Spain defeats Argentina 1-0 in 2026 World Cup final; Argentina team due in Buenos Aires same day

Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on July 19 in New Jersey. Ferran Torres scored the winning goal in extra time after a pass from substitute Nico Williams. Enzo Fernandez received a red card for Argentina during the match.

The victory marked Spain's second World Cup title after its 2010 win in South Africa. Lionel Messi played the final for Argentina and cried at the end. Spain had eliminated France in the semifinal. The Spanish squad's flight is scheduled to land in Madrid at 12:50 p.m.

Local time on July 20. King Felipe VI will receive the players at Zarzuela Palace. An open-top bus parade will start at Moncloa and proceed to Cibeles Square, where a ceremony is planned. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's attendance remains unconfirmed because of a trip to Algeria.

Madrid officials expect about one million people along the route. Authorities will deploy 2,050 police officers and 400 Civil Guard personnel. Madrid Mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida said he had little sleep from the celebrations and match tension.

A 13-year-old boy died around midnight on July 19 in Ciudad Rodrigo when a fountain collapsed under the weight of celebrating supporters. Overnight festivities left the Castellana avenue covered in rubbish, beer cans, and glass shards. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to greet the Argentine team in Buenos Aires at 5 p.m.

Spain's women's national team won the Women's World Cup in 2023, and the country will co-host the 2030 tournament with Portugal and Morocco.