The second half played out in similar fashion, with Argentina failing to have a shot in 90 minutes before Enzo Fernandez changed the game, the midfielder sent off for a poor challenge on Pau Cubarsi as he earned two yellow cards in around 10 minutes.
It left Argentina with a mountain to climb in extra time as they looked to fight back against Spain’s dominance, and eventually the advantage told, with Torres opening the scoring after a clever header from Nico Williams.
In the end, it was enough for Spain to secure a win that was far more dominant than the scoreline suggests, with Luis de la Fuente producing a managerial masterclass to give La Roja their second World Cup triumph.
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Here’s how the players rated in the World Cup final:
Spain
Unai Simon, 6: The Spain keeper was alert early on to stop Messi going clean through, but that was almost the only thing he had to do all game as Argentina failed to have a shot before 90 minutes.
Pedro Porro, 7: The Tottenham man defended well when called upon, notably when shepherding Gonzalez off the ball after a promising opening for Argentina. He was always willing to join the attack and provided another outlet to help Spain dominate possession, and it was his cross that led to Torres’ goal in extra time.
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Pau Cubarsi, 7: The Barcelona youngster has benefitted from Spain’s settled displays and has formed a superb partnership with Laporte. He was once again mostly untroubled throughout this game as La Roja didn’t face a single shot within 90 minutes. He did well to nip in and beat Fernandez in the challenge that led to the red card, and helped make a decisive late block to keep Spain ahead.
Pau Cubarsi was the man fouled for Enzo Fernandez’s red card (Reuters)
Aymeric Laporte, 7: As with Cubarsi, he was almost entirely untroubled during his time on the pitch, as a consequence of both his own composure and skill as well as Spain’s near-flawless gameplan. Was forced to block off Messi late on at the expense of a yellow, but it was worth it, and he was later subbed in extra time. An impressive end to a near-flawless tournament for the Bilbao man.
Marc Cucurella, 7: Like his teammates, the full-back defended diligently when called upon, though he was rarely called upon. Instead, he was more impressive in possession, flashing an effort wide of the far post and constantly offering an outlet for his teammates, even in the final third.
Rodri, 8: The Spain midfielder may well be chasing another Ballon d’Or, and performances like this will certainly help his cause. He was at the centre of everything for much of the game, leading the Spain build-up, mopping up loose balls and breaking up rare Argentina attacks. This type of midfield performance is not as lauded as ones with goals or assists, but it’s so important to how this Spain team functions, and has led them to a second World Cup triumph.
Rodri produced another imperious showing as he helped Spain dominate Argentina (Getty)
Dani Olmo, 6: The Barcelona man could have had an assist early on after a lovely lay-off to Yamal. He is to the Spain attack what Rodri is to the defence and the build-up, though today it didn’t click in the final third despite Spain’s dominance of the ball.
Fabian Ruiz, 6: Helped Spain dominate possession in the opening stages as they suffocated Argentina. Showed flashes of his ability during some slick passing moves, and is another who showed why he’s important to the Spain set-up, even if he was unable to directly affect the game before coming off.
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LamineYamal, 6: Should probably have made it 1-0 with an early chance, though it was blocked well by Martinez. He provided a constant threat down the right but he was not his usual self, albeit he often found Argentina doubling up – or even tripling up – in defence. A quiet day for the 19-year-old, though he can afford a few of those in a team this talented.
Yamal found himself frustrated as the Argentina defence doubled up on him (Getty)
Mikel Oyarzabal, 6: It wasn’t to be for the Real Sociedad man, who could not repeat his heroics from the Euro 2024 final. He was fairly anonymous throughout, with his only effort of note testing Martinez outside the box. Showed flashes of why he’s important to the team but was not able to get as involved in attacks as he’d have liked.
Alex Baena, 6: The Atletico Madrid man didn’t have a lot to do in terms of defensive duties, but he was largely ineffective in attack during his time on the pitch, though he did dovetail well with Cucurella down the left.
Subs
Ferran Torres, 8: The nature of Spain’s play arguably means that their designated ‘centre-forward’ is one of the least involved players at times, and so it proved as both Oyarzabal and Torres struggled to impose themselves in attack. However, the Barcelona man has proven adept at picking his moment at club level, and he did so again as he arrived in the box to fire in an accomplished finish for the winner.
