THE 2026
WORLD CUP
the review — how Spain won it all
QUICK ANSWER · WHO WON THE 2026 WORLD CUP?
Spain won the 2026 World Cup, beating Argentina in the final at MetLife Stadium on Sunday 19 July 2026 (Spain 1-0 (AET) Argentina). On the way, Spain came through 4 knockout rounds — the full run, the biggest upsets, the tournament numbers and the Onside model's graded record (68/83 decided matches called right, 82%) are all below.
Spain are world champions
A second star, sixteen years after Johannesburg — and it comes through the defending champions.
Two lines to New York
Both finalists' knockout runs, from the graded record — every score verified. Spain beat France 2-0 and Argentina beat England 2-1 in the semi-finals to set up the MetLife final.
FINAL · SPAIN 1-0 (AET) ARGENTINA · SPAIN LIFT THE TROPHY
The Golden Boot race
The leading scorers per the live tournament board.
The award the panel decides
The Best Young Player award is chosen by FIFA's Technical Study Group and announced after the final — it is not decided by any stat line, so we don't call it here. The contenders, and how the race has tracked through the tournament, live on the dedicated page.
The Best Young Player tracker →Where the favourites fell
Every upset below is read straight from the graded record — a tie where the pre-match favourite went out.
Paraguay knocked out Germany.
Morocco knocked out Netherlands.
Norway knocked out Brazil.
Switzerland knocked out Colombia.
Spain knocked out France.
Argentina knocked out England.
The bracket flipped in one night.
France — the top-ranked side left — and England both went out, and both semis had been rated genuine coin flips before kick-off.
France 4-6 England — bronze for England.
The tournament in numbers
Computed from the graded knockout record (R32 onwards) and the full match ledger — nothing estimated.
KNOCKOUT GOALS INCLUDE EXTRA TIME, EXCLUDE SHOOTOUTS · THIRD-PLACE MATCH NOT PART OF THE GRADED BRACKET
How the Onside model scored
Every match Onside called this tournament is graded in public — misses included. Across 83 decided matches, the model's favourite came through 68 times. In the knockouts alone, 25 of 31 favourites advanced. Both semi-final upsets are on the record too: each had been flagged a 50/50 before kick-off, and both 50/50s broke against the listed favourite.
The full graded record — every call, every result →FPL 2026/27 — the season that lasts
The World Cup ends; the season that lasts kicks off on Friday 21 August with Arsenal v Coventry, and the first full matchday on the 22nd. The same engine that just graded a whole World Cup in public has already simulated all 380 Premier League fixtures — and it plays against you in the Onside Prediction League from day one.
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World Cup 2026 — quick answers
Who won the 2026 World Cup?
Spain won the 2026 World Cup, beating Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford on 19 July 2026.
How old is Lamine Yamal?
Lamine Yamal was born on 13 July 2007 — he turned 19 during the tournament and won the 2026 World Cup with Spain.
How many World Cups has Lionel Messi won?
One — the 2022 World Cup with Argentina. At the 2026 World Cup, Argentina were runners-up, losing the final 1-0 to Spain after extra time.
Who won the Golden Ball at the 2026 World Cup?
The Golden Ball — the tournament's best player — is decided by FIFA's Technical Study Group and announced after the final. Champions Spain supply the leading names in the conversation: Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsí and goalkeeper Unai Simón. The dedicated tracker at /world-cup-2026/golden-ball states the winner the moment FIFA confirms it — no call before the announcement.
Where is the next World Cup?
The 2030 World Cup is hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with centenary opening matches played in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay to mark 100 years of the tournament.
Deeper review surfaces
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