Torres Strikes in Extra Time as Spain Dethrone Argentina to Win the World Cup
A 106th-minute goal against ten men gives Spain their second world title and ends a 16-year wait, as visa rows over Iran and other nations shadow the tournament
Spain claimed their second FIFA World Cup crown on Sunday, beating defending champions Argentina 1-0 after extra time in a dramatic final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with substitute Ferran Torres striking the only goal.
Introduced in the 62nd minute in place of Mikel Oyarzabal, Torres finished from close range in the 106th minute after Nico Williams headed Pedro Porro’s cross into his path — rewarding a Spanish side that had dominated possession but long struggled to make it count, and ending a 16-year wait since their 2010 triumph in South Africa.
A red card turns the final
The decisive moment came at the end of normal time, when Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernández was sent off for a second yellow card after a reckless challenge on Pau Cubarsí. Reduced to ten men through extra time, the champions could not hold out against Spain’s pressure.
Luis de la Fuente’s side controlled the game throughout and fashioned the clearer chances, while Argentina failed to register a single shot in the 90 minutes. Lionel Messi’s blocked effort late in extra time was among his team’s few real attempts as Spain saw out the win.
The final closed the first 48-team World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico — an expanded tournament of a record 104 matches that produced an unprecedented 308 goals. France’s Kylian Mbappé took the Golden Boot with 10 goals and, in the process, became the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer with 22 career goals, passing Messi’s record.
Visa restrictions cloud the tournament
For all the spectacle, the tournament was shadowed by off-field controversy, as human rights groups, supporters’ organisations and commentators condemned US travel restrictions that complicated entry for fans from a number of African, Asian and Latin American countries.
Iran became the most prominent example. Despite qualifying, the Iranian delegation was hit by US visa restrictions, with several members denied entry and the squad forced to arrive only hours before kickoff for its group match before leaving immediately afterward under tight travel limits. The measures drew sharp criticism from Iranian officials, supporters and rights advocates, who argued that political considerations had undermined the principle of equal participation at football’s biggest event.
Reference: PressTv