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Torres smashed in the opening goal in the 106th minute as Spain dominated a tired Argentina (AP)
Pedri, 7: Pedri is another player who might have been surprised by the number of minutes he’s seen this summer, but he slotted in seamlessly after coming on and was brilliant throughout, hardly putting a foot wrong as Spain began to turn the screw. He may not benefit from the synergy between Rodri, Ruiz and Olmo at the moment, but the Barcelona youngster will lead this team for years to come.
Mikel Merino, 7: The Arsenal man has been Spain’s surprise package so far this tournament and he was unlucky to have a foul ruled against him in the build-up to the disallowed goal. Headed wide from a great Williams cross when he probably should have scored.
Nico Williams, 8: The winger changed Spain’s attack after coming on, with his skilful dribbling, pace and directness causing problems as soon as he entered the pitch. He was unlucky to have a goal ruled out, and equally unlucky to see a superb cross headed wide by Merino, though he eventually got his assist after great work at the back post in heading down the cross for Torres’ winner. While he has had to sit on the bench at times throughout this tournament, this was another memorable final performance for the world and European champion.
Martin Zubimendi, 6: Came on to replace Rodri, and as was the case with the Euro 2024 final, slotted seamlessly into midfield. Probably benefitted from Spain’s numerical advantage, but was solid enough.
Eric Garcia, 6: Came on to shore up the defence but had little to do as Argentina tired and Spain’s numerical advantage told.
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Manager rating: Luis de la Fuente, 9: The flawless display from Spain was largely down to a manager who has proven himself as one of the best in the world in recent years. LaRoja were imperious as they nullified all of Argentina’s threats in a dominant display, limiting Argentina to just two shots and none on target while providing plenty of attacking threat. His subs were inspired too, with two combining to score the goal that won them the World Cup.
Luis de la Fuente got all the big decisions right (Reuters)
Argentina
Emi Martinez, 7: Eventually made a good stop from Yamal after Martinez’s deflection early on. Made a routine save from Torres’ close-range header before fumbling another long-range effort, but made a great save from a late Yamal free-kick. Made another good save from Williams early into extra time, a second in the lead-up to the disallowed goal, and could do little about the winner from Torres.
Gonzalo Montiel, 6: The defender was another who came into the side after a good cameo against England, but he had little to do early on up against an ineffective Alex Baena. Nevertheless, he was alert to make a clearance and stop Cucurella from having a free effort at goal in the second half just before he came off.
Cristian Romero, 6: The Tottenham man was not troubled too much in the first half despite Spain’s possession, and dovetailed well again with Martinez before the latter came off. He was subbed after the second hydration break, presumably due to injury of some sort, in a disappointing end to another tournament to remember. Can hold his head high alongside Martinez.
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Both Romero and Martinez were forced off as Argentina were victim of a defensive injury crisis (Reuters)
Lisandro Martinez, 6: A huge disappointment for the Manchester United defender, who was forced off inside the first half due to injury. He did make a solid contribution though, providing a decisive block early on to help Martinez stop a golden chance for Yamal. He was not troubled too much in the first half despite Spain’s possession, though was first to be booked after scything down Oyarzabal on the counter.
Nicolas Tagliafico, 5: Struggled up against Yamal early on, and somehow escaped a yellow card after bringing him down on the counter. Was helped out when they doubled up in defence, but offered little in attack and is another who will likely be retiring soon.
Nico Gonzalez, 5: His brief cameo against England was enough to earn the winger a starting berth but he was largely ineffective as Argentina toiled in the first half, before being replaced by Leandro Paredes at half-time.
Alexis Mac Allister, 6: The midfielder was probably lucky to escape an early yellow, and even more so after what looked like a fairly deliberate handball. However, he provided some badly needed composure in the first half, though he was also limited in what he could do in the face of Spain’s dominance.
Enzo Fernandez, 3: Having been the hero against England in an impressive outing, the Chelsea man was largely anonymous throughout the opening 90 minutes as himself and his midfield partners struggled to gain a foothold in the game. In the end it was a pathetic, petulant exit as dissent and a ridiculous foul saw him sent off in stoppage time, just as Argentina looked like they might be making their way into the game.
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A rash challenge from Fernandez earned the Argentina midfielder a second yellow card in stoppage time (Reuters)
Rodrigo De Paul, 5: Couldn’t impose himself on this game as he did in his cameo against England, and could do little to help his side as Spain dominated possession. Largely anonymous, but through no fault of his own.
