About the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Spain are the 2026 FIFA World Cup champions. They beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the Final on July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with Ferran Torres scoring the only goal in the 106th minute. It was Spain's second World Cup title after 2010, and they added it to the Euro 2024 crown they already held. The tournament ran from June 11 to July 19, 2026 — 39 days across 16 cities in three countries (the United States, Canada and Mexico), the first World Cup ever staged by three nations and the largest in history with 48 teams and 104 matches.
The Final: Spain 1-0 Argentina
The Final pitted the reigning European champions against the defending world champions. Ferran Torres settled it with a left-footed volley in the 106th minute, assisted by a Nico Williams header from a Pedro Porro cross. Argentina finished with ten men after Enzo Fernandez was sent off for a second yellow card in the 120th minute. Lionel Messi, aged 39, became the oldest player ever to appear in a World Cup Final. Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon kept another clean sheet — his seventh of the tournament — to secure the trophy.
Golden Boot, Golden Ball & the Awards
Kylian Mbappe of France won the Golden Boot with 10 goals and 4 assists — the highest single-tournament goal tally since Gerd Muller also scored 10 in 1970. Spain midfielder Rodri took the Golden Ball as the best player, ahead of Messi (Silver Ball) and Mbappe (Bronze Ball). Unai Simon won the Golden Glove with seven clean sheets, and Spain's 19-year-old Pau Cubarsi was named Best Young Player. The leading scorers were Mbappe (10), Messi (8), Jude Bellingham (7) and Erling Haaland (7).
Semi-Finals, Third Place & the Host Nations
Spain reached the Final by beating France 2-0 on July 14 (Oyarzabal penalty and Pedro Porro), while Argentina beat England 2-1 the next day thanks to a late comeback. In the third-place match, England beat France 6-4 in a ten-goal thriller on July 18. All three host nations reached the Round of 16 but none went further: Canada lost 0-3 to Morocco, Mexico lost 2-3 to England, and the USA lost 1-4 to Belgium — the biggest margin of that round. The tournament had opened on June 11 with Mexico beating South Africa 2-0 at the Estadio Azteca.
The 48-Team Format & Historic Firsts
The 2026 World Cup expanded the field from 32 to 48 teams, split into 12 groups of four. The top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed sides advanced to a brand-new Round of 32, so Spain had to win eight knockout matches to lift the trophy — one more than any previous champion. AT&T Stadium in Dallas was the largest venue (over 94,000), SoFi Stadium the most expensive ever built, and the Estadio Azteca became the first stadium to host World Cup games at three tournaments (1970, 1986 and 2026). Curaçao and Norway — back after 28 years with Haaland — were among the debutants and returnees who lit up the group stage.
Want a deeper read on the tournament? Our 2026 World Cup Trivia & Facts Guide covers the final, the awards, every host city and the format firsts in long-form. Prefer a head-to-head challenge? Try the ⚔️ 2026 World Cup Battle — pick-A-or-B matchups on stadiums, results and teams. Ready for more? Try our World Cup History Quiz (1930–2022) covering every tournament from Uruguay to Qatar, or our NBA Finals Quiz — 100 questions on championship history from Bill Russell to SGA.
2026 World Cup: Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the completed 2026 FIFA World Cup — the champions, the final, the awards, the semi-finals, the format and the host nations. Every answer below is verified against FIFA official records and Wikipedia, and mirrors the structured FAQ data on this page.
Who won the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Spain won the 2026 FIFA World Cup — their second title after 2010. They beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the Final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with Ferran Torres scoring the winner in the 106th minute.
What was the score in the 2026 World Cup Final?
Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time. Ferran Torres scored the only goal in the 106th minute, assisted by Nico Williams. Argentina's Enzo Fernandez was sent off in the 120th minute, and Lionel Messi, aged 39, became the oldest player ever to appear in a World Cup Final.
Who won the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot and Golden Ball?
France's Kylian Mbappe won the Golden Boot with 10 goals and 4 assists — the most in a single World Cup since Gerd Muller in 1970. Spain's Rodri won the Golden Ball as best player, and Spain's Unai Simon won the Golden Glove with 7 clean sheets.
How did the host nations USA, Canada and Mexico do in 2026?
All three co-hosts reached the Round of 16 but none advanced further. Canada lost 0-3 to Morocco, Mexico lost 2-3 to England, and the USA lost 1-4 to Belgium — the biggest margin of the round.
Who reached the 2026 World Cup semi-finals?
Spain beat France 2-0 and Argentina beat England 2-1 to reach the Final. In the third-place match, England beat France 6-4. Spain and Argentina reached the last four from opposite sides of the draw.
How many teams played in the 2026 World Cup?
The 2026 World Cup featured 48 teams — expanded from 32 — divided into 12 groups of four. The top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams advanced to a new Round of 32, meaning the champions had to win 8 knockout matches.
Where was the 2026 World Cup Final held?
The Final was played on July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey — officially called New York New Jersey Stadium during the tournament because FIFA bans sponsor names at venues. The opening match was at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Which countries hosted the 2026 World Cup?
The 2026 World Cup was co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico — the first World Cup ever staged by three nations. It ran June 11 to July 19 across 16 host cities with 104 matches, and the Estadio Azteca became the first stadium to host World Cup games at three tournaments (1970, 1986 and 2026).
All questions verified against FIFA official records and Wikipedia's 2026 FIFA World Cup article. Quiz questions are independently fact-checked against the same sources, plus ESPN and BBC Sport. Last reviewed July 2026.
- FIFA — Official 2026 FIFA World Cup site (schedule, venues, groups)
- Wikipedia — 2026 FIFA World Cup article (format, history)
- ESPN — 2026 World Cup teams & groups
- BBC Sport — World Cup 2026 coverage