It is over. One hundred and four matches. Three hundred and eight goals. The FIFA World Cup 2026™ has its winner — and it is Spain, 1–0 against Argentina after extra time at New York New Jersey Stadium, Ferran Torres with the only goal in the 106th minute, the trophy lifted under the fireworks of a New Jersey night.
Missed any matches from the FIFA World Cup 2026™? Catch all replays, highlights, and full match coverage on ZEE 5. With ZEE 5 FIFA Subscription Quarterly Plan at ₹799 or the Annual Plan at ₹1,699.
Spain — World Champions Again
Sixteen years. That is how long it took Spain to lift the FIFA World Cup trophy again. In 2010 in Johannesburg, Iniesta scored in extra time, and Spain won their first World Cup. In 2026 in New Jersey, Ferran Torres scored in extra time, and a different generation achieved the same thing.
This Spain side was the most complete team of the tournament, and the numbers prove it. One goal conceded across eight matches. Their defensive structure, anchored by Rodri and the centre-back partnership of Cubarsí and Laporte, gave opponents almost nothing. The final against Argentina was the tightest examination they faced all tournament: 120 minutes, a red card for Argentina in the final seconds of normal time, a disallowed goal through VAR, and then Torres, 37 seconds into the second half of extra time, settling it with a finish into the roof of the net. Spain was outstanding throughout the match.
It is a remarkable story — Euro 2024 followed by World Cup 2026, a feat the 2010 golden generation also achieved. If they continue to play like this, this squad will have a legitimate claim to being the greatest in Spanish football history.
Argentina — So Close to History
Argentina came to the United States as the defending champions, with Lionel Messi, Mac Allister, Romero, Emiliano Martínez, and a genuine chance of doing something that had not been done in over sixty years — winning back-to-back World Cups. The last team to achieve it was Brazil in 1958 and 1962. For much of this tournament, it looked possible.
Emiliano Martínez made ten saves in normal time alone. They reached extra time with the scoreline level but with a man down. Enzo Fernández received a red card at the 90+3rd minute. Torres’ goal sixteen minutes into extra time ended it. So close. They have been stretched in every match since the beginning of the knockout stage. They came back every time. But in the final against Spain, they fell short.
Messi likely played his last international match at New York New Jersey Stadium. He was quiet in the Final by his standards — but those standards are unlike any other player who has ever lived. He goes home as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. A World Cup in 2022. A Final in 2026. A legacy that no result can diminish.
The Tournament in Numbers
104 matches across more than thirty days and sixteen host cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. 308 goals — an average of just under three per game. A record-breaking tournament for individual achievement: Kylian Mbappé finishing as the all-time leading FIFA World Cup™ goalscorer with 22 goals across three tournaments. Michael Olise setting the single-tournament assist record with seven, surpassing Pelé’s mark from 1970. Jude Bellingham becoming the highest-scoring England player in World Cup history with seven goals. Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí at 19 — a generation of young players announcing themselves on the biggest stage in football.
Until 2030
The stadiums are empty now. The tournament that redefined what a World Cup can look like — bigger, louder, more goals, more records, more drama — is done. The players fly home. The managers reflect. The fans remember.
Spain are world champions. Mbappé made history. And somewhere, the 2030 World Cup is already being planned.
It has been an extraordinary month of football. Thank you for following every moment of it on ZEE 5.
The FIFA World Cup 2026™ is over — but every match, every goal, and every record is available to replay on ZEE 5. Don’t miss a moment of the greatest World Cup in history.
Disclaimer: Subscription pack prices are subject to change from time to time. Please visit the subscription page for the most up-to-date pricing information.