LionelMessi, 5: The 39-year-old was kept unusually quiet in the first half as his side were stifled, and it was more of the same in the second half as Spain began to turn the screw and nullify their opponents. In the end it was a step too far for the little genius, who couldn’t do it all on his own this time, and was limited by a near-perfect tactical display from La Roja.
Julian Alvarez, 5: Another who was unable to make any sort of impact during his time on the pitch. It was a notably muted performance, but he got little help from his midfield and even his attacking partners.
Subs
Nicolas Otamendi, 6: Cleared well from a slick Spain attack and overall performed well in extremely difficult circumstances, though was powerless to prevent the defeat in the end.
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Leandro Paredes, 4: Came on at half-time and his first meaningful act was to get a yellow for a needless challenge and reaction. Struggled throughout, though perhaps through no fault of his own as Spain completely nullified their opponents. His time at this level is done, and he showed his frustration at the final whistle.
Paredes was involved in clashes after full-time (Reuters)
Giuliano Simeone, 5: The winger was a victim of his side’s muted performance, though he offered little in attack or as an outlet, and lacked composure as he blasted over from near the penalty spot in extra-time stoppage time.
Facundo Medina, 5: Was up against it as he came on for Romero, and while he did well to hold firm for so long, he could do little about the goal.
Nahuel Molina, 4: Another who was up against it as Spain began to dominate but lost Williams as the Spain winger headed down for the opener.
Marcos Senesi, 5: Could do little as he was forced to defend wave after wave of Spain pressure.
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Manager rating: Lionel Scaloni, 5: The Argentina boss has previously proven himself an astute manager but he was outclassed here by his Spanish counterpart. Part of that is down to his inferior squad options, but his changes made little difference and he was powerless to prevent his side delivering an abject performance.
Jul 19, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez (44) runs the bases after a home run hit by Seattle Mariners second baseman Cole Young (2) (not pictured) during the seventh inning against the San Francisco Giants at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez left Monday’s game after five innings against visiting Cincinnati after appearing to get hit in the left hamstring by a throw from Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz.
Rodriguez hit a chopper between third and short that De La Cruz backhanded. He double-clutched before making a throw that eluded first baseman Sal Stewart and struck Rodriguez. The Mariners’ star was credited with a run-scoring single to break a scoreless tie.
Rodriguez returned to the lineup Saturday after being on the 7-day concussion list since July 2 when he was hit in the back of the helmet by a throw while sliding into second base.
NEW YORK — Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Dennis Santana said he yelled at José Caballero for taking too long to get ready in the batter’s box, triggering a heated altercation in Monday night’s 8-5 loss to the New York Yankees.
Both benches and bullpens emptied after Caballero bounced into an inning-ending double play in the eighth. Santana got angry following the play, gesturing and shouting a few times at Caballero on the field.
“Just don’t (take) that long (at) home plate and that’s it,” Santana said when asked what he said to Caballero.
The right-hander was restrained by teammates Rafael Flores and Bryan Reynolds before order was restored after a few minutes without any punches or ejections.
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“Dennis just got frustrated by something,” Pittsburgh manager Don Kelly said. “Thankfully it didn’t end up being a big deal.”
Since the pitch clock was implemented in 2023, hitters are required to be in the batter’s box and facing the pitcher with eight seconds remaining on the clock. Caballero was trying to wait until the last second available during his at-bat, which lasted three pitches.
“I just grounded into a double play, turning my back to the coach at first base to give my guards to him, and he was chirping at me,” Caballero said. “I was a little bit surprised about it.”
Caballero had two hits, including a two-run double, before his at-bat against Santana, who has a 6.05 ERA in 44 appearances and gave up a game-ending two-run homer to Cleveland rookie Travis Bazzana on Saturday.
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“At this point, he’s lucky he doesn’t get a ball right away because at this point, it’s been four years with the same rules, which we all should know about the rules,” Caballero said. “The whole league should know who I am, what I do (in) the box, and they should be aware of it. For you to get mad at something that the league’s implementing — you shouldn’t be mad at me, you should be mad at someone else.”
During New York’s 8-3 win in Toronto on June 14, Caballero was issued a warning for intentionally delaying an at-bat. He was warned by plate umpire Stephen Jaschinski that he would get an automatic strike called if it happened again, and Yankees manager Aaron Boone spoke to Major League Baseball officials about it the following day.
