The ARCHV / Finals

Finals

The finals

World Cup finals from Mexico 1970 onwards, one page each: the score, the venue, the passage of play that settled it, and what the record shows once the noise has gone.

• European Finals · UEFA Champions League 2025-26 · 24 August 2026Budapest 2026: Paris Saint-Germain keep it, Arsenal still have never won itParis Saint-Germain 1-1 Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain win on penalties, Puskás Aréna, 30 May 2026: Arsenal reach a first Champions League final in 140 years and lose it from twelve yards.
• European Finals · UEFA Europa League 2025-26 · 24 August 2026Istanbul 2026: Aston Villa win a European trophy againAston Villa 3-0 SC Freiburg, Beşiktaş Park, 20 May 2026: Tielemans, Buendía and Rogers win Aston Villa a first Europa League and a first European trophy since 1982.
• European Finals · UEFA Conference League 2025-26 · 24 August 2026Leipzig 2026: Crystal Palace win the first major trophy of their history's second actCrystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano, Red Bull Arena, 27 May 2026: Jean-Philippe Mateta's rebound wins Crystal Palace their first European trophy.
• World Cup Finals · Canada, Mexico and the United States 2026 · 24 August 2026MetLife 2026: Spain win it with ten men on the other sideSpain 1-0 Argentina after extra time, MetLife Stadium, 19 July 2026: Ferran Torres settles it in the 106th minute against ten men, and Spain win a second World Cup.
• Women's Finals · UEFA Women's Champions League 2025-26 · 24 August 2026Oslo 2026: Barcelona win a fourth, and win it 4-0Barcelona 4-0 OL Lyonnes, Ullevaal Stadion, 23 May 2026: Ewa Pajor and Salma Paralluelo score twice each as Barcelona take a fourth European title.
• Continental Finals · Africa Cup of Nations 2025, played January 2026 · 24 August 2026Rabat 2026: the Africa Cup of Nations final that was won twiceSenegal beat Morocco 1-0 in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final on 18 January 2026, then lost the title in a committee room in March. The Court of Arbitration for Sport hears the appeal on 8 October 2026.
• Women's Finals · Women's Africa Cup of Nations 2026 · 24 August 2026Rabat 2026: Cameroon win it at the fourth attempt, and Malawi got there at the firstCameroon 3-0 Malawi, Rabat, 16 August 2026: Cameroon win a first Women's Africa Cup of Nations at a fourth final, and Malawi reach one on their debut ranked 153rd in the world.
• Domestic Finals · Emirates FA Cup 2025-26 · 24 August 2026Wembley 2026: Manchester City's eighth, and a domestic cup doubleManchester City 1-0 Chelsea, Wembley, 16 May 2026: Antoine Semenyo flicks in Erling Haaland's cross on 72 minutes for an eighth FA Cup and a domestic cup double.
• Women's Finals · Adobe Women's FA Cup 2025-26 · 24 August 2026Wembley 2026: Manchester City's double, Brighton's first finalManchester City 4-0 Brighton & Hove Albion, Wembley, 31 May 2026: City complete the Women's Super League and FA Cup double in front of 43,917 on Brighton's first final day.
• World Cup Finals · México 1986 · 15 June 2026Azteca 1986: the final Maradona dragged Argentina toArgentina 3-2 West Germany at the Azteca on 29 June 1986: how a two-goal lead nearly slipped, and how Maradona's one pass settled it for Burruchaga.
• World Cup Finals · Germany 2006 · 15 June 2026Berlin 2006: decided from twelve yardsItaly 1-1 France, Italy win on penalties, Berlin, 9 July 2006: Zidane's panenka, Materazzi's header, the headbutt, and the shootout that gave Italy a fourth star.
• World Cup Finals · Italia 1990 · 15 June 2026Italia 1990: the ugliest final, and the end of an eraWest Germany 1-0 Argentina at the Stadio Olimpico, 8 July 1990: Brehme's late penalty, the first red cards in a World Cup final, and the rematch that settled 1986.
• World Cup Finals · South Africa 2010 · 15 June 2026Johannesburg 2010: minute 116Spain 1-0 Netherlands at Soccer City, 11 July 2010: Iniesta's 116th-minute winner, De Jong's kung-fu foul, and tiki-taka's first world title.
• World Cup Finals · Qatar 2022 · 15 June 2026Lusail 2022: the greatest finalArgentina 3-3 France, Argentina win on penalties, Lusail, 18 December 2022: Messi's crowning, Mbappé's hat-trick, and a final many call the greatest ever played.
• World Cup Finals · Brazil 2014 · 15 June 2026Maracanã 2014: the substitute's volleyGermany 1-0 Argentina at the Maracanã, 13 July 2014: Götze's extra-time volley, the chances Argentina spurned, and the first European side to win a World Cup in the Americas.
• World Cup Finals · México 1970 · 15 June 2026México 1970: the final that perfected the gameBrazil 4-1 Italy at the Azteca on 21 June 1970: the goals, the tactics, and why Carlos Alberto's fourth is still called the greatest team goal ever scored.
• World Cup Finals · France 1998 · 15 June 2026Paris 1998: the night France turned blueFrance 3-0 Brazil at the Stade de France, 12 July 1998: Zidane's two headers, the mystery of Ronaldo, and a host nation crowned for the first time.
• World Cup Finals · Japan 2002 · 15 June 2026Yokohama 2002: Ronaldo's redemptionBrazil 2-0 Germany at Yokohama, 30 June 2002: Ronaldo's two goals, Kahn's one mistake, and the redemption that followed the nightmare of 1998.