Spain beat Argentina 1-0 to win World Cup final — as it happened

Spain win a free outside the box, after Porro is brought down.

Yamal delivers it, but it hits the wall.

Argentina clear the follow-up and wins a throw-in.

— Miles Proust

Olmo follows up, collecting a through ball on the right flank and cutting it inside.

Cucurella nearly gets to it for a shot just in front of goal, but Montiel tracks him well, clearing it for a corner.

— Miles Proust

Spain with a half-chance, playing it neatly into the box with a one-two between Oyarzabal and Ruiz.

But Argentina cut it out before the shot gets away.

— Miles Proust

Source: SBS

And there's a bit of a confrontation between the two sides, after Rodri is shoved in the back and goes down off-ball.

It's pretty soft, but both sides get involved with some pushing and shoving, with Olmo also going down.

Paredes, who just came on, gets a yellow card. It's unclear whether it's for a shove or something else.

— Miles Proust

Baena draws a foul for bringing down De Paul.

— Miles Proust

Argentina made a change heading into this half, with Leandro Paredes coming on for Nico Gonzalez.

Argentina wins win their first corner of the game, but it's a poor delivery from Messi.

— Miles Proust

And finally, we're back to football, with Spain kicking off.

Spain have the first chance within a minute. Baena intercepts a poor pass and takes a shot just outside the box but it's an easy save.

— Miles Proust

Source: SBS / John Baldock

— John Baldock

There was plenty of criticism about the inclusion of a Super Bowl half-time show.

Under the laws of the game, the half-time break shouldn't go any longer than 15 minutes.

But the players are just coming out onto the pitch now, 25 minutes since the end of the opening half.

You can read more about the controversy below.

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What to know about the World Cup final's Super Bowl-style half-time show

— Miles Proust

That's followed up by Shakira's World Cup anthem "Dai Dai".

She's joined by Nigerian Afrobeats star Burna Bo.

Shakira out on stage. Source: Getty / Lars Baron

They're out dancing with kids on stage, which has been turned into a giant coloured canvas of the world with a message of "love".

Now the kids are singing along with Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy and Brazlian footballing legend Pele is shown on screen.

The half-time show at New York New Jersey stadium. Source: Getty / Dan Mullan

And we finish off with fireworks.

— Miles Proust

Source: SBS / Cathryn Boyes

Argentina supporters at Australian live sites are staying upbeat, despite their team ending the first half level 0-0.

— David Smith

Ted Lasso and Coach Beard are out not on stage to introduce Justin Bieber.

He comes out with a guitar and brings the tempo down a bit.

— Miles Proust

Madonna performs at the World Cup 2026 final half time show, flanked by ex players Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. Source: Getty / Michael Regan / FIFA

And the half-time is underway, starting off with Madonna and Ronaldo (the original) and Ronaldinho in a pre-recorded piece.

They then come out of the tunnel and onto the pitch before we get the Muppets playing Seven Nation Army.

That's followed up by a song from K-pop group BTS.

— Miles Proust

Source: SBS

HT here in NY/NJ still 0- 0 Spain looking the more likely. But how many times has that been said this World Cup before Argentina spring into action? All to play for here in the second half.

— John Baldock, in New Jersey.

Former Socceroo Tommy Oar says Spain's defence has looked organised, and Messi has been kept off the ball.

"Argentina hasn't even had a single shot in the game yet, so you see [Messi] dropping deeper and deeper to pick up the ball," he said.

"The few touches that he has been kind of 60, 70 metres from goal.

"It's very easy to see why they've got such a good defensive record in this tournament, but I think Argentina is going to have to be a little bit more ambitious in this second half."

— Miles Proust

Source: SBS

And half-time is called with the score 0-0.

Can't say it's been an amazing half of football, with both sides playing defensively and few chances.

Spain have enjoyed more possession and moments.

— Miles Proust

You can watch the half-time show, and indeed the rest of the match, live and on demand on SBS.

Here's that magic link:

— Madeleine Wedesweiler

Messi wins a free after copping a kick from Oyarzabal.

But nothing comes from it, with Spain winning it back a moment later.

— Miles Proust

Four minutes of stoppage time have been added.

— Miles Proust

Curcurella tries from range, with his low left-footed shot that flashes across the goal and goes out for a goal kick.

Lisandro Martínez goes down a moment later, injured; it's unclear what for, but he indicates he wants to come off. No doubt that would be devastating for any player coming off in a World Cup final.

Argentina make the change with veteran centre-back Nicolás Otamendi coming on.

— Miles Proust