“I know he does it every pitch. It’s his thing,” Reynolds said.
Caballero’s deliberate style in the batter’s box has periodically irked opponents, including the Yankees, who acquired him from Tampa Bay on July 31 last year.
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As a rookie with the Seattle Mariners in June 2023, Caballero annoyed Yankees ace Gerrit Cole so much the right-hander threw a 97 mph fastball to him that landed high up on the backstop.
Cole’s pitch was in response to Caballero stepping out repeatedly during his first two plate appearances until the pitch clock was down to the eight-second requirement to be in the batter’s box and alert.
Andrea Leek is still contemplating the spring plans for Cosmic Crusader, but she is looking forward to seeing him race for the first time this Saturday.
The Group 1-winning Western Australian gelding will debut in Victoria in the $200,000 Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
The Bob and Sandra Peters-owned five-year-old gelding has joined Leek’s stable from Perth’s leading trainer Michael Grantham, who prepared Cosmic Crusader for his Northerly Stakes win last year. Leek is very pleased with the horse’s transition to his new Victorian environment.
“I think he loves it,” Leek said. “He seems very happy and we’re just looking forward to seeing what he can do on Saturday. It’s a bit short of his (best) distance, but you’ve got to start somewhere and it just looked like a nice starting point.”
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Leek mentioned that no specific major spring target has been identified for the horse, who arrived in Victoria considered by many to be the best galloper from WA, with Peters keen to see his performance this weekend.
The son of Maurice was unable to gain a start in Perth’s most prestigious race, the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m), but was a dominant winner of the Listed Carbine Club Stakes (1400m) on the same day, followed by a victory in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) on December 6.
He then dropped back to 1400m for the Group 3 Gold Rush seven days later, where he was narrowly defeated by Victorian sprinter Rey Magnerio.
Cosmic Crusader has not raced over 1200m since winning at Ascot in October 2024, his second win from three starts at the distance. He heads into the Bletchingly Stakes off one Victorian jumpout, finishing second to Pop Award at Caulfield on July 1.
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“He had the one jumpout at Caulfield, just to give him a look at it,” Leek stated. “I was really happy with it, very happy.”
Cosmic Crusader was one of 13 nominations for the weight-for-age Bletchingly Stakes. Potential rivals include Monash Stakes winners Winnasedge and Recommendation (the 2024 winner), the classy Zou Sensation, and Group 2-winning mare Miraval Rose.
The Bletchingly Stakes is shaping up to be a competitive affair, and punters are already checking the racing odds at various bookmakers.
Two wheelchair-bound women of indomitable spirit — one with spinal cord injury after a fall from a tree and another an amputee above knee after a bus accident in childhood — are aiming something no Indian has ever done in sport, winning a medal for the country in the upcoming Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Minakshi Jadhav of Maharashtra and Ritu Chanu of Manipur are among the Indian quartet competing in the 3×3 wheelchair basketball event in the Glasgow Games beginning on Thursday. The other two members are Reena Gupta from Maharashtra and Laxmi Rayannavar from Karnataka.
The 3×3 wheelchair basketball event, which was introduced in the 2022 CWG in Birmingham, has three players on the field at a particular time. One player is used as substitute during the match which has a duration of 10 minutes.
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The Indian team qualified for the CWG through the 2025 IWBF (International Wheelchair Basketball Federation) Asia-Oceania Championships in Bangkok, Thailand.
“I was a normal girl at a village in Maharashtra. But in 2012, when I was 23 years old, I fell down from a tree and injured my spinal cord. I initially didn’t know that I got spinal cord injury but later I didn’t have any sensation from my navel,” said Minakshi, the captain of the team.
“Only upper body strength was there. After some time, my injury got worse. I had to struggle in the ICU for some time.”
Minakshi left her village at Satara district and went to Mumbai to join a rehabilitation centre in Mumbai to undergo therapy. She also completed her graduation from Mumbai University.
“In 2017, I competed in my first Nationals in Hyderabad. It was very hard work. I had to manage the wheelchair. I had to do a lot of things.”
The journey to the rehabilitation centre in Mumbai proved to be a blessing for Minakshi as she met wheelchair players, including former India players, and coaches there, and she was initiated to the sport.
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“I got to know about sports after meeting all of them. The social workers at the rehabilitation centre were themselves sportspersons. I had the support of many people. The rehabilitation centre itself helped me a lot. They helped me in sponsorship. Wheelchair Basketball Federation of India (WBFI) is also there. They supported me when in need.”
The Indian Wheelchair Basketball team was formed in due course.
“We used to play 5×5. We got a chance to play 3×3 for the first time. We will prove it by winning a medal in Glasgow. That is our target, to make the country proud.”
For Ritu Chanu, hailing from Irengbam village at Nambol in Bishnupur district of Manipur, life changed abruptly when she was seven years old due to a freak accident. She was hit by a bus coming in reverse gear.
“I was just six or seven years of age at that time,” said Chanu, who uses a clutch as her right leg has been amputated above knee.
“I have competed in three Nationals and also in the qualifying event in Thailand last year,” said Chanu, who trains at the Khuman Lampak sports complex in Imphal.
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Despite her financial struggles, Chanu has completed her graduation and does weaving at her home in Manipur.
Asked about the financial support to pursue her sport, Chanu said, “I do weaving at home and earn a bit. I also get support from the state government. Besides, my elder sister is also there to support me.”
Wheelchair Basketball Federation of India (WBFI) President Varun Ahlawat said the team has trained well in Gwalior and hoping to win a medal in Glasgow.
“This is the first time we are qualifying for the CWG and we are aiming to win a medal in the first attempt,” he said.
WBFI vice-president Ulhas KS is accompanying the athletes to Glasgow as team leader.
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Eight teams have been divided into two groups of four each. Each team in a group will play three matches in a round-robin format. The top two teams from each of the two groups will qualify for the semifinals.
The 3×3 wheelchair basketball events begin on July 24.
SAN FRANCISCO — Kiki Iriafen had 23 points and 12 rebounds, Shakira Austin finished with 15 points and 15 rebounds, and the Washington Mystics rallied past Golden State for a 90-82 victory Monday night to snap the Valkyries’ nine-game winning streak.
Washington trailed 80-73 with 3:32 left before closing the game on a 17-2 run. Iriafen made a short jumper with 1:41 left that put the Mystics ahead 82-80.
Kaitlyn Chen had 20 points and six assists and made a 3-pointer midway through the fourth quarter before dishing out an assist on Kiah Stokes’ three the next time down for the Valkyries, who squandered opportunities down the stretch.
Veronica Burton had 12 points and seven assists and Kayla Thornton added 15 points as the teams split two games over three days. The Valkyries lost for just the third time in their last 16.
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Sonia Citron added 15 points and six assists for the Mystics, who lost 74-69 on Saturday night.
The physical game featured Washington rookie Cotie McMahon’s hard foul against Janelle Salaun with 1:16 to go in the third quarter. The play went to replay review and the Mystics guard received a technical for landing on Salaun’s hair with her foot.
Golden State had a nine-game winning streak snapped at Chase Center, where thousands of fans lined up starting 4.5 hours before tipoff to try for a Hello Kitty plush giveaway for the first 10,000 in the building. Hello Kitty key chains quickly sold out in the team stores.
Iriafen made 8 of 12 shots, going 5 for 7 in the first half on the way to 13 points as Washington shot 51.9% for a 36-35 lead at the break.
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The Mystics host Las Vegas on Wednesday before the All-Star break, while the Valkyries won’t play again until after the break. Golden State visits Phoenix on July 29.
Returning to competitive swimming after taking a break due to a severe ‘burnout’ post the Paris Olympics, veteran Indian swimmer Sajan Prakash believes that understanding the critical role of rest and recovery has been the defining pillar of his comeback as he set his sights on the podium finish at the Commonwealth Games, starting in Glasgow on Thursday, and Asian Games in September.
Prakash, 32, has qualified for both the Commonwealth Games and the upcoming Asian Games, set to take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, by breaching the Swimming Federation of India’s qualification mark in the men’s 200m butterfly event. He recently reached Glasgow after finishing extensive training camps in Edinburgh and Sierra Nevada, Spain.
“I would like to say that athletes, when they are training really hard and they put their heart and soul into performing and saving themselves, saving their family and bringing glory to India, they become very tolerant to pain and they don’t understand much. If they are left alone, they don’t understand what recovery is. Recovery and rest are part of training.
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“It’s not always pushing hard. When I took the break, I understood that my body was in a big shock and I had to recover and take that rest. Sometimes as you age and as you evolve, rest is very important, a crucial part of recovery. That is also part of training. So that helped me to come back again because all I think about is swimming and I find my inner strength in swimming competitively.
“So I just felt that there are many unfinished businesses. I always wanted to be on the podium of the Commonwealth and Asian Games, and I just want to give my best effort irrespective of what the result is. I think in that case, I will fulfill my dreams,” said Prakash during a virtual interaction organised by the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
Having spent over two-plus decades in the pool, Prakash noted that age has necessitated a fundamental shift in how he approaches his physical workload compared to his younger years. It also comes with the awareness of how tight the field will be at the Commonwealth Games.
“I’ve swam for almost 26 plus years now. I’m 32 years old and at every stage of life, I think we experience different things, adapt to the newer challenges and adjust to the modules. The same goes for anybody in anything in life and different sports have different programs, models.
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“So what I did 10 years ago, I was 22 years old, my body’s capacity and adaptations and recovery is in a much better place and 10 years later, here I am. I’ve done most of the work with endurance and aerobic buildups and the foundation is already built, now it’s just a stepping stone on understanding what’s necessary and what’s my weakness and be more specific to that one event.
“Going to the Commonwealth Games, it’s going to be only a fraction of seconds which will decide whether I’ll be on the podium or not. So we know those challenges and we have to just work on those minute changes as over the period, you need to adapt and evolve as an athlete,” he added.
Prakash’s post-burnout return also saw him form an unexpected partnership with former teammate and Asian Games medallist Sandeep Sejwal, who is now serving as his coach. Sejwal remains the last Indian swimmer to stand on a multi-sporting event podium.
“He’s been in this field and Indian sports for many years. He understands the challenges faced locally and then he has better advice to give because he has been in the sport for long and we work together on what specific programmes I have.
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“I just completely would say I am on a different training program altogether, focusing only on the 200-metre butterfly. so. It’s more technical. I can’t explain everything in one sitting, so technically we are in a different program working towards one specific event,” he added.
When asked about his future after the upcoming major events are over, Prakash signed off by talking about his two current aims; being in the present and achieving a podium finish. “I had a tough time, there was so much fatigue and burnout, and I’m in a better position now with health and performance.
“I don’t want to comment on that (if it’s his swansong) right now because I want to take one step at a time and see how this Commonwealth and the Asian Games goes and decide after all of this. But whenever we give a final push, we give our best effort. That’s what I’m aiming for now.”
Watch the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games live and exclusive on Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV.
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(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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Fox News chief correspondent Jonathan Hunt reports on Spain winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup final against Argentina in a match at New York New Jersey Stadium on ‘The Big Weekend Show.’
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Spain’s World Cup Final hero, Ferran Torres, decided to celebrate the country’s victory on Monday with a nod to President Donald Trump.
As tens of thousands of Spaniards welcomed home their World Cup-winning team during a victory parade, Torres, who scored the winning goal in the 106th minute to beat Argentina at New York/New Jersey Stadium, was seen wearing a “Make Spain Great Again” hat – an adaptation of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan.
Torres posted a picture with the mob of Spain faithful while on a vehicle, while donning the hat and no shirt.
Ferran Torres of Spain celebrates with his medal after the team’s victory over Argentina in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on July 19, 2026.(Michael Regan/FIFA)
While it could simply be a coincidence that Torres decided to choose that hat for his celebration fit, Trump did present the World Cup trophy to Spain captain Rodrí and the rest of the team on the pitch after their victory.
Trump had been taking in the suspenseful final , which Spain dominated throughout, alongside First Lady Melania Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino, among others.
The match was on its way to a penalty shootout had it not been for Torres’ efforts to finally get one past Argentina’s stellar goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, who needed to make miraculous saves just to keep the scoreboard deadlocked at zero apiece.
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But when Nico Williams Jr.’s header was dropped back in the box following a cross, Torres had a grade-A chance to net the ball that landed right at his left foot. He didn’t disappoint.
Spain’s Ferran Torres (7) scores their first goal during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
“I think in the end the goal came from 47 million people [the estimated Spain population], not just those of us that are here,” Torres told FIFA host broadcasters after the match, via ESPN. “Today destiny was written, it was made for us to win. We’re far from our people today but we tried to be as close as possible to them.”
It was just the second time Spain had made it to the World Cup Final, but just as they did in 2010, they left with trophy in hand and were prepared to go celebrate with the masses back home.
