on Spain at the climax of the 48-team tournament.
Trump’s helicopter set down next to the stadium as long lines of spectators waited to enter the venue through enhanced security checks.
Team News
Lionel Messi’s Argentina made three changes to their starting line-up for Sunday’s World Cup final against Spain as the holders attempt to become the first team since 1962 to retain the trophy.
Gonzalo Montiel, who scored the winning penalty in the shootout in the 2022 final win against France, comes in at right-back in place of Nahuel Molina for Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina.
The other changes see Rodrigo De Paul return in midfield, where Nico Gonzalez also starts, with Leandro Paredes and Giuliano Simeone making way.
Argentina reached the final by defeating England 2-1 in Wednesday’s semi-final in Atlanta following a dramatic late comeback.
Messi, 39, is appearing in his third World Cup final and starts the day on eight goals at the tournament, two behind France’s Kylian Mbappe in the race for the Golden Boot.
The Argentina skipper has scored 21 goals overall at World Cups, one behind Mbappe’s record of 22.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente named the same line-up that started the 2-0 semi-final victory against France.
Lamine Yamal, who can become the third-youngest player ever to win a World Cup, just six days after his 19th birthday, starts on the right wing for the defending European champions.
Spain are aiming to win a second World Cup after their previous triumph in 2010.
If Argentina win it will be their fourth title, which would put them level with Germany and Italy and one behind record five-time champions Brazil.
Starting line-ups
Spain: Unai Simon; Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella; Rodri (capt), Fabian Ruiz; Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Alex Baena; Mikel Oyarzabal
Coach: Luis de la Fuente (ESP)
Argentina: Emiliano Martinez; Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Nico Gonzalez; Enzo Fernandez; Lionel Messi (capt), Julian Alvarez
Coach: Lionel Scaloni (ARG)
Referee: Slavko Vincic (SLO)