Spain-Argentina World Cup final goal disallowed amid referee controversy

In the 2026 FIFA World Cup final held in New Jersey, Spain's Nico Williams struck a goal in extra time that was ruled out for a foul. Referee Slavko Vincic blew his whistle before the ball crossed the line, and the VAR review upheld the decision, stating it was not a “clear and obvious error”. The ruling awarded Argentina a free‑kick, but the disallowed goal did not affect the final result; Spain later won 1‑0 after Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute.

The decision sparked widespread debate, with critics describing the incident as a "worldwide scandal" and calling for on‑field review of referee calls. While the controversy dominated post‑match discussion in Spain and internationally, the match outcome remained unchanged.

The event involved teams from Spain and Argentina and took place on U.S. soil, drawing global attention due to the high stakes of a World Cup final.