What happened in the first half of the Spain vs Argentina World Cup final?

The 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina sits at a stalemate after a scoreless first half at the New York New Jersey Stadium. The match kicked off with a six-minute delay following a pre-match show featuring Robbie Williams and Tom Cruise. Once the action started, Spain controlled the pace by holding 64.6 percent of possession, forcing Argentina to defend deep and adopt a physical style of play to disrupt the rhythm.

Spain created the best opportunities during the opening 45 minutes. Lamine Yamal forced an early save from Emi Martinez just five minutes into the match, while Mikel Oyarzabal tested the Argentine goalkeeper again shortly before the break. Spain recorded three shots during the half, while Argentina failed to register an attempt on goal. The defending champions remained focused on their defensive structure and looked to break up play through aggressive tackling.

Referee Slavko Vincic faced criticism for his officiating, particularly after an early challenge from Alexis Mac Allister on Dani Olmo went unpunished. The first caution of the evening did not appear until the 40th minute when Lisandro Martinez received a yellow card for a foul on Oyarzabal. Martinez was later forced off the pitch with an injury, creating a significant personnel challenge for Argentina as they head into the second half.

Nicolas Otamendi replaced Martinez to anchor the Argentine backline as the team prepares to deal with sustained Spanish pressure. With the score at zero to zero, the game remains tight. Spain holds the advantage in statistics with two corners and dominant ball control, but Argentina has succeeded in keeping the match scrappy and low-scoring through the first half.