From Uruguay’s inaugural triumph in 1930 to Spain’s dramatic victory at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the tournament has produced some of football’s most memorable moments.
Over nearly a century, only a handful of nations have claimed the sport’s most coveted trophy, cementing their place in football history.
Spain crowned FIFA World Cup 2026 champions
Spain lifted the FIFA World Cup for the second time after edging defending champions Argentina 1-0 in extra time in the 2026 final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The championship match was closely contested, with Spain dominating possession for much of the game while Argentina found it difficult to create clear scoring opportunities. Goalkeeper Emiliano MartÃnez kept the South Americans in contention with a string of crucial saves, denying efforts from Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres and Pau CubarsÃ.
Argentina’s challenge became even tougher in stoppage time when midfielder Enzo Fernández received a second yellow card and was sent off, forcing the reigning champions to play the remainder of the match with 10 men.
Spain briefly believed they had broken the deadlock early in extra time through Nico Williams, but the goal was ruled out following a foul in the build-up. The decisive moment eventually came in the 106th minute when Williams headed the ball into the path of Ferran Torres, who blasted his finish into the top of the net.
The victory secured Spain’s second World Cup title, their first since winning the tournament in South Africa in 2010. It also denied Lionel Messi and Argentina the opportunity to retain the trophy in what is expected to be the legendary forward’s final FIFA World Cup. Spain’s unbeaten streak also stretched to 38 international matches, setting a new European record.
FIFA World Cup winners by year
| Year | Host Nation(s) | Champions | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | Uruguay | Uruguay | Argentina |
| 1934 | Italy | Italy | Czechoslovakia |
| 1938 | France | Italy | Hungary |
| 1950 | Brazil | Uruguay | Brazil* |
| 1954 | Switzerland | West Germany | Hungary |
| 1958 | Sweden | Brazil | Sweden |
| 1962 | Chile | Brazil | Czechoslovakia |
| 1966 | England | England | West Germany |
| 1970 | Mexico | Brazil | Italy |
| 1974 | West Germany | West Germany | Netherlands |
| 1978 | Argentina | Argentina | Netherlands |
| 1982 | Spain | Italy | West Germany |
| 1986 | Mexico | Argentina | West Germany |
| 1990 | Italy | West Germany | Argentina |
| 1994 | United States | Brazil | Italy |
| 1998 | France | France | Brazil |
| 2002 | South Korea & Japan | Brazil | Germany |
| 2006 | Germany | Italy | France |
| 2010 | South Africa | Spain | Netherlands |
| 2014 | Brazil | Germany | Argentina |
| 2018 | Russia | France | Croatia |
| 2022 | Qatar | Argentina | France |
| 2026 | Canada, Mexico & United States | Spain | Argentina |
Spain’s 2026 triumph adds another chapter to the World Cup’s rich history, joining an elite group of nations to have won football’s biggest prize. Brazil remain the tournament’s most successful team with five titles, followed by Germany and Italy with four each, while Argentina now have three championships. Spain’s latest success moves La Roja onto two World Cup titles alongside Uruguay and France.