Spain captures second FIFA World Cup title as Torres sinks Argentina in extra time

Spain claimed their second FIFA World Cup crown with a 1-0 extra-time victory over defending champions Argentina, as Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in a dramatic final in New Jersey.

Spain ended a 16-year wait for football's biggest prize on Sunday after substitute Ferran Torres struck in the 106th minute to secure a hard-fought victory over Argentina in the FIFA World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Torres, introduced in the 62nd minute in place of Mikel Oyarzabal, finished from close range after Nico Williams headed Pedro Porro's cross into his path, rewarding a Spanish side that controlled much of the contest but struggled to convert its dominance into goals.

The turning point came at the end of normal time when Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernández was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a reckless challenge on Pau Cubarsí. Reduced to 10 men for extra time, the defending champions were unable to withstand Spain's sustained pressure.

Luis de la Fuente's team dictated possession and created the clearer chances throughout the match, while Argentina failed to register a shot during the 90 minutes.

Lionel Messi's blocked effort in the closing stages of extra time was one of his side's few meaningful attempts as Spain comfortably saw out the victory to lift the trophy for the first time since their triumph in South Africa in 2010.

Spain's dominance was also reflected in the individual honors. Midfield orchestrator Rodri was named the winner of the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player after spearheading La Roja's unbeaten title run, while goalkeeper Unai Simón received the Golden Glove award for his series of commanding performances and crucial saves throughout the competition. Teenage defender Pau Cubarsí completed Spain's clean sweep of the major individual accolades by being named the FIFA Best Young Player.

The final concluded the first 48-team FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The expanded tournament featured a record 104 matches and produced an unprecedented 308 goals.

Although France finished fourth, Kylian Mbappé earned the Golden Boot after scoring 10 goals during the tournament. The French captain also became the all-time leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history with 22 career goals, surpassing Lionel Messi's previous record.

Despite the football spectacle, the tournament was accompanied by off-field controversy. Human rights groups, supporters' organizations and several commentators denounced travel restrictions imposed by the United States that limited or complicated entry for fans from a number of African, Asian and Latin American countries.

Iran became the most prominent example of those policies. Despite qualifying for the tournament, the Iranian delegation was hit by US visa restrictions, with several members denied entry and the squad forced to enter the United States only hours before kickoff for its group match before leaving immediately afterward under strict travel limitations.

The measures drew widespread 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.

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