An extra-time goal from Ferran Torres against Argentina made Spain the 2026 FIFA World Cup champions, beating the former world champions 1-0 at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.
This victory, following Spain’s European Championship win in 2024, signals the start of a Spanish footballing dynasty as the squad — with its average age of 26.5 years — features some of world football’s most exciting young prospects namely, Pau Cubarsí, Pedri, Gavi, Nico Williams and, of course, Lamine Yamal.
Of this exciting crop of youngsters, Cubarsí was awarded the 2026 FIFA Young Player Award for his high-quality performances at the World Cup, with his name listed alongside other greats to win the award such as Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer, Thomas Müller, and Kylian Mbappe.
Dominating their opponents, Spain suffocated Argentina tactically, quelling any Argentine chances at goal as the second-place side recorded zero shots until the 115th minute of the final.
While Argentina have soared in the knockout rounds of the tournament through late reversals, the cruel side of football emerged as Enzo Fernández — the 2022 FIFA Young Player Award recipient — cost Argentina the chance at back-to-back World Cup trophies through his avoidable red card.
In a world where Fernández didn’t receive a red card and the match went to penalties, perhaps Argentina would have won while the youth-filled Spain cracked under pressure.
To the credit of both teams, in the final they employed the same strategy used in their previous World Cup games, which former captain of Germany and World Cup winner Philipp Lahm views as essential to success.
Unluckily for Argentina, Fernández’s red card left them in uncharted waters tactically whereas Spain’s commitment to their World Cup strategy provided them with unrivalled dominance in the final, a dominance only Cabo Verde could withstand across Spain’s entire campaign!
While Spain celebrate this impressive victory, I can’t help but wonder what this new dynasty of Spanish football will achieve.
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