MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, hosted the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on July 19, marking the first time the venue has staged soccer’s championship match. Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal in the 106th minute, giving Spain its second World Cup title and its first since 2010.
The match drew a sellout crowd of 80,663, the largest World Cup final crowd on American soil since 94,194 fans watched Brazil beat Italy at the Rose Bowl in 1994. Across the tournament, MetLife hosted eight matches in all, including group-stage games, a Round of 32 match, a Round of 16 match, and the final, and averaged more than 80,600 fans per game, the highest venue total of the 2026 World Cup.
Stats at a Glance
- What: MetLife Stadium hosted the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, its first
- Where: East Rutherford, New Jersey (branded “New York New Jersey Stadium” for the tournament)
- When: July 19, 2026
- Result: Spain 1-0 Argentina (a.e.t.); Ferran Torres scored the winner in the 106th minute
- Attendance: 80,663 — the largest World Cup final crowd on U.S. soil since 1994
- Why it matters: Adds a World Cup final to a resume that already includes Super Bowl XLVIII and two WrestleManias, cementing MetLife’s status as a marquee global event venue
The Story
Opened in 2010 and shared by the NFL’s Giants and Jets, MetLife Stadium has built a reputation for landing marquee events, including Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014 and WrestleMania 29 and 35. The 2026 World Cup final adds soccer’s biggest match to that list, with Spain grinding out a tense 1-0 win after Argentina played the final 30 minutes down a man following Enzo Fernandez’s second yellow card.
Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez made 11 saves, a World Cup final record, but couldn’t stop Torres’ extra-time strike. The win made Spain the first nation to hold both the men’s and women’s World Cup titles at once, having won the women’s tournament in 2023.
What It Means for Visitors
For stadium fans, the final cements MetLife’s place among the world’s premier venues for events of true global scale, joining a short list of stadiums that have hosted both a Super Bowl and a World Cup final. Visitors touring the venue or attending future events there will now find World Cup final signage and memorabilia alongside the stadium’s Super Bowl and WrestleMania history.
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MetLife Stadium FAQs
Where was the 2026 World Cup final held?
At MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which FIFA temporarily branded “New York New Jersey Stadium” for the tournament.
Who won the 2026 World Cup final?
Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in extra time on July 19, 2026, with Ferran Torres scoring the winning goal in the 106th minute.
Was this MetLife Stadium’s first World Cup final?
Yes. It was the first World Cup final ever hosted at MetLife Stadium, which opened in 2010.
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Photo: Anthony Quintano from Hillsborough, NJ, United States / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.