Ugly scenes marred the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on Sunday after a chaotic post-match brawl broke out between Argentina and Spain players immediately following the final whistle. Spain clinched their second World Cup title with a 1-0 victory in extra time thanks to a 106th-minute goal from Ferran Torres, but the historic sporting victory was overshadowed by an explosive melee on the pitch at New York New Jersey Stadium.
The tension boiled over when Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes threw punches and grabbed Spain’s Gavi by the neck before squaring up to Spanish captain Rodri. As players from both benches rushed into the commotion, refereeing staff and security personnel struggled to restore order.
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni sprinted onto the pitch in an effort to pull his players away and defuse the situation. Following the melee, the match referee issued a red card to Paredes, capping off a fiery end to a physical final that had already seen midfielder Enzo Fernández sent off in regulation.
