# Spain beat Argentina in extra time to win 2026 World Cup

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/spain-wins-2026-world-cup-against-argentina-messis-career-ends-as-celebrity-spectacle-and-halftime-show-steal-focus/
- Published: 2026-07-20T09:12:14+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-20T15:12:45+00:00
- Topics: Americas, Art, Business, Celebrity, Culture, Entertainment, Europe, Football, Government, Markets, Music, Offbeat, Politics, Sport, UK, Weird & Viral, World

## Key points

- Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time to win the 2026 World Cup
- Substitute Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal
- Messi's likely final World Cup ends in defeat; halftime show panned

## Summary

Spain have won the 2026 FIFA World Cup, beating Argentina 1-0 after extra time at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with substitute Ferran Torres scoring the winning goal. The result secures Spain's second World Cup title and brings a disappointing end to what is widely regarded as Lionel Messi's final World Cup campaign, though most observers felt Spain's overall performance merited the victory.

Coverage of the final increasingly focused on its off-pitch spectacle as much as the football itself. The match drew a celebrity-filled crowd including Tom Cruise, Shakira, Blake Lively, Dua Lipa and Mick Jagger, while FIFA's first-ever World Cup halftime show, headlined by Madonna and Justin Bieber, was widely criticised by fans and former players as a disappointment.

## Coverage

- [Daily Mail: Dua Lipa is joined by her husband Callum Turner as Anya Taylor-Joy and Mick Jagger lead the British stars watching the match as Spain win the World Cup](https://www.dailymail.com/tvshowbiz/article-15989073/Robbie-Williams-World-Cup-final.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490)
- [Daily Mail: Donald Trump ignores FIFA president’s call to leave the stage as he joins Spain’s World Cup final trophy lift in awkward moment](https://www.dailymail.com/sport/football/article-15989333/donald-trump-spain-world-cup-metlife.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490)
- [Fox News: Matt Damon, Tom Cruise and Shakira headline packed celebrity crowd at World Cup final](https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/matt-damon-tom-cruise-shakira-headline-packed-celebrity-crowd-world-cup-final)
- [Daily Mail: Ivanka Trump stuns in haltered gown as she attends World Cup final with Bettina, Tiffany and Lara](https://www.dailymail.com/sport/football/article-15989153/bettina-trump-sisters-ivanka-lara-tiffany-world-cup-final.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490)
- [Daily Mail: Blake Lively breaks cover as she appears at World Cup final after fleeing the country following Taylor Swift wedding](https://www.dailymail.com/tvshowbiz/article-15989189/blake-lively-world-cup-final-new-jersey.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490)
- [Daily Mail: World Cup fans brand FIFA’s first-ever halftime show a ‘disaster’ as Madonna and Bieber’s bizarre spectacle divides billions](https://www.dailymail.com/sport/football/article-15989089/World-Cup-final-halftime-madonna-justin-bieber-reaction.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490)
- [Daily Mail: Wayne Rooney savages ‘c**p’ World Cup final halftime show and says ‘the best part was when it ended’](https://www.dailymail.com/tvshowbiz/article-15989155/Wayne-Rooney-savages-controversial-World-Cup-final-halftime-British-fans.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490)
- [Billboard: World Cup Final 2026: 8 Things You May Have Missed On TV](https://www.billboard.com/lists/world-cup-final-2026-things-you-missed-tv/)
- [The Guardian: Spain are world champions – World Cup Daily](https://www.theguardian.com/football/audio/2026/jul/20/spain-are-world-champions-world-cup-daily)
- [Daily Mail: Lamine Yamal’s adorable three-year-old brother steals the show again as he shares heartfelt moment with World Cup winner on the pitch](https://www.dailymail.com/sport/football/article-15989509/Lamine-Yamal-three-year-old-brother-World-Cup.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490)
- [Daily Mail: Distraught Lionel Messi bursts into tears as his World Cup career ends in heartbreak after brutal loss to Spain](https://www.dailymail.com/sport/football/article-15989289/lionel-messi-world-cup-career-ends-tears.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490)
- [Daily Mail: Superstar soccer spectators! See all the big celebrities who attended the World Cup Spain vs Argentina World Cup final](https://www.dailymail.com/sport/football/article-15988955/World-Cup-final-celebrities-spain-argentina-nyc.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.