World Cup 2026: Final - Spain vs Argentina

Today marked the end of the 2026 World Cup. We had Spain taking on Argentina. Lamine Yamal, perhaps the new heir to the best player in the world, against Lionel Messi, perhaps the greatest of all time. But it was also about Spain trying to win their second World Cup after getting their first in 2010. Argentina were looking to win it back to back and get their fourth overall. It had the makings for an all-time game. So for the last time, here are my thoughts on how it went down:

Spain 1-0 Argentina

Spain dominated the first half without creating many chances. They had 65% possession with 3 shots (2 on target). But it was Argentina's numbers that told the real story. 0 shots, 0.00xG, and 0 touches in the opposition box. They could get nowhere near Spain. But going into half at 0-0 was just fine for Argentina.

We then had the first ever halftime show at a World Cup and I have to touch on that before getting back to the game. I actually didn't mind it overall as a production. My problem was that there never should have been a halftime show in the first place. It honestly makes a mockery of the whole thing. What FIFA should have done was have a big celebratory performance like that before the opening game of the World Cup. Preferably the day before. Or if it had to be associated with the final, do it before the game. The whole thing really brings about the issue of the Americanization of the sport. I could write a whole blog about it but to sum things up, I'm against it. I love the game for the play on the field but I also appreciate how it isn't like the other big American sports (which I am also a fan of). Trying to make soccer as "American" as possible is just something I'm firmly opposed to.

Back to the game though, Spain continued their dominance into the second half. And they started to put more pressure on Argentina's back line. Spain created multiple chances and forced 8 saves out of Emi Martinez in the Argentinian goal. A handful of them were straight at Martinez but the goalkeeper did his job. There was a huge moment three minutes into stoppage time when Enzo Fernandez got himself sent off for Argentina. After receiving a yellow earlier in the game for dissent, Enzo got a second yellow for taking out Pau Cubarsi. Just a boneheaded move, especially when your team can barely get any of the ball. Before the half was done, Martinez would get called into action and make a diving save from a Lamine Yamal free kick. It ensured the game went to extra time at 0-0.

After the 90 minutes, Argentina still had zero shots and only two touches in the opposition box. It didn't get much better in the first half of extra time. Spain would have the ball in the back of the net in the 96th minute through Nico Williams but it ended up being ruled out for a foul. It looked soft in my view but Mikel Merino did accidentally step on the foot of Nicolas Otamendi before the ball made its way to Williams.

Spain would finally get their breakthrough less than a minute into the second half of extra time. Williams headed a Pedro Porro cross at the far post back into the middle and Ferran Torres was there to fire home and give his side a well-deserved 1-0 lead. Argentina would finally get into the game a bit as Spain were trying to see the game out. They got their first (and only) two shots of the game and Giuliano Simeone had a great chance to equalize just past the 120 minute mark but fired over. It was the last opportunity Argentina would have and Spain would comfortably see the remaining few minutes out to become World Champions.

I first want to touch on Argentina's tournament before getting to the winners. You can't knock Argentina's heart and their determination. They pretty easily got through their group as winners but required late goals in all of their four knockout games before the final in order to get through. They beat Cape Verde, Egypt, and Switzerland all in extra time before scoring two goals after the 85th minute to beat England in the Semifinal. They were just never dominant in any of their knockout games. At some point, pulling out results like they had in their games leading up to the final just had to dry up. And it did here. Although, they did have a chance to steal it and send it to penalties late. But in the end, soccer won.

Spain were just phenomenal. They also easily won their group, though they started with a 0-0 draw against Cape Verde. But unlike Argentina, Spain were mostly dominant in the knockouts. They easily handled Austria 3-0, lulled Portugal to sleep and won 1-0, beat Belgium 2-1 and then France 2-0 before this Final. It was their ability to not only hold the ball in possession but to win it back quickly that made it so tough on teams. They forced everyone to play their game. As the Final went on at 0-0, I thought there was a chance that Argentina would just get one moment and pull out a win. That can happen to teams that are clearly the better side but don't get the ball in the back of the net. But Spain eventually got it done and they absolutely deserved to win this game and the World Cup. And with their star attacker and star defender both only 19 years old, the future is even brighter.

With that, it's the end of the 2026 World Cup and these blogs. I gave my thoughts on the tournament as a whole in this blog from yesterday. So to close things out, I'll say this: I had a great time writing all of these. I'm actually really surprised that I stuck with it and covered every game. Well, except for the third place game which hilariously ended up as a 6-4 win for England over France. It figures. But now I get my full focus back on RIFC. You know, the team that this website and content group is actually supposed to cover. I hope to see you all there. UP THE TIDE!