Spain have a second star on their shirt.
Luis de la Fuente’s side conceded one goal all tournament, played a stylish and organised game and were good value for being crowned World Cup champions for 2026.
Truth be told, it was a yawn-inducing final at the end of a tournament which, for all its political and commercial faults, was anything but.
There was more action after the full-time whistle went, as scorned Argentina players – who didn’t have a single shot on goal until the last five minutes of extra time – took their defeat with typical bad grace and, in the case of Leandro Paredes, physically attacked the victorious Spaniards.
Today, Spain are enjoying their trophy parade through the centre of Madrid and basking in the glory of having conquered the world for a second time, two years on from doing the same at the Euros.
For Spaniards, it was a tournament with some unsociable kick-off times and – for a fanbase which, even at the best of times does not travel in numbers – extortionate ticket prices in the United States.
But today, provisional World Cup viewing figures show that the country was collectively tuned into the final in New Jersey.
Spanish TV viewing figures higher than ever for World Cup final
According to a release from Spanish digital consulting firm Barlovento Comunicacion based on data from the Fiftyfive group, the 2026 final was the most-watched World Cup match in history in Spain.
An average of 15.7 million viewers tuned in, which equated to an 87.1 per cent audience share.
In total, 20.1 million people watched some of the match, which was broadcast across La 1, La2Cat, Teledeporte and DAZN.
That 15.7 million figure was marginally higher than the 2010 final, in which Andres Iniesta’s extra-time goal saw Spain win their first World Cup.
FIFA estimates that some 1.5 billion people will have watched the World Cup final in some capacity.
World football’s governing body expects broadcast revenues in excess of $4.3bn for the four-year cycle culminating with the World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico.
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