Spain v Argentina: World Cup 2026 final goes to extra time – live

Williams taps a loose ball into the net but the referee has penalised Merino for a challenge just before that. I think he’s given it for a challenge on Otamendi rather than the keeper, but it looks pretty soft.

A VAR check is ongoing.

93 min Pedri’s flat cross brushes the head of Williams and is pushed away by the diving Martinez. A fairly comfortable save; I think Williams might have been offside anyway. But Martinez is racking up the saves: that’s his 11th. Argentina haven’t even managed a shot off target.

91 min Extra time is under way. No more substitutions.

Spain have dominated every facet of the game. They lead too, but only when it comes to men on the field: it’s 11-10 after Enzo Fernandez was sent off after receiving two yellow cards. Argentina have been so ineffective that victory on penalties is surely inevitable.

The World Cup final is heading to extra-time, but first we’ll have a two-hour concert from Blink 182. All the hits.

Yamal curls the free-kick around the wall and Martinez flies to his left to push it round the post! A dramatic save, but one he’d expect to make.

90+6 min Paredes, who is also on a yellow, trips Ferran Torres 23 yards from goal. That could have been another red card. I don’t think it quite reached the threshold but it wasn’t far away.

90+5 min Now Messi is claiming that Marc Cucurella covered his mouth while talking to him. That’s quite interesting because he ignored it when Declan Rice did something similar the other day.

We haven’t seen a replay but play has resumed so Cucurella has presumably been cleared.

90+5 min After complaining for 60 seconds or so, Enzo Fernandez finally leaves the field.

The ball rebounded back upfield after that Martinez save. Fernandez clattered into Cubarsi, who went flying, and was given a second yellow card. The contact wasn’t that bad but it was a stupid challenge from Fernandez and there’s no way this will be overturned.

90+3 min The free-kick eventually leads to a poor low cross from Simeone, too close to Simon. Spain break and Williams whacks a shot from 20 yards that is beaten away by Martinez. And then…

90+2 min Messi runs into Laporte and goes flying. Argentina’s players complain but the referee settles for a free-kick.

90+1 min “One of those World Cup knock-out games when you pray from 80 mins that there won’t be an undeserved late winner,” writes Adam Hirst, “because this match deserves ET and the pain of pens.”

90+1 min There will be four minutes of added Spain possession.

90 min Rodri breaks forward, into space, only to shoot over from 25 yards.

Spain have been much the better team – but Emi Martinez still hasn’t had a really difficult save to make.

89 min “Will Argentina’s first shot on target be their first or second penalty?” asks Phil Moseley.

88 min “Well,” says Alan Baverstock, “it’s a waste of time bringing Merino on, he couldn’t possibly do it again.”

Lightning never strikes thrice, eh.

87 min Merino clips a pass into the area for Torres, who drags a shot on the turn well wide. That was a very tough chance.

85 min Fernandez blocks Spain from taking a quick free-kick, but does it in an ostensibly clumsy manner that makes it hard for the referee to give him a second yellow card. Argentina are living dangerously in more ways than one.

83 min Hate the match, love the gallery.

82 min Enzo Fernandez is booked for dissent, then sarcastically applauds the referee. Careful now.

81 min Laporte heads straight at Martinez after another chipped cross from the byline. He was under pressure so it wasn’t an easy chance.

80 min “Hi Rob,” writes Michael O’Connor. “How, I wonder, would Jorge Valdano describe this match?”

79 min Messi watch: see 102 min.

78 min Spain have had 10 shots, seven on target. Argentina: zilch. Nada. Bugger all.

77 min Pedri scurries to the edge of the area and forces a shot that is comfortably saved by Martinez. He was off balance after a slight push in the back.

Moments later Cubarsi hits a crisp shot from 25 yards that is almost pushed into his own net Martinez. It was straight at him but he dived too far and couldn’t make a clean save as a result.

75 min: Double substitution for Spain Mikel Merino, who has already beaten Portugal and Belgium in this World Cup, and Nico Williams come on for Alex Baena and Dani Olmo.

Spain (4-1-4-1) Simon; Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri; Yamal, Merino, Pedri, Williams; Torres.

