A post-whistle brawl marred the end of the World Cup final, with Argentina's Leandro Paredes receiving a red card for punching Spain's Eric García and shoving midfielder Gavi. The incident occurred immediately after Spain secured its 1-0 victory, its first World Cup title since 2010.
Paredes charged at García and knocked him to the ground with an open-hand strike to the throat, escalating into a larger scuffle involving multiple players and coaches. The altercation was eventually brought under control, allowing Spain to proceed with its championship celebration.
Soccer analyst Alan Shearer described the scene, noting Paredes threw multiple punches. "He went for them. There is no place or space for that," Shearer commented. "We know how much it means to them and we know how much it hurts to lose, but there is a way to lose. Too many times we have seen that from Argentina. The reaction after the final whistle is terrible."
FIFA's disciplinary committee is expected to review the incident, which could lead to a suspension for Paredes beyond the mandatory one-game ban.
The match saw Argentina struggle offensively, registering only two shots on target and eight touches in the opponent's box compared to Spain's 31. The loss prevented Argentina from repeating as World Cup champions after their 2022 victory in Qatar. Spain's defensive strategy successfully limited Argentina's opportunities, notably keeping superstar Lionel Messi without a shot for the entire game.
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente emphasized his team's game plan. "The first idea was to keep Messi at bay, but also other players," he said. "We wanted to keep them away from our goal. … and then something very important: the attitude of our players. Today we were convinced that this was our final. We wanted to go all out for this final. To win it."
