Spain has affirmed their position as the best team of the 2026 World Cup with a convincing 1-0 victory over Argentina in the final. This is not a breathtaking score chase like 4 years ago, but it is one of the most overwhelming finals in the history of the tournament, where La Roja completely controlled the game from beginning to end.
Ferran Torres' only goal was a worthy reward for the superior performance of coach Luis de la Fuente's team. Spain launched up to 20 shots, while Argentina almost did not create significant opportunities. The European team made more than 400 passes in the opponent's half, controlled the game and forced Argentina to retreat deep to defend for most of the time.
Even Lionel Messi, who was expected to close his World Cup career with a memorable performance, could hardly make a difference. Argentina only really rose up in the final minutes, but all efforts failed against Spain's tightly organized defense.
The victory in the final is a continuation of La Roja's convincing journey. After a goalless draw against Cabo Verde on the opening day, De la Fuente's team played better and better. They defeated a series of strong opponents, including France in the semi-finals and Argentina in the finals, and conceded only one goal throughout the tournament.
Spain's biggest strength lies in their ball control ability. They held the ball more than the opponent in all 8 matches at the 2026 World Cup and had a ball possession rate of up to 74% right from the opening match. The smooth passing style not only helps La Roja impose the game but also becomes an effective defensive option when the opponent almost has no chance to deploy attacks.
Rodri showed the class of a world-class midfielder when he controlled the midfield and was voted the Best Player of the tournament. Behind him, Aymeric Laporte commanded a solid defense. However, Spain's success did not come from an individual but from collective strength.
Luis de la Fuente possesses an admirable squad depth. Even when the final match still had no goals, he still boldly withdrew Rodri and Laporte from the field. Names coming on as substitutes such as Martin Zubimendi or Eric Garcia still helped the team maintain a dominant game, showing uniform quality in all positions.
Besides Rodri, Spain also dominates the individual awards of the 2026 World Cup. Pau Cubarsi was honored as the best young player of the tournament, while Unai Simon won the Golden Glove after a very stable tournament. Notably, Simon even made fewer saves in the whole tournament than the number of times Emiliano Martinez had to save in the final alone.
After the first World Cup championship in 2010, Spanish football went through a period of decline. However, they have never given up the ball control philosophy that makes up their identity. The appointment of Luis de la Fuente is proof of their belief in traditional playing style, while paving the way for a new generation to inherit old values.
The 2026 World Cup championship, along with three EURO titles in less than two decades, continues to affirm the position of Spanish football on the world map. After 104 matches of the biggest World Cup in history, La Roja is not only a worthy champion but also proves that controlled football is still capable of conquering the peak. The best team has been crowned, and that is Spain.
