The match between the Spanish national football team and its Argentine counterpart in the 2026 World Cup final went to extra time for the ninth time in World Cup history after a scoreless draw in regulation time on Sunday. Since the World Cup began in 1930, the final has gone to extra time eight times, five of which ended in extra time, while three were decided by penalty shootouts, the last of which was in the 2022 edition hosted by Qatar. The two finalists resorted to extra time for the first time in the 1934 final, when Italy and Czechoslovakia drew 1-1 in regulation time, before the 'Azzurri' snatched the title after scoring the second goal in the first half of extra time. Spain is seeking its second title after its first triumph in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, while Argentina under the leadership of legend Lionel Messi aims to win the title for the second consecutive time and the fourth in its history.