World Cup news

Argentina’s players have been branded "classless" and an "embarrassment" after turning their backs on Spain during the World Cup trophy presentation. Following a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat in extra-time, Lionel Messi and his team-mates refused to watch as their opponents celebrated at the New York/New Jersey Stadium.

Argentina's president has confirmed that a public holiday will be granted to honour the squad's tournament campaign in North America. Despite losing the showpiece finale to Spain in extra time, Javier Milei announced that the players and coaching staff will be allowed to choose the exact date for the upcoming celebrations.

At the end of a gruelling battle of footballing philosophies, Spain are world champions once again. It was control vs chaos in the 2026 World Cup final as Luis de la Fuente's pass masters came up against the holders and experts in the dark arts, Argentina. Ultimately, after 120 minutes of bruising action, La Roja (and football) would prevail 1-0, leaving Lionel Messi disconsolate.

The 2026 World Cup came to a close in New Jersey on Sunday as Spain were deservedly crowned champions after a dour 1-0 win over 10-man Argentina in one of the worst finals in the tournament history. La Roja substitute Ferran Torres scored the only goal of a game that was essentially attack versus defence even before Enzo Fernandez got himself stupidly sent off for a second yellow card in the final minute of normal time.

The 2026 World Cup has reached its conclusion, with Spain emerging triumphant as they captured another global title. A memorable tournament in North America saw superstar performers from every corner of the planet take centre stage. Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham all illuminated proceedings, but Rodri signed off with the best player prize.

Former England captain Wayne Rooney has delivered a scathing assessment of the first-ever World Cup final halftime show, admitting he couldn't wait for the music to stop. The Manchester United legend was left unimpressed by the star-studded spectacle at MetLife Stadium, which featured global icons like Madonna, Shakira, and Justin Bieber.

The former Argentina talisman Angel Di Maria quickly reached out to his compatriots to offer comfort after Lionel Scaloni's men suffered a painful extra-time defeat. Writing on social media, the legendary winger fiercely defended the squad's incredible legacy and insisted that a single match would never diminish their standing as icons of the nation.

The 2026 World Cup is over, and so is the race for the prestigious Golden Boot - the award given to the tournament's top scorer. With the expanded 48-nation tournament coming to a close, following a month of thrilling action in North America, which star has taken home the illustrious award? Here, GOAL lists the tournament's most prolific performers.

Spain's World Cup celebrations produced one of the defining images of the tournament as Lamine Yamal embraced a devastated Lionel Messi following the final whistle. Argentina's 1-0 defeat left the Albiceleste heartbroken, while the emotional exchange between football's past and present quickly became the enduring image of the night.

Nico Paz has sent an emotional message of defiance to supporters following the Albiceleste's agonising defeat in New York. Despite not featuring on the pitch during the showpiece event, the youngster voiced his immense pride in the squad and focused on long-term redemption by promising to secure the trophy in the future.

Unai Simon has described Spain’s World Cup glory as "madness" after the Athletic Club goalkeeper played a key role in La Roja’s historic march to the title. The 29-year-old was awarded the Golden Glove after maintaining a near-impenetrable wall at the back, helping his nation reclaim the trophy for the first time in 16 years.

Cristian Romero has sparked intense debate online following a controversial moment during the post-match presentation in New York. The Argentine centre-back appeared to have entirely ignored US President Donald Trump while receiving his runners-up medal, capping off a thoroughly uncomfortable evening for the American leader at MetLife Stadium.

Spain’s dominance extended beyond the World Cup trophy, with Rodri headlining the tournament’s official award winners. France's Kylian Mbappe took home the Golden Boot after scoring 10 goals, while Unai Simon and Pau Cubarsi earned individual honors as nearly 6.9 million fans attended the expanded 104-match competition across North America.

Nicolas Otamendi targeted his former club team-mate Rodri following a chaotic end to the showpiece event in New York. The Argentina centre-back felt the Spanish squad spent the build-up deliberately applying pressure on the officials, suggesting these complaints directly contributed to their heartbreaking extra-time defeat.

Lionel Messi came under fire after appearing to urge the referee to send off Marc Cucurella during the World Cup final. The Argentina captain's reaction followed Enzo Fernandez's dismissal, with former England international Lee Dixon calling the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner's behaviour "ridiculous" during the dramatic match.

Luis de la Fuente praised Spain's "sublime" team performance after their victory in the 2026 World Cup final over Argentina, insisting collective discipline was the key to victory. The Spain boss also revealed how his side limited Lionel Messi's influence and credited his players' dedication for delivering football's biggest prize.

Spain's extra-time hero Ferran Torres has reflected on his historic contribution after firing his nation to global glory in a tense encounter in North America. The forward believes their dramatic triumph was predestined, praising his team-mates' resilience against formidable opponents before acknowledging the divine strength that guided them to ultimate victory.