When the final whistle blew on Sunday, there was some controversy, as brawls broke out on the pitch between Argentina and Spain players, which FIFA will be investigating.
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Ferran Torres of Spain celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 final against Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.(Michael Regan/FIFA)
But back home, especially in Madrid, the capital of Spain, it was a party that started late at night and hasn’t stopped since.
Torres and the rest of his teammates will be sure to soak in this wonderful moment before they all head back to their respective clubs to begin their seasons in the coming months.
Venue: Tennis Stadium Kitzbuhel, Kitzbuhel, Austria
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Category: ATP 250
Surface: Clay
Prize Money: €612,620
Live Telecast: USA – Tennis Channel | UK – Sky Sports | Canada – TSN+
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Sebastian Baez vs Miomir Kecmanovic preview
Sebastian Baez at the Monte-Carlo Masters 2026. (Source: Getty)
Sebastian Baez will face Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round of the Generali Open 2026.
Baez made a strong start to the season. He won all of his singles ties at the United Cup even though his team bowed out in the quarterfinals. His winning ways continued until he lost to Jakub Mensik in the final of the ASB Classic. However, he lost in the second round of the Australian Open.
Semifinal appearances in Buenos Aires and Santiago were his best results during the South American clay swing. He made the third round of the Indian Wells Masters upon his return to hardcourts, and then lost in the first round of the Miami Open.
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Baez won only three matches during the European clay swing and lost in the first round of the French Open as well. His woes continued with a first-round exit from Wimbledon. He went out in the quarterfinals of last week’s Nordea Open in Bastad.
A quarterfinal showing in Dallas, followed by a semifinal finish in Acapulco, were Kecmanovic’s best efforts during the hardcourt swing. He was eliminated in the second round of the Italian Open and the French Open, his best results during the clay swing.
After a quarterfinal exit from the Mallorca Championships, Kecmanovic pushed Jannik Sinner to five sets during their first-round showdown at Wimbledon but came up short in the end. He lost in the second round of the Swiss Open last week.
Sebastian Baez vs Miomir Kecmanovic head-to-head
Kecmanovic leads their rivalry 3-0. He won their previous meeting at the French Open 2025 in five sets.
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Sebastian Baez vs Miomir Kecmanovic odds
Player
Moneyline
Handicap Bets
Total Games
Miomir Kecmanovic
-135
+1.5 (-350)
Over 22.5 (-110)
Sebastian Baez
+105
-1.5 (+220)
Under 22.5 (-130)
(Odds via BetMGM)
Sebastian Baez vs Miomir Kecmanovic prediction
Miomir Kecmanovic at Wimbledon 2026. (Source: Getty)
Baez has put together a 19-16 record this season, with a 9-11 record on clay. Clay used to be the most fruitful part of his season. However, if he loses his opener in Kitzbuhel, he could end up with his worst clay season since 2021. He went 1-1 on the surface back then, although that was before his breakthrough.
Kecmanovic has compiled a 3-6 record on clay this year, and a 12-18 record overall. He won his maiden career title in Kitzbuhel in 2020. This will be his first appearance at the tournament since then.
Kecmanovic has a total of five wins on the clay since the start of 2025. One of those wins was a five-set epic against Baez at the French Open. However, considering the Serb’s poor record on clay over the past year, this could be Baez’s best opportunity to finally score a win in this rivalry.
Pick: Sebastian Baez to win in three sets.
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Sebastian Baez vs Miomir Kecmanovic betting tips
Tip 1: The match will have at least 26 games.
Tip 2: Baez to win at least one set with a score of 6-4.
With major season over, the PGA Tour returns this week with the 3M Open in Minnesota, and the Tour’s biggest star is once again the betting favorite. Here is everything you need to know about the 3M Open odds and other betting favorites to start the week.
3M Open betting favorites
Scottie Scheffler nearly fought off a cold putter to win the 2026 Open Championship on Sunday, eventually coming up short and settling for a T4 finish. Though he now will officially end the season majorless, Scheffler has another chance to add a PGA Tour win this week at the 3M Open.
If he does, it will represent his second Tour victory of the season, and he’s a huge betting favorite with +270 odds-to-win to start the week.
Defending 3M Open champion Kurt Kitayama comes in a distant second in the betting odds at +1900. Maverick McNealy is in third at +2100 odds-to-win, followed by former Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama (+2500).
