Spain Snatches World Cup Title from Defending Champions

Spain’s national team was crowned champions of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, for the second time in their history, after a hard-fought and well-deserved 1-0 victory over Argentina in extra time during the final on Sunday evening, reclaiming the title they previously won in 2010 in South Africa.

With this victory, this marks the fourth title won by European national teams against South American sides in World Cup finals, compared to eight titles claimed by teams from the Latin American continent against Europe, across 12 encounters between the two continents in the finals since the tournament’s inception in 1930 in Uruguay.

The first European victory over a Latin American team in a World Cup final came in 1990 in Italy, when West Germany defeated Argentina thanks to a penalty goal by Andreas Brehme. The second title followed in 1998 in France, when the hosts secured a convincing 3-0 win over Brazil, with Zinedine Zidane scoring a brace and Emmanuel Petit adding another goal.

Europeans waited 16 years for their third title at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where Germany edged out Argentina with a goal by Mario Götze in extra time. Twelve years later, European teams reasserted their dominance over the World Cup trophy as Spain defeated Argentina in the 2026 final.

Thus, Europe avenged their loss in the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar, which Argentina won by defeating France on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw in regular and extra time.