WCS 07 20 26

Welcome to the Underdog World Cup show from Underdog Podcasts. I'm Chris Horvidell, and every day during the tournament, we're breaking down the matches, the moments, the teams under pressure, and the games coming next. This is the Underdog World Cup show. Welcome to the Underdog World Cup show. I'm Chris Horvidell. Spain is the world champion. After 104 matches, 48 teams, three host countries, and enough travel to make everyone involved question their life decisions, the 2026 World Cup ended with Spain beating Argentina in extra time in New Jersey. Ferran Torres scored the winner in the 106th minute, giving Spain its second World Cup and first since 2010. And when you look back at the expectations entering the final, Lucky Rebel had Spain at minus 160 to lift the trophy. The favorite got there, but it took 120 minutes, an Argentine red card, and one of the most stubborn goalkeeping performances we saw all tournament. Spain was the favorite, but not necessarily an overwhelming one. And honestly, it felt about right from Lucky Rebel because this wasn't a final where the favorite felt safe. Spain had been the best team in the tournament, but Argentina had Messi, Martinez in goal, and the kind of competitive weirdness that makes a one goal game feel like it can tilt at any second. And for most of the afternoon, this felt less like an evenly balanced final and more like Spain showing off how good they were defensively. Spain controlled about 65% of the possession, completed far more passes, put 12 shots on target, and kept coming at Emi Martinez from different angles. Argentina didn't register a shot in the first half. In fact, it became only the second team since detailed records began in 1966 to go without a first half attempt in a World Cup. Lionel Messi touched the ball only six times during the opening 23 minutes. Spain didn't mark him with one defender. It simply controlled the ball so completely that Argentina struggled to place Messi anywhere dangerous. Lamine Yamal immediately tested Martinez from the right. Spain kept moving Argentina from side to side, pushing its fullbacks forward and patiently waiting for the defensive block to open. The problem was Martinez refused to cooperate. He made 10 saves during regulation and 11 overall, repeatedly keeping Argentina alive in a match when it's attacking contribution was basically non-existent. Going into the game, the lucky Rebel sheet had both teams to score essentially priced as a coin flip with yes at minus 110 and no at minus 120. The slight lean towards no turned out to be correct, although I don't think anybody imagined Argentina would come this close to reaching penalties without doing anything with the ball. Spain created opportunities without finding a clean finish. Mikel Uribe Zabal couldn't add to his five tournament goals. Danny Olmo had openings. Yamal kept forcing Argentina backwards. And every time Spain appeared close to breaking through, Martinez produced yet another save. Argentina's plan became survival. Lionel Scaloni replaced an attacker with Leandro Paredes at halftime, trying to add another defensive midfielder and make the center of the field more difficult to penetrate. It helped Argentina frustrate Spain, but it didn't solve any of the larger problems. Argentina couldn't sustain possession or move the ball into positions where Messi could influence the game. The match became even more difficult in second half stoppage time when Enzo Fernandez received a second yellow card and was sent off. Argentina entered extra time with 10 men, no shots, and the knowledge that penalties were probably its best remaining route to the trophy. And for a while, it looked like Martinez might drag them there by himself. Spain had Enrico Williams' goal disallowed after Mikel Moreno was called for a foul in the buildup. Martinez then saved a dangerous Yamal free kick, and Spain's pressure kept building without producing the one thing that mattered. Then, 37 seconds into the second period of extra time, they finally broke through. Pedro Poro sent a deep cross towards the far post, Williams kept it alive with a header into the middle, and the ball dropped for Torres inside the penalty area. Torres hit it left footed at roughly 102 kilometers per hour just under the crossbar and beyond Martinez. It was Spain's 20th shot of the match. It was also Torres' first goal of the tournament. And what a time for that. That's one of those details that makes football seem a little scripted. Torres had hit the woodwork earlier in the competition and had another goal disallowed. Then, with Spain's entire World Cup depending on one finish, he produced the biggest goal of his career. Championship winning combination also came entirely from the bench. Williams and Torres had both entered during the match, which says a lot about Spain's depth and Luis de la Fuente's willingness to trust the full squad. Argentina began pushing forward after falling behind and Messi managed a late effort, but Spain protected the lead and closed out the tournament having conceded only one goal across eight matches. That is absurd. Spain finished unbeaten, extended its overall unbeaten run to 38 matches and added the world title to the European Championship at one in 2024. The lucky rebel total was set at two goals with the over at minus 145 and the under at plus 125. The match staying under wasn't really the product of a cautious even contest. It was Spain dominating possession and chances while Martinez kept Argentina within one moment of stealing the trophy. But alas, that moment never came. Messi finishes what may have been his final World Cup with eight goals and four assists. He didn't get the storybook ending, but he did lead Argentina back to the final at 39 years old, four years after lifting the trophy in Qatar. After the match, Messi and Yamal shared a handshake and an embrace. It was an obvious image for the end of the tournament. The defining player of one generation meeting a 19 year old who could become the defining player of the next. It doesn't mean that Yamal is automatically the next Messi. Nobody needs that kind of pressure placed on them, especially at 19. But he leaves the tournament as a world champion and is now one of the most dangerous wide players in international football. The individual awards reflected Spain's collective dominance. Rodri won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player. Pau Cabarsi was named the best young player and Unai Simone won the Golden Glove after recording seven clean sheets. Kylian Mbappe won the Golden Boot with 10 goals, finishing two ahead of Messi. Mbappe also became the first player to win the World Cup Golden Boot twice. So Lucky Rebel's pre-final scoring market ultimately reflected the real situation. Messi entered needing at least two goals to challenge Mbappe, but Spain's defense never gave him anything close to the opportunity. Spain's greatest achievement was that it never became dependent on one star. Seven different Spanish players scored during the tournament. Torres, who hadn't scored before the final, delivered the winner. Williams supplied the assist. Rodri controlled the midfield. Yamal created danger. The defense eliminated almost everything before it even reached Simone. This was a team winning through a system rather than waiting for an individual rescue, though I will say it helps when you have a roster of world-class talent. And now that supporters are beginning that long trip home after more than a month of bouncing between cities and countries, I'd like to tell you a little bit more about Airbnb. Whether you're traveling for a major event or getting away once the crowds clear out, Airbnb lets you find a place that suits the trip you're actually taking. Check out Airbnb when it's time to plan one of your own. It feels odd saying this, but that is the final Underdog World Cup show for the 2026 World Cup. I've been Chris Horwidel. This has been a blast. I hope you enjoyed it and we'll see you back here in the future.