Spain won its second World Cup title on Sunday, July 19, 2026, beating Argentina 1-0 in extra time at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, the first time soccer’s biggest match has ever been decided in New Jersey.
Substitute Ferran Torres settled a tense, scoreless final in the 106th minute, burying a left-footed shot under the crossbar. Spain held the extra man for the entire overtime period after Enzo Fernandez was sent off in second-half stoppage time, picking up a second yellow card for a reckless challenge.
Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez kept the defending champions alive with a record number of saves, setting a new mark for a World Cup final, but he could not deny Torres. The result gave Spain its second world crown, adding to the title it first won in 2010.
The final capped a 39-day tournament that put the New York and New Jersey region at the center of the sports world. MetLife Stadium, home of the Giants and Jets and about 30 miles east of Rockaway, widened its field and pulled more than 1,700 seats to meet FIFA standards, and staged the first halftime show in World Cup history, headlined by Madonna, Shakira and BTS.
For Rockaway and Morris County soccer fans, it was a rare chance to watch the world’s biggest game unfold in their own backyard. Many made the short drive to the Meadowlands or filled local bars and living rooms for a final played closer to home than any before it.
