FIFA World Cup 2026 Final LIVE: Argentina 0-1 Spain Live Updates
Extra-time Second half begins: Argentina 0-1 Spain (Ferran Torres gives Spain the lead)
106 min: Back underway. We are heading towards a penalty shootout unless either team scores before this half ends.
106 min: GOAL!!! Finally a goal, Ferran Torres finds a way through for Spain in extra-time, fine strike after a knock down from Nico Williams.
110 min: Mac Allister booked as things become rather desperate for Argentina.
113 min: NO GOAL! Spain with a goal to protect are probably the last team you want to face as they keep the ball so well and Torres thinks he’s scored a second but he is caught offside.
115 min: Messi gets too much on a whipped cross, though Unai Simon has to keep an eye on the ball as it lands on the top of his net.
117 min: Merino then puts his head on the line, literally, taking Messi’s effort right on the forehead.
120 min: Superb defending from Spain to stop a sure-fire equaliser.
120+1 min: BIG CHANCE MISSED! Messi’s corner is cleared as far as Simeone but he shoots over.
FULL-TIME: Argentina 0-1 Spain
SPAIN WIN THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP!!!
Extra-time begins: Argentina 0-0 Spain (RED CARD! Enzo Fernandez sent-off)
Kick-off: We're underway in the first period of extra-time.
93 min: Nico Williams gets on the end of Pedri’s lovely clipped cross but can’t make good contact with the ball and Martinez makes the save.
96 min: NO GOAL!!! Williams has the ball in the net, but the goal is not going to count. Foul spotted by Merino, that’s soft!
98 min: Double change for Spain as Zubimendi and Garcia replace Rodri and Laporte.
102 min: Yamal tries to bend an effort into the far corner but he gets it all wrong.
103 min: Argentina respond with a defensive change as Senesi takes over from Alvarez.
102 min: BIG CHANCE! Great ball in by Williams, Merino shakes off his marker but heads wide. You were expecting him to score.
Half-time: And it’s still goalless.
Second half begins: Argentina 0-0 Spain
46 min: Spain gets the second half underway.
47 min: Paredes is on for Gonzalez at the break as Baena tests Martinez with a sighter after sloppy play from Argentina.
51 min: Late tackle from Baena on Montiel draws a scream from the Argentina defender. Replays showed there wasn’t much in that.
52 min: Bit of commotion as Paredes shoves Rodri down off the ball, he does the same to Olmo which earns the Argentine midfielder a yellow card.
55 min: Big clearance! Spain cut through Argentina with two passes, but they try to walk the ball in the net and lose the chance. Fabian tried to lay the ball back for Oyarzabal but Argentina got enough bodies back.
56 min: Superb defending from Montiel as he tracks Cucurella onto the penalty spot and gets in front of the Spain defender to clear Olmo’s cut-back for a corner.
58 min: Montiel is replaced by Molina. Straight swap at right-back as Scaloni looks to steady Argentina's defence.
60 min: Paredes, already on a yellow card, clips the left leg of Porro and Spain have a free-kick in a dangerous position.
61 min: Yamal strikes his free-kick right into the Argentina wall and that’s followed by fine work from Alvarez to win a throw-in.
62 min: Double change for Spain sees Ferran Torres and Pedri replace Oyarzabal and Fabian.
64 min: Goalkeeper Martinez with a scary moment for Argentina as he spills Olmo’s shot and concedes a corner.
65 min: Vital touch from Paredes to head Yamal’s dangerous cross away before Martinez flaps at another cross which he manages to get away with.
67 min: Lamine Yamal’s first cross is poor, but his second cross finds Ferran Torres who heads straight at Argentina goalkeeper Martinez.
70 min: Back from the hydration break and Romero and De Paul are replaced by Medina and Simeone. I make that five Argentina changes now.
73 min: Argentina to commit bodies forward, but Simeone’s cross is really poor. Not a good first impression after coming on.
75 min: Substitution for Spain as Baena and Olmo make way for Williams and Merino.
77 min: Pedri gets a shot way but he was being shoved in the back by Alvarez. He wonders why he’s not won a free-kick. Double save from Martinez follows and then Spain win a corner.
80 min: It’s all Spain at this point as Porro wins yet another corner.
81 min: Pedri and Williams combine, the latter gets to the byline and manages to stand up a cross to the back post for Laporte who heads straight at Martinez.
82 min: Enzo Fernandez earns himself a booking for dissent. He wanted a foul, referee said no and his reaction puts him in trouble.
