The 2026 edition did nothing but confirm the current state of international chaos, with numerous controversies related to both the organization and the football played, but above all to everything that happened off the field and that dominated the news every day. What did we like? What didn't we like? What would we improve and what would we not like to see anymore?

Five things we liked

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The United States, Canada and Mexico proved once again that they are masters of the logistical organization of a gigantic event like the World Cup. The experience accumulated over years, even decades, meant that there were no embarrassing situations regarding security or organization. The magnificent stadiums of the three American countries recorded an average occupancy of 99,7%, practically an uninterrupted series of matches with stadiums filled to capacity. The success was global and the half-empty stadiums of the 2025 Club World Cup gave way to a continuous celebration of color and passion.

The stories this World Cup told

Without a doubt, this was the World Cup of stories. From Cape Verde, led by the legend Vozinha, who made Argentina tremble, to the little Curaçao that scared Germany for a few minutes. Then there was the charming little brother of Lamine Yamali, who “stole the scene” from the official mascots thanks to his naturalness and spontaneity. It was the return of Lionel Messi to the MetLife Stadium ten years after the most difficult moment of his career and the first meeting between him and Lamine Yamali, 19 years after the historic photo when Messi held baby Yamal in the bathtub. Also, Paraguay eliminated Germany with a historic performance, while Spain confirmed once again that its football revolution, started in 2008, is still ongoing.

stadiums

Gigantic, spectacular, luxurious and ultramodern. The 2026 World Cup stadiums were among the most impressive aspects of the tournament. Each had its own identity and unique atmosphere. The legendary Azteca Stadium hosted the opening match of a World Cup for the third time, becoming the first in history to do so. The Jalisco Stadium in Guadalajara, built some 1.500 meters above sea level, was transformed into an additional physical challenge for the footballers. Meanwhile, stadiums in the USA and Canada confirmed their modernity, with advanced technologies such as retractable roofs and powerful air conditioning systems.

Football played

From a sporting point of view, this was a World Cup of a much higher standard than the last few editions. Especially the small and medium-sized national teams showed extraordinary progress. Footballers who are active in the strongest championships in the world raised the level of their national teams. The Democratic Republic of Congo, led by Wissa, put England in serious difficulties. Morocco, already a superpower since 2022, was stopped only by the “iceberg” France. Japan, although with many missing players due to injuries, presented an organized and very dangerous team. Likewise, Norway reached the quarter-finals, Ivory Coast made good performances, Switzerland was just an Embolo simulation away from eliminating Argentina, while Mauricio Pochettino’s USA pleasantly surprised. Overall, it was a World Cup of quality football, where each team tried to make the most of its weapons.

Arbitration standard

Thanks also to Pierluigi Collina's instructions, the referees allowed more play. Matches were not constantly interrupted by whistles. Physical contact, strong duels and intense moments were allowed to continue without excessive interference. Overall, it was a well-refereed World Cup. Of course, there were exceptions, such as France–Paraguay and England–Argentina, where some free kicks and clear fouls went unpunished, but they were isolated cases.

Five things we didn't like

Politics in football

It is true that politics affects almost every aspect of life, but during a World Cup it would be nice if the focus was only on football. The treatment that some delegations received in the US was questionable. The most obvious example was the Iranian national team, which was forced to travel almost constantly by plane due to restrictions. No one discusses the internal politics of a country, but Mehdi Taremi and his friends had come to play football. Another embarrassing moment was the forced inclusion of Donald Trump in the official photo of the trophy presentation ceremony. The footage of the Spanish players trying to move him to take pictures with the trophy went viral and was widely described as “cringe”. The Spanish footballers even repeated the celebration later without his presence.

Schedule of matches

Television demands are important, but football is played by people. Playing matches at 12:00 or 15:00, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius, does not make much sense. This harms the spectacle. Perhaps, if Spain and Argentina had been in better physical condition, the final on July 19 would not have turned into a battle for survival. The next World Cup in Spain, Morocco and Portugal is expected to offer more favorable conditions.

final

Almost everyone agrees. The final was a poor match. The heat, fatigue and tension quickly sapped both teams' energy. From that moment on, the match became a duel of endurance, where mistakes and distractions replaced technical quality. In 32 years, two World Cup finals have been held in the USA, Italy–Brazil (1994) and Spain–Argentina (2026). In both cases, spectacular football was lacking. Coincidence? Perhaps the answer will only come when the USA organizes another world final.

Half-time show

Football is not the NBA or the NFL. Not every sport lends itself to half-time spectacle. The 27-minute show with music and showbiz stars left many questions. Football is a sport of emotions and the pace of the match is part of it. The audience would have preferred to see Messi and Yamal more than Justin Bieber. Moreover, the organization was confusing, with constant introductions of music and sports stars and the feeling that many elements were pre-recorded or created with artificial intelligence. The moment when Madonna entered the field in a car, driven by Ronaldinho and Ronaldo, was entertaining, but not enough to save the show. Perhaps in the future, the spectacles should only take place before or after the match.

Hydration break

This interruption was not new, but in this World Cup it caused great controversy. Many had the impression that it was specifically designed to insert television advertisements. In some cases, refereeing officials and the fourth official were seen waiting for the end of the advertisements before giving the signal to the referee to restart the game. The transformation of a protective measure for players against the heat into an advertising block was not well received.