Argentina (4-1-3-2) E Martinez; Molina, Otamendi, Medina, Tagliafico; Paredes; Simeone, Enzo, Mac Allister; Messi, Alvarez.

73 min “Nice of them to replay the final from USA 94,” writes Dan Gill. “Wake me up when Viola comes on.”

72 min These are the updated teams.

Spain (4-1-4-1) Simon; Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri; Yamal, Olmo, Pedri, Baena; Torres.

Argentina (4-1-3-2) E Martinez; Molina, Otamendi, Medina, Tagliafico; Paredes; Simeone, Enzo, Mac Allister; Messi, Alvarez.

70 min: Double substitution for Argentina Facundo Medina and Giuliano Simeone replace Cristian Romero and Rodrigo De Paul. Blimey.

69 min It’s time for the last hydration break of the World Cup.

68 min Since you asked, the infamous Argentina team of 1990 had one attempt at goal in the final. West Germany had 23.

A succession of corners for Spain, who continue to make all the running. Argentina haven’t had an attempt at goal, on or off target.

After another corner is half cleared, Yamal stands up a cross from the byline and Torres strains his neck muscles to plant a downward header straight at Martinez. Not a sitter, but a decent chance.

65 min “While the MBMs are wonderful, the addition of a poet laureate elevates the art form to new heights,” writes Daniel Stauss. “Three cheers for Ollie!”

64 min Olmo’s shot from 22 yards is fumbled round the post by Emi Martinez. It was straight at him by bounced awkwardly and startled Martinez when it bounced out of his grasp. The spin could have taken it into the net but it bounced wide of the post.

63 min These are the updated teams.

Spain (4-1-4-1ish) Simon; Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri; Yamal, Olmo, Pedri, Baena; Torres.

Argentina (4-1-3-2) E Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico; Paredes; De Paul, Enzo, Mac Allister; Messi, Alvarez.

62 min: Double substitution for Spain Pedri and Ferran Torres replace Fabian Ruiz and Mikel Oyarzabal.

61 min Yamal’s free-kick hits the wall.

60 min Argentina look like they’re waiting for the cold shower of going 1-0 down. They’ve offered nothing in attack, in total contrast to that devastating last half-hour against England.

Pedro Porro is fouled 25 yards from goal by Paredes, who has been booked and needs to be careful. The referee tries to spray his foam, which explodes in the face of Alex Baena. “Better than the half-time show, that,” says Lee Dixon on ITV.

59 min “My introduction to World Cup finals was as an 8 year old watching in black and white in 1966,” writes Brian Withington. “Can’t recall much about the half-time show but I do remember needing a trip to the garden for fresh air after the dastardly last minute West German equaliser.

“Fortunately the boys from West Ham were eventually able to make it their third Wembley trophy on the trot and proper order in the universe was duly established. Couldn’t imagine 60 years later watching this shower of shi colourful spectacle with England still waiting for a second golden star.”

58 min: Argentina substitution That’s Montiel’s last contribution; he’s replaced at right-back by Nahuel Molina. He didn’t look injured but it’s hard to be sure.

56 min Olmo gets the byline and cuts the ball back towards Cucurella. Montiel tracks him excellently and lumps the ball behind for a corner.

55 min The best move of the match from Spain falls down when Fabian Ruiz’s return pass to Oyarzabal is cut out. In truth Oyarzabal probably should have played the ball to Yamal rather than slipping a straight pass into Fabian Ruiz in the area, but it was a lovely move.

54 min “Argentina are holding onto 0-0 until the 85th minute,” says Mark Childs. “Is there a better way to unleash Messi?”

Make sure you’re 1-0 down in the 85th?

52 min Rodri goes down off the ball, which leads to a bit of pushing and shoving. Dani Olmo also ends up on the floor and Paredes is booked.

Replays show that Paredes blocked Rodri with a stiff arm. Not sure whether he was booked for that or whether he was the one who pushed Olmo.

51 min Okay, maybe not: Facundo Medina, known to his friends as Funky Cold, was getting ready to come on but has now sat back down.