World Cup 2026: A Big Win for Spain

Spain won the World Cup 2026 on Sunday, 19 July. They defeated Argentina 1-0. This was a thrilling end to a tournament that lasted 39 days. A total of 104 matches were played by 48 teams from six federations. This was the first time the finals took place in three countries: Canada, Mexico, and the United States, across 16 host cities. There were 11 cities in the US, including Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, and New York City. Mexico had three cities: Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey. Canada had Toronto and Vancouver. This World Cup was the longest and most expensive ever. Tickets went for as high as $2,000 and over $10,000 on the final day.

Spain’s victory was well earned. Supporters of Argentina, especially Lionel Messi's fans, wanted back-to-back wins. But Argentina could not get a shot on target. Spain controlled the game, taking 20 shots with 12 on target. Ferran Torres scored the winning goal in the 106th minute.

The score could have been higher if not for Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who was busy throughout the game. The goal from Torres was sad for Argentina but beautifully executed. It was a historic moment. Spain is the first nation to hold both the men’s and women’s FIFA World Cup titles at the same time. They are also the first to be the reigning men’s World Champion, European Champion, and Olympic Champion at the same time. Spain also won the Golden Ball (Rodri), best young player (Pan Cubarsi), and best goalkeeper with the Golden Gloves (Unai Simon). The Spanish team only conceded one goal and scored 14 goals during the tournament. Argentina could have lost by more than one goal. The best team won.

Spain played like a complete team, using possession and positional football to win their second World Cup title. Argentina relied on their goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez, and Lionel Messi, who was in tears after what may be his last World Cup at 39. He will always be remembered as a legend of the tournament with 21 World Cup goals. He is a genius and a master at both club and international levels.

Despite the excitement around the final, it was not the most thrilling match of the tournament. The most exciting matches included Netherlands vs Japan, which ended 2-2, Algeria vs Austria at 3-3, and Belgium vs Senegal in the Round of 32 at 3-2. Senegal almost defeated Belgium. Argentina played Cabo Verde, ending 3-2. Cabo Verde, with 529,000 people and no proper national team, had an amazing run. Their 40-year-old goalkeeper, Vozinha, gave a memorable performance. Cabo Verde almost beat Argentina! In the Round of 16, Norway knocked out Brazil 2-1, which was a shock. Brazil was out. England beat Mexico in the Round of 16 but disappointed in the semi-final against Argentina. They played defensively after scoring a goal in the first half. England later redeemed themselves by beating France for third place. This was England’s best World Cup since 1966, and they got a bronze medal, but it felt underwhelming, even after winning 6-4 against a top team.

The World Cup 2026 showed the beautiful game well. Africa had a record 10 slots, with nine teams reaching the knock-out stage. Morocco and Egypt put on great performances, reaching the Quarter Finals and Round of 16 before losing to France and Argentina. DR Congo, back in the World Cup since 1974, drew with Portugal and beat Uzbekistan. They almost scared England in the Round of 32. Ghana did okay too, drawing 0-0 with England and beating Panama 1-0. Cabo Verde was the standout team from Africa, drawing with Spain, holding Uruguay to a 2-2 draw, and almost beating Argentina. Cote D’Ivoire also performed well. I would prefer not to mention South Africa. Nigeria, which did not qualify, was everywhere but nowhere at the tournament.

While 10 African countries played, Nigeria was busy cheering from the sidelines. Afro-beat star Burna Boy performed with Shakira at the opening on 11 June and at the closing in New Jersey on 19 July. Other Nigerian artists like Rema, Davido, and Ayra Starr entertained at various events while football was played. Nigeria also had 15 players of Nigerian descent represent other countries. While this shows Nigerian talent, we would rather see our country on the World Cup stage. Having missed the last two World Cups, Nigeria needs to work hard for the next one in 2030. The time to start is now. Other countries begin preparing right after the last World Cup ends. The Nigeria Football Federation usually waits until the last moment before running around to get a coach and players, which often demoralizes the team. Nobody seems to learn from past mistakes in Nigeria’s football.

There are clear lessons from the World Cup 2026. The excitement of football shone through. FIFA organized it well, and the venues were top-notch. Despite tough weather, with temperatures hitting 33C, fans showed up in numbers. An average of about 65,500 spectators attended each match, totaling 6.81 million across 104 matches. There were touching family moments that added color. The Viking row by Norway made a big impact off the field. There were beautiful scenes in the stands and fan centers. Mothers and families traveled to support their loved ones. Vozinha's mother and Lamine Yamal's family were there, celebrating special moments. It was heartwarming to see Marc Cucurella share his World Cup glory with his wife and kids. The diversity at the World Cup was clear, not just in the teams but also in players like Nico Williams, who has Ghanaian parents and plays for Spain, and Lamine Yamal, whose dad is Moroccan and mom is from Equatorial Guinea.

The World Cup took place against significant geopolitical events. The US celebrated its 250th Independence Anniversary, and President Donald Trump was there for the final. He lingered around after Spain won but was politely nudged away. He also got FIFA to suspend a red card given to Folarin Balogun, one of many Nigerian exports. The Iran national team faced prejudice and discrimination while in the US. FIFA referee Omar Artan from Somalia was barred from entering, despite having a valid visa. He would have been the first Somali to officiate at a World Cup. Senegal's team faced humiliating security checks when they arrived. The worst moment of the World Cup was the racism shown. Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla insulted Kylian Mbappe after France beat Paraguay. Mbappe called her a "despicable woman unworthy of her position." Paraguay's government distanced itself from her comments, and the French Football Federation lodged a complaint. The Argentina vs England semi-final had political undertones from the 1982 Falklands war. Argentina won 2-1, and some players held up a banner saying, "Las Malvinas son Argentinas." FIFA is investigating.

Overall, this was a successful World Cup. The biggest winners are the players and teams that made history. The top four FIFA-ranked teams, Spain, Argentina, France, and England, reached the finals. Gianni Infantino, FIFA president, has been endorsed for a fourth term by 200 of FIFA’s 211 member associations. Football is also full of myths. One myth is that the reigning Ballon d’Or winner never wins the World Cup. This year was no different. The World Cup 2026 was a commercial success with a prize pot of $871 million. Spain took home $51 million and gold rings for every player. Argentina got $34 million, and England $30 million. Each team received an extra $12.5 million. This was a profitable event. The next World Cup will be in Morocco, Spain, and Portugal in 2030, with a 64-team format to mark the centenary of the tournament. It will be a shame if Nigeria again fails to qualify, not just for the money, but for national pride.