The 104th and final game of the 2026 World Cup, played at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, saw defending champions Argentina face Spain in a tense showdown that was decided by a moment of madness from Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez.
The match, which went into extra time after a goalless 90 minutes, was the climax of a six-week tournament that saw 32 teams compete across North America. Argentina, winners of the 2022 final in Qatar, were aiming to retain the trophy, while Spain—European champions in 2024—sought their second World Cup title after 2010. The game was billed as a clash between two of football's most decorated nations.
“The 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina saw a red card for Enzo Fernandez and a tense goalless draw before extra time.”
For UK viewers, the final carried extra resonance. England had secured third place in the tournament—their best finish since winning the World Cup in 1966—by beating France in a 10-goal thriller. But the headlines from the final were dominated by the red card shown to Enzo Fernandez in the dying minutes of normal time.
Fernandez, who plays for Chelsea, was first booked in the first half for dissent towards referee Slavko Vincic. With the score 0-0 and the game heading towards extra time, the 25-year-old launched into a reckless tackle on Spain's Pau Cubarsi on the halfway line, catching the defender late. Vincic immediately produced a second yellow card and then a red, leaving Argentina a man down for the remainder of the match.
Former England striker Alan Shearer, commentating on the game, was scathing: "He might just have cost his team massively. He's on a yellow card for something stupid—backchatting to the referee. And when you're on a yellow, you cannot make a challenge like that. That is stupid from him." Wayne Rooney, also analysing the game, agreed: "It's a silly tackle. On a yellow card you can't just dangle your leg out."
Argentina had not managed a single shot on target in the 90 minutes even with 11 players, and the red card made their task even harder. Lionel Messi and Fernandez both argued with officials after the dismissal, with Argentina players appearing to call for a red card for Spain's Marc Cucurella for covering his mouth—but nothing was given.
The final was the culmination of a tournament that saw the United States, Canada and Mexico co-host the event for the first time. The MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, home to the NFL's New York Giants and New York Jets, was the venue for the final, which was played on 19 July 2026.
Q: Why was Enzo Fernandez sent off in the World Cup final? Fernandez received a second yellow card for a reckless tackle on Spain's Pau Cubarsi in the final minutes of normal time. He had already been booked in the first half for dissent towards the referee. The double yellow resulted in a red card, leaving Argentina with 10 men for extra time.
Q: Where was the 2026 World Cup final played? The final was held at the New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium) in East Rutherford, New Jersey, as part of the first World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Q: How did England perform in the 2026 World Cup? England finished third, their best result since winning the World Cup in 1966, after defeating France in the bronze medal match. The team, managed by Thomas Tuchel, scored 10 goals in that game, the highest-scoring match of the tournament.
With the World Cup over, many players will now return to their clubs for pre-season. Enzo Fernandez will face scrutiny from Chelsea fans, while Spain and Argentina players go back to their domestic leagues. The football calendar moves on, but the images of the final—and the controversy of Fernandez's red card—will linger.