The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, delivered a historic spectacle marked by Spain’s second title, a record-breaking defense, and an extra-time final win over Argentina. From Cabo Verde’s fairy-tale run and Paraguay’s shock of Germany to Morocco’s continued rise and Messi and Ronaldo’s emotional farewells, the expanded 48-team format produced unforgettable drama.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 delivered one of the most dramatic tournaments in football history. Hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the expanded 48-team event ran from June 11 to July 19, producing historic upsets, emotional farewells, and an extra-time final at New York New Jersey Stadium that capped Spain's dominant run and ended in tears for Argentina's Lionel Messi. Here are the 10 moments that defined the tournament.
Spain defeated Argentina 1–0 after extra time at MetLife Stadium (New York New Jersey Stadium) to lift the FIFA World Cup trophy for the second time in their history, adding to their maiden title in 2010. Substitute Ferran Torres scored the winning goal in the 106th minute, converting a low volley off a Nico Williams header. Spain dominated possession and held Argentina without a single shot on target across 90 minutes. After Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez was sent off for a second yellow card in second-half stoppage time, La Roja finally broke through Emiliano Martínez's 11-save effort to finish the tournament conceding just one goal in eight matches, a new World Cup record.
Cabo Verde (Cape Verde), an archipelago of roughly 530,000 people, became the smallest nation ever to qualify for and reach the World Cup knockout stage. The Blue Sharks opened Group H with a stunning 0–0 draw against eventual champions Spain, held Uruguay to a 2–2 draw, and shut out Saudi Arabia to advance. Led by 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, Cabo Verde pushed defending champions Argentina to the limit in the Round of 32, taking the match into extra time before eventually falling 3–2 in one of the most thrilling games of the tournament.
At 41 years old and competing in his sixth FIFA World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo saw his international World Cup journey come to an emotional end during Portugal's knockout campaign. Ronaldo confirmed after Portugal's elimination that 2026 was his final appearance on football's biggest international stage, stating he left everything on the pitch while taking time to evaluate his future with the national team.
In the Round of 32, Paraguay delivered one of the biggest knockout shocks in World Cup history by eliminating four-time champions Germany on penalties. Despite Germany dominating possession with over 700 completed passes and having a late extra-time goal ruled out by VAR, Paraguay’s disciplined defensive block held firm through 120 minutes before securing victory in the shootout. The result extended Germany’s decade-long drought without a World Cup knockout win dating back to 2014.
Norway's memorable FIFA World Cup campaign was accompanied by one of the tournament's most recognisable celebrations. After every victory, Martin Odegaard and his teammates gathered to perform a coordinated ‘Viking Row’ on the pitch, a tribute to the country's heritage. The celebration quickly went viral, with football fans across the world recreating the routine on social media and in stadiums.
Building on their historic semi-final run in 2022, Morocco proved their elite status once again. The Atlas Lions stunned five-time champions Brazil with a disciplined 2–1 victory in the group stage before navigating deep into the knockout rounds, reinforcing the rise of African football on the global stage.
For the first time in tournament history, FIFA introduced an official 11-minute halftime show during the final at MetLife Stadium. Curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin in partnership with Global Citizen, the performance featured Shakira, Madonna, Burna Boy, Justin Bieber, and BTS.
Lionel Messi’s final World Cup run saw the 39-year-old maestro score 8 goals and record 4 assists, claiming the Silver Ball and Silver Boot. Messi captained La Albiceleste through grueling knockout victories over Cabo Verde and Egypt to reach his third World Cup final, where Argentina ultimately fell 1–0 to Spain in extra time.
The debut of the 48-team, 12-group format delivered unpredictable drama across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Debutants and underdogs took advantage of the third-place qualification path, leading to high-stakes final-group-day scenarios where traditional powerhouses were pushed to their limits.
In the Round of 16, Egypt stood on the brink of a monumental upset after taking a 2–0 lead over
Egypt’s goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir saved a Lionel Messi penalty early on, and goals from Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Ziko put the African side ahead before Argentina rallied with three late second-half goals to survive 3–2.