Spain Wins the 2026 World Cup

Spain has won the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a long, hard-fought match against Argentina, the previous World Champion, Emma Smith reports for BBC Sport in her article "Victory for football? Spain beat Argentina to win World Cup", where B2 students can pick up interesting expressions like: trite, cliche, to slam, extra-time, [to slam in/ to score] a winner, endurance, to derserve [the trophy], a [goals] tally, a goalkeeper, a clean sheet, to concede [one goal], metrics, to stumble, out of the gate, the opener, a squad, a spoiler, [commander] in chief, to be booked, to wilt, [Torres'] strike, a save, to somersault,[involved in] scraps, [to throw] a punch, a [BBC] pundit, to outplay, to get in their face, to wind up, to be wronged. [to be] on your back.

Becky Sullivan writes a less critical report of Argentina's performance for NPR in "Spain is the 2026 World Champion, defeating Argentina for its second title", with contributions by Jasmine Garsd and Russell Lewis, where B2 students can encounter expressions, some of them American, like: to defeat, extra time, a squad, to mark, a run, to concede [a goal], [to be] ecstatic, flabbergasted, [Argentina's magic] to run out, back-to-back, [Spain's penalty] box, to hold firm, [Spain's] crosses, [Spain's] attempts, to break up, a shin, a clean, seemingly, a save, to seal [a victory], stoppage time, a tackle [on a player], a midfielder, to flip [into the air], [to earn] a yellow card, dissent, to break through, to knock [the ball] in, nothing short of [unbelievable], an assist, a heart-stopping [semifinal], sencond only to [Kylian Mbappé], to shrug, [to be] ranked [number 1], to be draped [in Spain flags], a bagel, the get-in [price], five figures, to pile [into] the stands, [to be] treated [to a halftime show], a nod [to American audiences].

Finally, you can watch the BBC News report of the match plus the subsequent celebration of Spain's victory in the streets of Madrid in the video "Spain beat Argentina to win 2026 World Cup" (5':42") which can be recommended for C1 students and above: