So, that’s it for another four years. After some very real concerns about what the 2026 World Cup would look like, it is Spain that has claimed its second title and the right to be called World champions.
It was the largest tournament ever, and there were lots of things about it that people didn’t like. But there were some memorable moments too.
From the Scottish takeover of Boston to the Norwegian Viking row, there are numerous moments that will live long in the memory.
But the actual football wasn’t bad either. We were treated to a Golden Boot race for the ages, and most of the stars of the game turned up and delivered on the biggest stage.
If you are looking for the best betting odd today,you’ll likely find them for Spain’s chances of winning back-to-back titles in 2030, and you can discover the best betting sites at VegasBetting.net. But first, let’s look back at some of the standout games from the 2026 edition.
Cape Verde 0 Spain 0
Any true football fan will tell you that even a goalless draw can be a thing of beauty. Nine times out of ten, it probably won’t be the case. But when they are exhilarating as Cape Verde’s shutout of Spain in their opening game, a 0-0 draw can be just as good as a goal-filled extravaganza.
The Blue Sharks were competing at their first-ever finals and had arguably their toughest game to start off with. Fellow debutants Curaçao had been thrashed 7-1 by Germany a day earlier, and many thought the team from the tiny island in the Atlantic Ocean would receive the same fate.
But a defensive masterclass – and a heroic performance from Cape Verde’s 40-year-old keeper, Vozhina – gave us an early game that had everyone on the edge of their seats.
Belgium 3 Senegal 2
Belgium’s “Golden Generation” never really came through when it really mattered, and World Cup 2026 was probably the final time we will see many of the star players performing for their national side.
It just never clicked for the Red Devils at a major tournament, and they were not fancied to do much in North America this year.
Just one win in the group stage typified a team that looked well past its best, and with five minutes to go in its round of 32 game against Senegal, it seemed as though it would limp meekly out of the tournament. Belgium had been terrible, but Romelu Lukaku’s 86th-minute goal sparked one of the greatest-ever comebacks.
Captain Youri Tielemens levelled things up with a minute to go and then scored a penalty in the last minute of extra time to put his team through. It was a fleeting reminder of how good this Belgium team was in its prime.
England 1 Argentina 2
The hydration breaks played a major part in this year’s World Cup, allowing coaches to get across important information and tactical changes to their teams at crucial moments of the game. Maybe that is why we saw so many late goals.
There seemed to be a lot of games that were turned completely with just minutes left on the watch. But none were quite as dramatic as the semifinal between England and Argentina.
Games between these two nations come loaded with a lot of history, both on and off the pitch, and emotions are always high.
This semifinal didn’t disappoint. After Spain had beaten many people’s favorite in the other semi, England looked as though it might be joining them in the final when the Three Lions were a goal up with half an hour to go.
Relying on keeping Argentina out for the rest of the game was a curious tactical decision from Thomas Tuchel, and Argentina scored two late goals to end dreams of football coming home for at least another two years.
France 4 England 6
It is the game that no player ever really wants to be a part of. There is a serious argument to be made in scrapping the third place playoff completely, allowing losing semifinalists to go home and rest after falling at the final hurdle. But England and France made sure that at least the game was memorable this year.
It is true, neither team seriously thought about defending, and the entire game had a Soccer Aid/preseason friendly vibe about it, but you cannot say that ten goals in a single World Cup game was not memorable.
Kylian Mbappé scored the goals that ensured he claimed the Golden Boot award, and England recorded its best World Cup finish since winning the trophy back in 1966.
Spain 1 Argentina 0
It was hardly the most memorable of finals in the end. With one team coming to play football and the other intent on stopping its opponent by any means necessary, it was not a match for lovers of the beautiful game.
Lionel Messi was largely anonymous as his teammates concentrated on fouling their Spanish counterparts, and Argentina didn’t even record a shot until the 117th minute.
Ten minutes earlier, Ferran Torres had scored the goal that ultimately gave his team the title, the famous trophy, and the right to sew another star above their badge.
A deep cross was expertly headed back by Nico Williams, and the Barcelona striker swept the ball into the Argentina net to score the only goal of the game.
That goal meant that the better side had won and Spain added another World Cup triumph to their European Championship glory of two years ago.