Argentine Lionel Messi (10) runs with the ball during the World Cup final. (AP photo)
Spain’s tight control of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final forced Argentina into the record books for all the wrong reasons, as Lionel Messi’s side failed to register a single shot in the first 45 minutes of Sunday’s title match.The score remained 0-0 at the end of the first half at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey, but the statistics painted a picture of complete Spanish dominance.
According to Opta, the first half saw just three shots between the two teams, the fewest ever recorded in the first half of a FIFA World Cup Final since detailed records began in 1966.What is most striking is that Argentina was unable to score a single shot on goal before the end of the first half, which is the first time since 1966 that the Argentine national team has failed to score a single shot in the first half of any World Cup match.These amazing numbers highlighted Spain’s tactical superiority, even though they were unable to achieve the lead goal before the end of the first half.
Spain dominates the ball but fails to capitalize on it
As they have done throughout the tournament, Spain controlled the tempo of the match with their distinctive possession-based style of football.The European champions completed almost twice as many passes as Argentina in the first half, keeping Lionel Scaloni’s men tied at the back for long periods and depriving Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez of any meaningful opportunities in attack.
Despite having the lion’s share of possession and making three shot attempts in the first half, Spain was unable to break down Argentina’s tough defence, leaving the match scoreless at halftime.Argentina were also forced to make an unplanned substitution late in the first half when Lisandro Martinez appeared to suffer an injury and was replaced by veteran defender Nicolas Otamendi.
Another scoreless first half in the history of World Cup finals
This stalemate added another chapter to the history of the World Cup.This was the ninth World Cup final to be held scoreless at half-time, joining previous finals in 1934, 1950, 1982, 1990, 1994, 2002, 2010 and 2014.Defending champions Argentina entered the final seeking to win their fourth World Cup title and hoping to become the first country since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend the title.Meanwhile, Spain was bidding to win its second World Cup after winning in South Africa in 2010, becoming the first country to hold both the men’s and women’s World Cup titles at the same time.The final match also brought down the curtain on the largest World Cup tournament in history. The expanded 48-team tournament featured a record 104 matches in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and resulted in more than 300 goals before the final.
