Struthoff strike gives Germany 1-0 win over Spain to retain World Cup

Germany defeated Spain 1-0 at the Belifus Arena in WAVRE on Sunday, August 30, 2026, to retain the men's World Cup, with Michel Struthoff scoring the only goal in the 43rd minute.

The final was a low-scoring affair rather than a classic, contested by two sides that had each ended co-host Belgium’s bid for a home final and arrived with the tournament’s tightest defences. The match’s cautious tempo and close marking made it a difficult spectacle for a crowd dominated by neutral supporters.

Germany’s decisive moment arrived late in the third quarter when Michel Struthoff rounded Spain goalkeeper Luis Calzado and finished to break the deadlock. The goal came after Germany had shown threat on the break, often advancing from deeper positions and using the wings to transition quickly.

The earliest notable chance fell to Germany after just 90 seconds when Benedikt Schwarzhaupt’s drag-flick was pushed away by Calzado. Spain’s rearguard, marshalled by Jordi Bonastre, largely protected its circle and limited clear shooting opportunities for the German attack.

Spain did not find its rhythm until the second quarter and did not test Germany goalkeeper Jean-Paul Danneberg as frequently as they would have wanted. In the third quarter Spain earned three short corners, with Pepe Cunill and Marc Miralles firing wide of the post during those opportunities.

A rare Spanish defensive lapse allowed Struthoff to finish the decisive move, and with under four minutes remaining Spain substituted Calzado in a bid to find an equaliser but were unable to breach a resolute German defence. Head coach Andre Henning, who managed a squad that included only nine returnees from the 2023 group, guided Germany to a record-equalling fourth World Cup title.

The result: Final: Germany 1 (Michel Struthoff 43) bt Spain 0. Third place: Argentina 2 (Tomas Domene 41, Matias Rey 59) bt Netherlands 1 (Floris Middendorp 49).