How a young and cohesive Spain took down Lionel Messi’s Argentina - Al Jazeera

Spain won their second World Cup title by defeating holders Argentina in the final in New Jersey on Sunday, July 19, 2026, completing a remarkable turnaround after a shaky start to the tournament.
Under coach Luis de la Fuente, La Roja improved steadily through the knockout stages and produced a dominant final performance, controlling the match and neutralising Argentina's attacking threats.
Spain's campaign began underwhelmingly with a goalless draw against tournament debutants Cape Verde in Atlanta, a result many considered one of the most surprising in World Cup history, before they beat Saudi Arabia and edged Uruguay 1-0 in Guadalajara.
The team's defensive record was outstanding, conceding just one goal across the entire tournament while extending their unbeaten run to 38 matches.
Spain fielded one of the youngest squads of the 48 teams, with an average age of 26.19 and only six players over 30, leaning on youth including 19-year-olds Pau Cubarsi and Lamine Yamal, 23-year-old Pedri, and 24-year-old Nico Williams, who assisted the winning goal.
The victory marked a defeat for Lionel Messi's Argentina, contrasting Spain's youthful, cohesive approach with more veteran-laden sides such as Brazil, who had 11 players over 30 and an average age of 28.65.