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Editor's note: Follow our LIVE Argentina vs Spain World Cup final updates
Spain thought that it might have scored the goal to win the World Cup, but it was disallowed thanks to a foul.
Nico Williams put the ball in the net in extra time against Argentina on Sunday, appearing to break a scoreless draw.
But referee Slavko Vinčić spotted a foul in the build-up with Mikel Merino stepping on Nicolás Otamendi's foot in the box.
Though it appeared in real time that the call was harsh, replays showed Merino's left foot stepping on top of Otamendi's left foot.
Argentina was looking to hold on to a scoreless draw with 10 men after Enzo Fernandez was sent off for a second yellow card near the end of regulation.
But Spain finally found a goal in the 106th minute as Ferran Torres slammed home from close range. That would be the game winner as Spain won the World Cup with a 1-0 victory.
The 2026 World Cup is the largest ever, and USA TODAY is going all in with reporters on the ground in all 16 host cities across three countries to cover 48 teams vying for the trophy. Get our World Cup: Extra Time newsletter in your inbox every morning and join our WhatsApp channel to get the latest updates right in your texts.
All games are being broadcast in the United States on Fox and FS1. Matches will also be broadcast in Spanish throughout the entirety of the World Cup on Telemundo and streaming on Peacock.
The World Cup becomes a single-elimination tournament once the knockout stage begins. The 32 remaining teams have been placed into a bracket, and the field will halve itself during each ensuing round of the tournament until a winner is crowned.
The lone exception is that the two semifinal losers will play in a third-place game ahead of the World Cup final.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why didn't Spain goal count vs. Argentina? Explaining World Cup final call
Continue reading...
Spain thought that it might have scored the goal to win the World Cup, but it was disallowed thanks to a foul.
Nico Williams put the ball in the net in extra time against Argentina on Sunday, appearing to break a scoreless draw.
But referee Slavko Vinčić spotted a foul in the build-up with Mikel Merino stepping on Nicolás Otamendi's foot in the box.
Though it appeared in real time that the call was harsh, replays showed Merino's left foot stepping on top of Otamendi's left foot.
Argentina was looking to hold on to a scoreless draw with 10 men after Enzo Fernandez was sent off for a second yellow card near the end of regulation.
But Spain finally found a goal in the 106th minute as Ferran Torres slammed home from close range. That would be the game winner as Spain won the World Cup with a 1-0 victory.
USA TODAY at the 2026 World Cup
The 2026 World Cup is the largest ever, and USA TODAY is going all in with reporters on the ground in all 16 host cities across three countries to cover 48 teams vying for the trophy. Get our World Cup: Extra Time newsletter in your inbox every morning and join our WhatsApp channel to get the latest updates right in your texts.
All games are being broadcast in the United States on Fox and FS1. Matches will also be broadcast in Spanish throughout the entirety of the World Cup on Telemundo and streaming on Peacock.
World Cup knockout round format
The World Cup becomes a single-elimination tournament once the knockout stage begins. The 32 remaining teams have been placed into a bracket, and the field will halve itself during each ensuing round of the tournament until a winner is crowned.
The lone exception is that the two semifinal losers will play in a third-place game ahead of the World Cup final.
World Cup knockout stage bracket, matchups, schedule
Round of 16
- July 4: France def Paraguay - Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
- July 4: Morocco def Canada - Houston
- July 5: Norway def Brazil - East Rutherford
- July 5: England def Mexico - Mexico City
- July 6: Spain def Portugal - Arlington
- July 6: Belgium def USA - Seattle
- July 7: Argentina def Egypt - Atlanta
- July 7: Switzerland def Colombia - Vancouver
Quarterfinals
- July 9: France def Morocco - Foxborough
- July 10: Spain def Belgium - Inglewood
- July 11: England def England - Miami
- July 11: Argentina def Switzerland - Kansas City
Semifinals
- July 14: Spain def France - Arlington
- July 15: Argentina def England - Atlanta
Final
- July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why didn't Spain goal count vs. Argentina? Explaining World Cup final call
Continue reading...
