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The 2026 FIFA World Cup was full of moments some of us will remember forever. Yeah, we had hydration breaks, halftime shows, questionable refereeing, Donald Trump, and nameless American celebrities showing up on our screens every five minutes. But it wasn’t all bad.
Cape Verde and Vozinha’s acrobatics
It wasn’t to be for Cape Verde in the end, but the tiny African island nation put up an incredible fight at the World Cup. They managed to hold Spain to a goalless draw in the opening game and remained unbeaten in the group stage before pushing Argentina to extra time in the round of 32. They almost did enough to beat the defending champions, narrowly missing out on what could have been the biggest upset in World Cup history. 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha was the star of the show thanks to some miraculous last-ditch saves.
Merlin the Duck
Merlin, a cute little duck, became Mexico’s unofficial mascot at the World Cup. Dressed in a tiny Mexico jersey and socks, he went viral when he was caught waddling through the streets of Mexico City during celebrations. He later gave interviews to the media, met fellow fans, and was unruffled after being introduced to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.
Erling Braut Haaland
If you didn’t know Erling Haaland’s name before the World Cup, you do now. The tall, blonde, and luscious long-haired Norwegian proved why he’s one of the best strikers in the world. He scored seven goals and almost single-handedly carried Norway to an upset win over Brazil in the round of 16. He couldn’t quite do enough to overcome England in the quarterfinals, but he left a lasting impression with fans.
Lamine Yamal’s little brother
Lamine Yamal’s little brother Keyne charmed fans at the World Cup. The three-year-old celebrated and cheered on his superstar brother throughout the tournament, shouting and screaming his name. He stuck out his tongue, danced, and waved when Yamal finally lifted the trophy in the final.
The stars shone
The stars showed up at the World Cup. Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, and Erling Haaland all proved why they’re considered superstars. They banged in goal after goal and dragged their teams through the dirt on the world stage. They broke records, captured hearts, and created lifelong memories.
Messi and Ronaldo bow out
We might have just witnessed Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s last World Cup. We’ve had the pleasure of watching undeniably two of the best players in history fight it out over the last 20 years, but now they could finally be bowing out from the international stage. Ronaldo confirmed this was his last World Cup, while Messi’s tears in the final hinted at the end of an era.
Row, row, row your boat
Iceland made a name for themselves at the 2018 World Cup in Russia when fans clapped in unison to create the ferocious Viking Thunderclap, and Norway spiritually took over from their Nordic neighbors with the Viking Row in 2026. Thousands of fans rowed as if they were powering a Viking longship while chanting “row, row, row” in support of their nation. It caught on, and even the players joined in with the celebrations.
England and France’s third-place banger
Who cares about bronze medals? I didn’t until England and France produced an all-time banger in the third-place match. Both teams went all-out attack and unleashed on each other in an action-packed, 10-goal thriller. I went from grinning ear to ear as an England fan in the first half to clinging to the edge of my seat in the second as France somehow found their way back from a four-goal deficit. Sure, it might have been a glorified friendly, but I’m going to pretend this was the real final.
Football won
Argentina kicked, screamed, and fouled their way to the World Cup final, but they didn’t stop there. They played dirty for over 90 minutes against Spain while failing to register a single shot. They could have left with their tails between their legs and gone out with some dignity after Spain scored the winner in extra time, but crybaby Leandro Paredes couldn’t help himself from putting his hands around Eric García’s throat and shoving Gavi to the ground. The final left a sour taste in some people’s mouths, but it tasted like sweet justice to me. As Toni Kroos put it, “football won.”
Who else but the fans?
Football wouldn’t be what it is without the fans, and they put on a show at the World Cup. They cried together, laughed together, and created an electric atmosphere at the tournament. Scotland fans invaded Boston and drank the city under the table, England fans lit up stadiums with choruses of Wonderwall and Hey Jude, and Norway fans turned Times Square into a Viking ship and rowed their way into New Yorkers’ hearts.
