Spain lifts 2026 World Cup after Messi and Argentina fall short
Spain beat Argentina 1-0 as the first 48-team World Cup wrapped after matches across Mexico, the U.S. and Canada.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
Spain ended the 2026 FIFA World Cup on top, beating Argentina 1-0 in the final and stopping Lionel Messi’s side from claiming a second straight title, according to NBC News.
The tournament closed Sunday after opening June 11 in Mexico and then spreading across the United States and Canada. NBC News described the event as the first World Cup to include 48 teams, a bigger field that brought more countries, more fan scenes and a wider set of breakout names into the frame.
In the final at New York New Jersey Stadium, NBC News’ photo coverage showed Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez fouling Spain’s Pau Cubarsi in a play that resulted in a red card. Another image showed Messi reacting after Argentina’s 1-0 defeat.
A bigger World Cup, and a packed photo reel
NBC News said its photo team looked back at the tournament through images of fans, players, match scenes and celebrations. The gallery stretched from stadiums in North America to watch parties and shelters thousands of miles away.
France and Morocco’s quarterfinal at Gillette Stadium produced on-field celebrations, according to a FIFA/Getty image cited by NBC News. Other fan shots included a London watch party, Japan supporters in Houston, U.S. fans at Los Angeles Stadium and a Haiti supporter in Port-au-Prince.
The tournament also carried the sport’s biggest names through another summer spotlight. Messi was pictured during Argentina’s match against Switzerland in Kansas City. France’s Kylian Mbappé was shown celebrating a goal against Sweden in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated after scoring for Portugal against Croatia in Toronto.
New faces, old icons and fans everywhere
NBC News pointed to Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha as one of the new heroes of the tournament. Its selected images included Vozinha during a match against Argentina in Miami Gardens, Florida, paired with a Cape Verde supporter holding a replica trophy in Houston.
Other scenes caught the tournament’s global reach. Palestinian football fans in Khan Younis watched Australia against Egypt, while a young fan followed Belgium against Senegal on a laptop as people sheltered at a metro station during Russian air attacks in Kyiv, according to Getty images cited by NBC News.
Back in the host countries, supporters made their own moments. Norway fans rowed in the stands during a match against Ivory Coast in Arlington, Texas. Mexico teammates lifted Guillermo Ochoa after a victory over Czech Republic in Mexico City. Scotland supporters filled the stands for a match against Haiti in Boston.
There was heartbreak, too. NBC News included Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham after England’s loss to Argentina at Atlanta Stadium, and a Buenos Aires crowd watching the final on a giant screen as Messi and Argentina chased another title.
The closing snapshot was clear: Spain had the trophy, Argentina had been stopped, and the expanded 2026 World Cup left behind a month of goals, crowds and images from far beyond the pitch.
This story draws on original reporting from NBC News.