Spain have been confirmed as FIFA World Cup champions after beating Argentina 1-0 in the final, played in New York, in a result that likely brings Lionel Messi's international tournament career to a close. Despite the defeat, Argentine media outlets such as Clarín and La Nación praised their team's performance and commitment, framing the run as a source of national pride rather than dwelling on the loss.

The final drew a substantial UK audience of 15.8 million viewers across BBC One and BBC iPlayer, underlining the scale of interest in the tournament. The half-time show, featuring Madonna and Justin Bieber, attracted widespread criticism from viewers over its quality and became a talking point in its own right. Other storylines from the tournament included the popularity of Lamine Yamal's three-year-old brother as an unexpected fan favourite, and renewed attention on EA Sports FC's pre-tournament simulation, which had predicted the outcome.