World Cup 2026

By the time I post this, the World Cup 2026 will be over. Fans will be going home. Hosts Canada, America and Mexico pulled off the biggest World Cup tournament in history. A record 48 teams took part. First event with tri hosts but next one will be and maybe expanded to 64 teams. For now, the winner was decided: Spain beat Argentina. Spain’s second title now 2010 and 2026. It went to extra time the fourth time in the last five finals that’s happened. England finished 3rd, France 4th. That’s just one of so many stories from it. The whole tournament didn’t just give us games, it gave us moments. Some of which will be remembered for a while. And plenty of stories around the tournament too. How people watch it has changed, but still over 1.3 billion people watch it.

For some of the best players in the world, this was the last time on a global stage. Lionel Messi’s retirement is still just possible, but others have confirmed they’re done. Brazil’s Neymar, Portugal’s Ronaldo. All leaving international football, but sticking around at club level. So many others are likely, too, this was the final go at it.

England’s 3rd place is their best result since 1966, improving on their 4th place in 2018. Norway reached the quarter-finals, their best result ever, with Erling Haaland becoming an icon along the way. Cape Verde, one of the smallest nations at the tournament, held Spain to a 0-0 draw in the group stage before eventually being knocked out by Argentina in the round of 32. A small Mexican boy, lacking a Mexico shirt, turned up in a Christmas jumper instead and caught people’s imaginations. And so many more stories. Like English and Scottish fans drinking American bars dry. Japanese fans cleaned up the stadiums, and so did Paraguay. Yet the tournament also had scandal, with political influence seeing an American player’s red card overturned so he could keep playing. No matter how much you try, you can’t escape politics. Belgium sent the US packing with the message “overturn this.” And it was overshadowed by a referee being barred from entering the country due to his nationality.

Yet despite all that, it was a positive tournament. A rejection of division, showing the world its best face and its best football. There was no violence, no riots, nothing like that. A rare moment where everybody watches and it brings us together. For that, this World Cup was much needed. I was wrong to think we should boycott it, like some others did. That came from frustration, wanting to do something. Over Trump, what he’s done and stands for. A reminder that we’re not all bastards. That the world, even with its flaws, still wants to get along. For that, the beautiful game did its job.