2026 FIFA World Cup: Live blog - Spain v Argentina, the World Cup Final

2345 BST So that is that, the World Cup concludes with Spain winning a second title. It has been the biggest, whether it has been the best is up to others to judge. Good night everyone.

INFANTINO AND TRUMP STEP ON TO THE PODIUM WITH THE TROPHY AND SPAIN LIFT THE WORLD CUP

RODRI STEPS FORWARD TO COLLECT HIS MEDAL FROM TRUMP, AND KISSES THE WORLD CUP TROPHY

DAVID RAYA, MARTIN ZUBIMENDI AND MIKEL MERINO ARE PREMIER LEAGUE AND WORLD CHAMPIONS IN THE SAME SEASON, THE FIRST ARSENAL PLAYERS TO ACHIEVE THAT FEAT SINCE PATRICK VIEIRA AND EMMANUEL PETIT IN 1998

2338 Here come Spain, the Champions of the World, up to collect their winners medals, and lift the World Cup

2335 BST Argentina walk up to collect their Runners-up medals

2334 BST PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT - RODRI, SPAIN

2333 BST GOLDEN GLOVE - UNAI SIMON, SPAIN

2330 BST YOUNG PLAYER AWARD - PAU CUBARSI, SPAIN

2327 BST Finally the trophy arrives via Sergio Ramos, and here comes the Orange Monster, who is booed roundly by the crowd

2323 BST an extraordinary length of time since the game ended and still no trophy lift

2313 BST Donald Trump has to present the World Cup to Spain, after all the hell he has unleashed on this world, there is a certain delicious irony in that. Trump has publicly rebuked Spain many times because they stand for everything he does not, now he will stand alongside Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

SPAIN WIN THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP

FULL-TIME AFTER EXTRA-TIME SPAIN 1-0 ARGENTINA

A dominant win, but a terrible game. Spain win the FIFA World Cup for the second time.

Argentina react disgracefully with Paredes throwing punches.

2 minutes to play Spain 1-0 Argentina

121 mins Simeone smashes the ball over the bar from 12 yards, my word what a chance Spain 1-0 Argentina

5 minutes added on, inexplicably Spain 1-0 Argentina

119 mins brilliant from Messi, sets up Simeone who crosses into the box and Spain clear for a corner, which leads to another corner Spain 1-0 Argentina

5 minutes to go Spain 1-0 Argentina

113 mins Ferran Torres breaks away and scores, but is narrowly offside Spain 1-0 Argentina

SPAIN ARE ON THE VERGE OF WINNING THE TREBLE OF THE WORLD CUP, EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS AND OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL AT THE SAME TIME, THE FIRST COUNTRY TO EVER ACHIEVE IT

106 mins FERRAN TORRES VOLLEYS THE BALL INTO THE ARGENTINA NET RIGHT AT THE START OF THE SECOND PERIOD AND SPAIN FINALLY LEAD!!!  Spain 1-0 Argentina

A cross into the box, nodded back into the centre of the box by Williams and Torres smashes into the roof of the net.

This game has the hallmark of the 1990 Final where Argentina were a disgrace against Germany, the Germans found a way to win that game, will Spain?  Spain 0-0 Argentina

HALF-TIME IN EXTRA-TIME IT IS STILL NIL-NIL, there has still not been a goal in a USA World Cup Final, nearly 4 hours of football. Can Argentina really still win this? It would be the greatest steal in football history. Spain 0-0 Argentina

106 mins Messi passes the ball out wide and Argentina break, they get a throw-in in the Spain defensive third  Spain 0-0 Argentina

3 minutes added on, Argentina with some possession at last  Spain 0-0 Argentina

102 mins clear chance for Merino and he heads wide! Another chance for Spain  Spain 0-0 Argentina

101 mins Julian Alvarez is taken off, surely a potential penalty taker for Argentina replaced  Spain 0-0 Argentina

