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Who won the last World Cup?

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The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

On July 19, 2026, Spain beat Argentina 1–0 after extra time to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Spanish forward Ferran Torres scored the winning goal in extra time after coming on as a substitute during the match. Argentina won the previous FIFA World Cup, which was held in Qatar in 2022. In a stunning high-scoring final match—in which Kylian Mbappé of France became the first player since 1966 to score three goals in a final—Argentina beat out France in the World Cup’s third shoot-out victory in its history. The winning squad was guided by its captain, Lionel Messi, who scored two goals and made a penalty kick during the shoot-out.