Spain edged Argentina 1-0 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., to win the World Cup final, the last of 104 matches in a tournament that began with 48 teams, giving Spain the title for the second time.
The match included a halftime show that FIFA staged as its first halftime extravaganza, featuring Madonna and Justin Bieber and also showcasing performances by Shakira, BTS and The Muppets, plus surprise appearances by Brazilian soccer legends Ronaldinho and Ronaldo; the production had been described as rivaling the Super Bowl's.
Fans gathered across North America from New York to San Francisco and Toronto to watch the final, and spirits were high despite none of the three tournament co-hosts — the United States, Canada and Mexico — making it to Saturday's conclusion.
The World Cup final swelled the population of the stadium's home town: local elected official Jeffrey Lahullier's 10,000-person town sees its population grow by more than 800 percent whenever there is an event at the stadium complex.
Lionel Messi, 39, and Spain's 19-year-old Lamine Yamal met for the first time in a head-to-head competition; Messi called the matchup "una locura" at a fan event in New York and entered the game with 10 goals in the tournament. Spain arrived having conceded only one goal in seven games and after wins over three top-10 teams: a 1-0 victory over No. 5 Portugal, a 2-1 quarterfinal win over No. 9 Belgium and a 2-0 semifinal win over No. 3 France. Yamal, who had just turned 19 last week, overcame a quad injury earlier this spring to emerge as a key player for the young Spanish side. Argentina's run had been marked by late drama: in none of its four knockout games did Argentina hold the lead at the 90-minute mark, with two stoppage-time winners and two victories after going ahead in extra time, capping a period that included the 2022 World Cup title, two Copa América trophies and the 2022 Finalissima while being led by Messi.
A crowd of about 80,000 was expected at MetLife Stadium, where the cheapest tickets on secondary market sites were selling for nearly $10,000; forecasters had called for clear skies and a high of 80 degrees at kickoff after days of wildfire smoke and a Saturday downpour that prompted a flash flood alert.
Nicole Valdes reported from MetLife Stadium, and Jesse Kirsch filed a report dated July 18, 2026.