98 mins Arsenal's Martin Zubimendi comes on for Rodri, can he and Merino add the World Cup to the Premier League? We will know over the next 25 minutes or so  Spain 0-0 Argentina

96 mins GOAL DISALLOWED FOR SPAIN! Mike Merino slides in to attempt a shot, the rebound comes off the keeper and Williams slots home, this should stand, no foul whatsoever  Spain 0-0 Argentina

94 mins Point-blank header from Williams is saved by Martinez, Argentina hanging on Spain 0-0 Argentina

Two World Cup Finals in the USA between Brazil and Italy, and Spain and Argentina have been absolute stinkers! 32 years ago I was on a family holiday in Devon, tonight I am in Cupar, and both games have been atrocious! 210 minutes and no goals.

98 mins LAMINE YAMAL'S FREE KICK IS SAVED BY MARTINEZ AND THE WORLD CUP FINAL HEADS FOR EXTRA TIME Spain 0-0 Argentina

96 mins Paredes with a mental foul about 25 yards out Spain 0-0 Argentina

95 mins last attack for Spain? Spain 0-0 Argentina

92 mins wasted by Argentina, but wait a RED CARD FOR ENZO FERNANDEZ! A second yellow card for the Chelsea man, a ridiculous challenge and Spain will surely fancy their chances now Spain 0-0 Argentina

91 mins Free kick for Argentina for a block on Messi about 45 yards from the goal Spain 0-0 Argentina

4 minutes added on, remarkable Spain 0-0 Argentina

89 mins Rodri hammers a shot well over the bar Spain 0-0 Argentina

86 mins Merino sets up Torres, but his shot is scuffed wide Spain 0-0 Argentina

85 mins deary me the two finals played in the USA have been atrocious Spain 0-0 Argentina

Into the last 10 minutes, and yet another Spain corner Spain 0-0 Argentina

77 mins Spain ramping the pressure up Spain 0-0 Argentina

76 mins Pedri shoots from the D and it is comfortably saved by Martinez Spain 0-0 Argentina

74 mins Mikel Merino and Nico Williams come on for Spain, can Merino do it again for Spain? Spain 0-0 Argentina

71 mins we have had some incredible games at this World Cup, this hasn't been one of them Spain 0-0 Argentina

Hydration break, which is needed by nobody after a 27-minute half-time Spain 0-0 Argentina

66 mins Brilliant run from Yamal, his cross is met by Ferran Torres, but his head is straight at Martinez, Spain pushing for the opening goal Spain 0-0 Argentina

65 mins Spain dominating the game but they cannot get through the Argentine defence, Messi is anonymous so far Spain 0-0 Argentina

63 mins Olmo's shot bounces in front of Martinez and the keeper spills it wide of the goal Spain 0-0 Argentina

61 mins the shot is blocked and Argentina win a throw, Spain make changes but not the time for Mikel Merino just yet Spain 0-0 Argentina

60 mins Spain win a free-kick on the right side of the box, a chance for Yamal Spain 0-0 Argentina

55 mins a fine Spain move and Olmo pulls the ball back into the centre of the box, and Montiel denies Cucarella a clear chance Spain 0-0 Argentina

51 mins some Argie-bargie from Paredes on Rodri and Argentina are doing their best to disturb Spain, it is complete dominance in terms of possession from Spain but they cannot create anything Spain 0-0 Argentina

47 mins Corner to Argentina, a chance for them to get bodies into the Spain box Spain 0-0 Argentina

46 mins Bayenda cuts inside and his shot is tricky for Martinez but the Argentine former Arsenal keeper saves it Spain 0-0 Argentina

Spain get the second half underway Spain 0-0 Argentina

Here come the players for the second half, the final 45 minutes of Lionel Messi in the World Cup, can he inspire his team to a historic win?

Gabby Logan says 38 million people have tuned in to BBC Coverage of the World Cup, a stunning fact that shows they are BY FAR the biggest Broadcaster in this country.

