A severe thunderstorm disrupted Spain's World Cup final preparations, forcing the team to cancel its last scheduled training session. Coach Luis de la Fuente made the call hours before the match against Argentina. Lightning and heavy rain swept across the area, sending the squad back to its hotel without a final tactical run-through on the pitch.
The cancellation mattered particularly for Lamine Yamal, who had been recovering from a thigh injury sustained during the semifinal victory over France. After a light recovery program on Thursday, Yamal had been due for a final fitness assessment during Saturday's session. Pedro Porro, also nursing an injury after scoring in the semifinal, missed a last-minute evaluation as well. Yamal nevertheless started the final alongside Pau Cubarsí. They became the first teenagers to start a World Cup final for the winning team since Kylian Mbappé did so for France in 2018.
Spain scrapped its plans, while Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, began its own final training session after a 45-minute delay. The contrasting decisions reflected the storm's impact on both teams' preparations. Spain's staff chose not to wait for a break in the weather, putting player safety and logistical certainty ahead of a shortened session.
Forecasts ahead of the match pointed to improving conditions by Sunday evening, with temperatures around 27 degrees Celsius. The passing storm system was also expected to disperse smoke and haze affecting the New York area. The final was played on July 19, 2026, at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m. EDT.
Spain's situation echoed the heightened tensions at other recent World Cup fixtures. The semifinal between England and Argentina in Atlanta, for example, saw crowd unrest and delays, as described in this report on fan disruptions during the England-Argentina semifinal. Such incidents show how off-field factors can shape the atmosphere around major international matches.
Despite the disrupted preparations and questions about Yamal's fitness, Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time to claim its second World Cup title. Ferran Torres scored the winner 37 seconds into the second period of extra time, in front of 80,663 spectators. The victory also ended Argentina's defense of the title it won in 2022.
Yamal's place in the starting lineup gave Spain another key stage: he was less than a week past his 19th birthday, and Cubarsí was also a teenager. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente later summed up the team's focus on Messi: “The first idea was to keep Messi at bay.” The final was Messi's last appearance for Argentina's national team.
Spain's tournament honors included Rodri's Golden Ball and Unai Simón's Golden Glove. Cubarsí received the Best Young Player award ahead of teammate Yamal. Spain also extended its unbeaten run to 38 matches, the longest such streak by a European national team.
