With Spain taking the championship in a beautiful match on Sunday, July 19, it’s hard to believe such a riveting tournament has finally come to a close. Not ready to leave it behind just yet? Here are 5 of the most memorable moments from the FIFA 2026 World Cup!
Spain’s Stellar Run
With only one goal scored against them in the entire tournament, Spain has been the methodical story of this World Cup. From the group stage to knockouts, Spain’s showcase of a tournament cannot be distilled into one moment but rather a collection of near-flawless performances, leading to Ferran Torres’s championship-winning goal. While other teams fought relentlessly for upsets and nail-biters, La Roja stayed cool, calm, and consistent, putting on a master class in well-rounded soccer every time they stepped onto the pitch.
The Soccer Viking: Erling Haaland
Everyone’s new favorite Norwegian, Erling Haaland, has taken the international stage, field, and internet by storm, scoring 7 goals in Norway’s shocking return to the tournament. Haaland has been one of the most significant stories of this tournament: matching Norway’s all-time World Cup goal record, knocking out legendary Brazil, and taking his team all the way to the quarterfinals. The young athlete scored both of the goals in the monumental 2-1 win against Brazil, putting himself just a goal behind the likes of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé in the race to the Golden Boot, and guaranteeing that no one will forget the name Haaland or his extraordinary performance in the 2026 World Cup.
Cabo Verde: The Small Island Nation that Could
Cabo Verde stole everyone’s hearts in this year’s World Cup. A nation off the coast of West Africa with a population of just over half a million, a strong-handed 40-year-old goalkeeper, Vozinha, and an undying determination and passion for soccer put up an unprecedented performance in their historic tournament debut, reaching the round of 32, only barely losing to the tournament runner-up, Argentina, in a hard-fought 3-2 match. Sidney Lopes Cabral’s equalising goal in extra time and Vozinha saving 7 goals will certainly go down in World Cup history, and the players will return home as heroes in their own right.
Mbappé and The Golden Boot
If you thought Kylian Mbappé couldn’t get any better, this tournament proved otherwise. His stellar, Golden Boot-winning performance has cemented his status as a legendary French captain and soccer player. Although he didn’t win 3rd place in a heated match against England with a final score of 4-6, he scored the 2 goals that pushed him over the edge for his award, beating out Messi by 2 goals. His highlights throughout the Cup have shown his phenomenal playmaking and finishing abilities. Mbappé continues to prove that he’s at the peak of his play and is one of the most enjoyable players to watch on the field.
Best Goal of the Tournament: Uzbekistan's Eldor Shomurodov
While the vote for FIFA’s Hyundai Goal of the Tournament is still underway, 12 goals stand out amongst the rest. While many of these goals were shot by well-known footballers in the knockout rounds -- from champion Ferran Torres to Mbappé and Haaland -- it’s important not to forget about the group stages. And, trust us, it’s impossible to forget about Eldor Shomurodov’s beauty of a goal against DR Congo in Group K. The captain of the White Wolves’ debut World Cup team lobs the ball perfectly over the goalie and into the far corner of the net, winning the game for them 1-0. Already earning fans’ votes for best goal of the group stage, he reminds us that, even amongst all-stars, anyone has the opportunity to shine on the World Cup stage.
These moments will be talked about for a long time to come, especially since the announcement of the 2030 World Cup in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. But don’t worry, we don’t have to wait 4 years until the next World Cup! Next year, the excitement will continue in Brazil as they host the Women’s World Cup, so make sure to tune in for even more history in the making!