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Tied with Matsuyama is a pro who every golf fan now knows well: Ryan Fox. Fox has +2500 odds-to-win for this week’s 3M Open following his breakthrough major victory on Sunday at the Open Championship (UPDATE: Fox withdrew from the 3M Open field on Monday morning).
You can see the top 25 and ties in the 3M Open betting odds as of Monday morning below via DraftKings.
2026 3M Open odds (top 25 and ties)
Scottie Scheffler (+270) Kurt Kitayama (+1900) Maverick McNealy (+2100) Hideki Matsuyama (+2500) Keith Mitchell (+2500) Jake Knapp (+2700) Jackson Koivun (+2800) Tom Kim (+3300) Pierceson Coody (+3600) Jackson Suber (+3800) Gary Woodland (+4100) Sam Stevens (+4400) Corey Conners (+4500) Jordan Smith (+4600) Sungjae Im (+4600) Max Homa (+4600) Tony Finau (+4700) Eric Cole (+4700) Doug Ghim (+4700) Benjamin James (+4800) Sudarshan Yellamaraju (+5000) Mac Meissner (+5200) Michael Brennan (+5400) Max Greyserman (+5500)
Once Scheffler had suffered another major near-miss in the final round at Royal Birkdale, however, circumstances had changed.
On Sunday night, with his pursuit of a second straight Open title over, and with Ryan Fox clutching the trophy that had been in his grasp for the past year, Scheffler was ready to talk.
In thoughtful and balanced comments, Scheffler defended DeChambeau from cheating accusations but also called for “stricter” rules policing and adherence throughout the game of golf.
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Scheffler on Bryson DeChambeau: ‘He’s a lot of things, but he’s definitely not a cheater’
While his late Sunday charge and failed title defense took up most of Scheffler’s post-round press conference questions Sunday evening (not to mention his wild rules break on 17 that ended in a crucial birdie), the topic of DeChambeau’s penalty came up again at the very end.
And this time, Scheffler provided the reasoned opinion he held back from sharing with reporters on Saturday.
While hesitant to speak for fear of being “taken out of context,” Scheffler began by defending DeChambeau indirectly. He did so by calling for more “balance” when it comes to policing players in pro events, arguing that star players like Bryson have it harder with every shot being recorded on camera.
“All I can really say is I think maybe we need to be a little bit more strict in the way that we are policing guys, but it’s a little bit of a balance because you’ve got certain guys like a Bryson who every shot he hits is going to be shown on TV. When you have camera angles that are far away, things can look different than they do when you’re right there,” Scheffler began.
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He then took on the DeChambeau controversy directly, defending the two-time major champion’s golf reputation by repeatedly saying that Bryson “is not a cheater.”
“We’ve done a good job of — I don’t know, I hate saying stuff out here because I don’t want anything to get taken out of context. All I’ll say is Bryson, I’ve known him for a long time, and he’s a lot of things, but he’s definitely not a cheater,” Scheffler said of DeChambeau. “I’ve never seen him cheat once, whether we were having a putting contest on the putting green or chipping contest, or anytime we played amateur golf, I never saw anything suspicious.”
“When you’re watching him there from that camera angle, maybe he was a touch careless around his ball, but I don’t think he did anything intentionally,” Scheffler said.
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Scheffler calls for stricter rules on Tour: ‘Sometimes you see players maybe push it a little bit further than they should’
He used his childhood experience in the game as an example, explaining that in his youth, players used an abundance of caution to ensure they didn’t break any rules.
“I think sometimes it’s just a difficult position in the game of golf. When I was growing up, if this was the line between things that were — like if this was the line, here are the rules and this was the right side of it and this is when you’re doing things against the rule, you always tried to stray really far that way,” Scheffler explained.
In contrast, these days Scheffler admitted players sometimes stretch the rules to their benefit.
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“I feel like at times, sometimes you see players maybe push it a little bit further than they should,” he said.
But he also provided a solution to what he sees as a growing issue in golf. Scheffler called for a return “to the traditions of the game” and for policing rules more strictly.
“I think we need to kind of get back to the traditions of the game and maybe we do need to police things a little bit more stricter in the game,” Scheffler said Sunday night. “But like I said, it’s a tough line to kind of cross. So that’s why it’s hard for me to say anything like this. Bryson is a guy that I’ve known for a really long time. Like I said, he’s not a cheater.”
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