87 min: Merino lifts a ball into Torres and he swivels and shoots, but can’t wrap his foot around the ball and Martinez watches the effort drift wide.
89 min: Rodri with time and space, but the Spain captain unleashes an effort that is high and wide.
90+1 min: Into four minutes of stoppage time and Messi is fouled. Free-kick is well away from goal, but it’s a chance to send the defenders up.
90+3 min: Chances at both ends as Simeone’s cross is poor before Williams shoots straight at Martinez on the break.
90+4 min: RED CARD! Enzo Fernandez sent-off for a second bookable offence. Really daft tackle to make when already on a yellow card and so close to extra-time.
90+6 min: Torres draws a foul from Paredes - also on a yellow card - and Spain have a free-kick in a very dangerous position. It favours Porro, this could be the final kick of the World Cup final.
90+8 min: Yamal takes but Martinez flings himself across his goal to make the save.
Full-time: There goes the whistle to signal extra-time.
Argentina vs Spain FIFA World Cup Final match starts
The referee, Slavko Vincic from Slovenia, gets us underway – and it is Argentina who kick off proceedings.
2 min: Spain start in their typical style. Pressing high to win the ball back. They do so, then retain in their usual passing rhythm.
4 min: The first touch for the Argentinians sees them roll the ball along the midfield and through the backline. Nothing comes of it and possession turns over again.
5 min: Lamine Yamal has the first chance of the final after a sharp one-two into the box. His shot from a tight angle is smothered.
12 min: Baena’s corner is a deep one and it finds Olmo at the back post, but Romero is quick to close down the midfielder’s first touch.
15 min: Mac Allister with a crunching tackle on Olmo, leaving the Spain midfielder in a heap on the floor. No yellow card produced as the Argentina No20 gets away with just a warning.
17 min: Really good clip into the box from De Paul, just couldn’t pick out Gonzalez round the back. At the other end, Yamal produces a sublime first touch before sending in a teasing low cross which Martinez claims.
18 min: Good defending from Porro just as it looked like Gonzalez had the beating of the Spain right-back.
24 min: Messi tries to wriggle his way past two Spain players but is pulled back. Argentina have a free-kick but it will not be taken until after the first hydration break of the World Cup final.
27 min: On we go as referee Slavko Vincic blows for the hydration break.
29 min: Wonderful play from Yamal as he turns Tagliafico on the touchline and the Argentina left-back is left with no other choice but to bring him down.
32 min: A first glimpse of Spain’s left winger, who drops a shoulder to beat his man. The resulting cross is header clear by the packed Argentina defence inside their box.
33 min: Chance for Argentina to send up their defenders for a free-kick which is played short and then possession is lost.
38 min: Defending for Argentina to do, they deal with the Spain danger but the defending champions are having major issues getting out.
39 min: Spain beginning to build momentum as Mikel Oyarzabal is denied by Emiliano Martinez.
41 min: Lisandro Martinez into the book for a tackle on Mikel Oyarzabal from behind.
43 min: Cucurella takes aim from range but Martinez watches the ball go wide. Argentina goalkeeper had his angles covered.
43 min: Worry for Argentina as Martinez signals that Lisandro Martinez needs to go off. Otamendi ready to come on.
45 min: Referee adds four minutes of additional time.
45+3 min: Defensive work form the Argentina captain Messi to help win the ball back before drawing a foul from Oyarzabal.
Half-time: Spain 0-0 Argentina. Both teams head to the dug out.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Final LIVE: Argentina 0-1 Spain Live Updates
Hello and welcome to Legit.ng's live coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina.
The wait is over. After a month of unforgettable football across the United States, Canada and Mexico, the 2026 FIFA World Cup comes down to one final showdown as Spain and Argentina battle for the biggest prize in the game at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
It is the first World Cup final in 60 years to feature the reigning European champions against the reigning South American champions, adding another layer of history to an already mouthwatering contest.
Spain are chasing only the second World Cup title in their history, having last lifted the trophy in South Africa in 2010.
Luis de la Fuente's side have been one of the tournament's standout teams, combining defensive discipline with attacking flair to reach the final after eliminating France.
Across the pitch stands an Argentina side determined to defend the crown they won in Qatar four years ago, with Lionel Messi leading La Albiceleste into yet another major final as he continues his remarkable international career.
We will bring you every key moment as it happens, including confirmed team news, live text commentary, goals, major incidents, tactical analysis and post-match reaction as Spain and Argentina fight to write the final chapter of this historic tournament.
