Spain secured a thrilling extra-time victory over Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final held at the York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States, on July 19, 2026. The match, however, was overshadowed by a post-match brawl involving Argentina's Leandro Paredes and Spain's Eric García.

The confrontation reportedly stemmed from aggressive tackling and chippiness from the Argentinian side during the game. After the final whistle, Paredes was seen approaching a fracas between players from both teams and placing his hand on García's throat. As a result, Paredes was issued a red card and sent off. Earlier in the match, he had received a yellow card for a hard tackle shortly after entering the game.

Fox News chief correspondent Jonathan Hunt reported on the event during ‘The Big Weekend Show.’ He noted the disruptive nature of the incident, stating, "The game's done. They could have absolutely no complaints about what happened today. Disgusting behavior."

Despite the tensions, Hunt highlighted the sportsmanship of Lionel Messi, saying, "There was one man on the pitch who did have class and that was Lionel Messi, who shook hands with every one of those Spanish players," as reported via Goal.com.

Additional remarks emphasized the importance of grace in competition: "We are gracious in victory, and we must be so in defeat," and "You lose, and you have to pick yourself up again."

The final match also saw intense moments on the field, including Spain's Gavi falling during a scuffle involving Paredes and Argentina's Thiago Almada.

Sources