Spain claimed the FIFA World Cup 2026 title after defeating defending champions Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday. Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute to hand Spain its second men's World Cup crown and deny Lionel Messi a successful title defence. Along with lifting the trophy, Spain also received the tournament's highest prize money as FIFA distributed a record-breaking financial package for the expanded 48-team competition.
The FIFA Council had earlier approved a total financial contribution of USD 727 million for the tournament, including USD 655 million in prize money for the participating teams. Spain, as champions, earned USD 50 million, while runners-up Argentina received USD 33 million. England, who defeated France in the third-place playoff, collected USD 29 million, with fourth-placed France taking home USD 27 million.
Teams finishing between fifth and eighth place each received USD 19 million, while those placed between ninth and 16th earned USD 15 million. Nations finishing from 17th to 32nd were awarded USD 11 million each, and teams ranked between 33rd and 48th received USD 9 million. The prize structure represented a 50 percent increase compared to the previous FIFA World Cup, reflecting the tournament's expansion and increased commercial revenues.
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Spain also dominated the individual honours following its successful campaign. Midfielder Rodri was named the recipient of the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player after playing a pivotal role throughout Spain's unbeaten run. Goalkeeper Unai Simon won the Golden Glove award after helping Spain concede just one goal in eight matches, while defender Pau Cubarsi received the FIFA Young Player Award for his impressive performances during the competition.
France captain Kylian Mbappe finished as the tournament's leading scorer to claim the Golden Boot after scoring 10 goals and providing four assists. Argentina captain Lionel Messi received the Silver Boot after ending the tournament with eight goals, while England midfielder Jude Bellingham secured the Bronze Boot. Messi was also awarded the Silver Ball as the tournament's second-best player, with Mbappe receiving the Bronze Ball.
The FIFA Fair Play Trophy was awarded to the Netherlands for its disciplinary record during the tournament. Spain's victory capped an outstanding World Cup campaign in which the team remained unbeaten and conceded only a single goal. Ferran Torres' extra-time strike not only secured the championship but also completed one of the most successful tournaments in Spanish football history, with the nation now holding both the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship titles.
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