Read for 2 minutesUpdated: 20 July 2026 03:29 AM IST
Argentina failed to register a single shot in the 90 minutes of the FIFA World Cup finals as they completely dominated Spain on Sunday. However, they still made a decisive save and took the match to extra time.
Argentina’s task was made even more difficult when Enzo Fernandes was sent off in second-half stoppage time after receiving a second yellow card, meaning Argentina were down to 10 men. Fernandez was booked for reckless play that sent Spain defender Pau Cubarsi cartwheeling into the air and the card came out immediately.
Spain took 15 shots in regulation, Argentina none. Spain took nine corners, Argentina one. And somehow, such dominance was not enough for 90-plus minutes.
0 – Argentina are the first team to fail to have a shot in 90 minutes in a FIFA World Cup final.
blank pic.twitter.com/MfI6SwlunG
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) 19 July 2026
It was the ninth 0-0 score at halftime in 23 World Cup finals, including the 1950 Uruguay-Brazil match that was not actually the final but decided the champion.
Eight finals other than Sunday’s, which were 0-0 at half-time: Italy v Czechoslovakia in 1934; Uruguay v Brazil in 1950; Italy v West Germany in 1982; West Germany v Argentina in 1990; Brazil v Italy in 1994; Brazil v Germany in 2002; Spain v Netherlands in 2010; and Germany vs Argentina in 2014.
There were just three shots in total in the first half, the fewest shots in the first half of a World Cup final since records date back to 1966, according to Opta.
Argentina is looking for its fourth title, Spain its second – and could become the first nation to simultaneously hold the World Cup crowns in men’s and women’s soccer.
Argentina made three changes from the starting 11 for their semi-final win over England: midfielders Rodrigo de Paul and Nico Gonzalez, along with defender Gonzalo Montiel, were omitted, while midfielders Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina, along with forward Giuliano Simeone, were omitted. And Argentina made an unscheduled substitution at the end of the first half, with Nicolas Otamendi apparently coming on for the injured Lisandro Martinez.
Story continues below this ad
Spain kept their start to 11 since their semi-final win over France.