Spain vs Argentina: Could the 2026 World Cup Final Go to Extra Time or Penalties?

The Big Match-Up

Spain and Argentina are getting ready to play each other in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final (the biggest football match in the world, held every four years).

Because both teams are super evenly matched (like two kids who are equally good at tag), and because recent tournaments have been full of surprises, it would not be weird if the game was decided:

• After the normal 90 minutes (called extra time — basically 30 more minutes), or
• By a penalty shootout (where players take turns kicking the ball at the goal from close up, and whoever scores more wins).

Important Point: A penalty shootout is like a sudden-death contest: each team takes turns kicking, and the team with more goals wins if the score is still tied after extra time.

What Happened on Penalties This Tournament

This year, something interesting happened in the knockout rounds (the do-or-die part of the tournament):

• Neither Spain nor Argentina had a penalty shootout in the knockout stages.
• But both teams did take regular penalties during their matches, with okay-but-not-perfect results.

Here is the breakdown:

Spain’s Penalty Record

• Mikel Oyarzabal scored the only penalty Spain was given.
• This happened in the semi-final (the round before the final) against France.

Argentina’s Penalty Record

Argentina took three penalties in matches and missed two:

• Lautaro Martínez scored one against Jordan.
• Lionel Messi (one of the most famous football players ever) missed penalties against:
  • Austria
  • Egypt

Past Finals Were Super Tense Too

Both teams have been in finals that made everyone hold their breath.

• Four of the last five World Cup finals were decided after the normal 90 minutes.
• Spain or Argentina were in three of those five finals.

Spain’s Big Win

• In 2010, in South Africa, Spain won its first-ever World Cup.
• They beat the Netherlands in the final.
• Andrés Iniesta scored the winning goal in the 116th minute (that’s in extra time!).

Argentina’s Recent Finals

• In 2014, in Brazil, Argentina lost the final to Germany.
• Mario Götze scored against them in the 113th minute (also extra time).
• But in 2022, in Qatar, Argentina won the final against France.
• Messi led the team in what many call one of the greatest finals ever.

Summary

Spain and Argentina are about to clash in the 2026 World Cup final. Both are strong and have history with dramatic, long finals. This year, Spain scored its one penalty (by Oyarzabal), while Argentina made 1 of 3 (Martínez scored, Messi missed two). With so many recent finals going past 90 minutes, don’t be shocked if this one needs extra time or penalties to decide a winner!

FAQ

Q: What is extra time in football?
A: It’s 30 more minutes played after the normal 90 minutes if the score is tied, to try to find a winner.

Q: What is a penalty shootout?
A: If still tied after extra time, players take turns kicking from close range, and the team that scores more kicks wins.

Q: Did either team win by penalties this year?
A: No. Neither Spain nor Argentina had a penalty shootout in the knockout stages of the 2026 tournament.

Q: Who missed penalties for Argentina?
A: Lionel Messi missed against Austria and Egypt; they missed 2 of their 3 total spot-kicks.