A video of Pele, who used to play in the former Giants Stadium, appears on the big screen, before Miss Piggy and Kermit appear! A fun-filled carnival of entertainment at half-time, we can only hope for more of this in the second half. This has been amazing, easily a rival to the Super Bowl Half-time show.

Now it is Shakira! Splendid stuff.

And now it is Justin Bieber with a rendition of his 2025 track Everything Hallelujah, with special lyrics referencing the World Cup, a fantastic show so far

Now it is Ted Lasso!

Characters from Sesame Street perform, followed by BTS

The icon arrives in a car driven by Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, ONLY in America!

Madonna opens the Half-time Show, this will surely be better than that first half

HALF-TIME  Spain 0-0 Argentina A DOUR FIRST HALF AT THE METLIFE STADIUM

4 minutes added on  Spain 0-0 Argentina

43 mins Looks like Lisandro Martinez is going off injured here, Otamendi comes on  Spain 0-0 Argentina

41 mins Argentina will be happy, Spain have had all the ball but have created virtually nothing so far Spain 0-0 Argentina

40 mins Booking for Lisandro Martinez for a clear foul on Oyarzabal stopping the break  Spain 0-0 Argentina

38 mins Spain are dominant now, but still failing to create a chance. Just as I say that Oyarzabal's shot is saved by Martinez Spain 0-0 Argentina

33 mins so far this final is more USA 94 than Qatar 2022, the match between Brazil and Italy in the Rose Bowl is renowned as being viewed as the worst World Cup Final ever Spain 0-0 Argentina

28 mins No clear cut chance so far, the game need a big moment Spain 0-0 Argentina

23 mins another corner to Spain, and Martinez catches and we should be heading for the hydration break Spain 0-0 Argentina

19 mins Argentina are doing well to disrupt the Spanish rhythm Spain 0-0 Argentina

14 mins MacAllister with a very late tackle on Olmo but no yellow card for the Argentine Spain 0-0 Argentina

12 mins Corner to Spain, which is cleared but Spain regain possession and have a throw Spain 0-0 Argentina

7 mins Spain passing around, but Argentina are fiercely closing down the European Champions, it has been a competitive start to this final Spain 0-0 Argentina

4 mins Spain nearly go ahead, Lamine Yamal released by Olmo and his shot is deflected and saved by Martinez, now Argentina break and Simon denies Messi 40 yards outside his box! Spain 0-0 Argentina

2 mins Argentina keeping the ball well early on, but largely in their own half as Spain press high Spain 0-0 Argentina

Argentina Kick-off

2003 BST Both teams in their first choice kits today for a World Cup Final, which just makes it better for everyone.

1959 BST The National Anthems

1955 BST The teams are in the tunnel, can we possibly see a game to come close to the Final in Qatar? Maybe, just maybe.

1953 BST Tom Cruise delivers the closing eulogy to this World Cup ahead of the players entering the arena

1951 BST Andres Iniesta, and Mario Kempes bring the World Cup trophy onto the pitch

1948 BST Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger and Laura Pausini perform the FIFA Anthem, Desire.

1946 BST Given the war of words between Trump and Spain, it would be quite sweet to see him present the trophy to La Roja today.

1945 BST Jennifer Hudson performs the National Anthem of the United States of America.

1941 BST The sun is shining and the atmosphere is crackling at MetLife Stadium ahead of this monumental match

1940 BST Well we have finally arrived at the final game of the biggest World Cup in history, the 104th match of one of the biggest sporting events ever staged, and we are set for one of the most compelling finals ever played, with the European Champions Spain taking on the World and South American Champions Argentina.

Tonight Spain can claim the World Cup for the second time ever, Argentina can defend the trophy successfully and lift it for a fourth time. The irresistible footballing force of Spain against the immovable object of Argentina, who have the Greatest Footballer of All-time.

What a game we are in for.