FIFA World Cup 2026
Lionel Messi, finally reconciled with Argentina, and the pursuit of a World Cup that would put him beyond dispute as the greatest of all time
After a complicated career with the national team, Leo has won the World Cup and entered the hearts of his compatriots. He now plays with a new freedom, a different joy, the historic hat-trick against Algeria still somewhere in the memory.
One match was enough for Kylian Mbappé to show that the World Cup is still his own playground
France–Senegal, another match shaped by Mbappé, again uncontainable at World Cup level.
New patches appear on World Cup kits, beneath the commercial layer
Debut patches, veteran patches, others. FIFA–Topps agreement.
France’s dominance in world football, and a national team defined by multiculturalism
Expanded boundaries, talent from the banlieues and the Clairefontaine academy have made Les Bleus a football superpower. Beyond divisions and political instrumentalisation.
Scottish fans set a World Cup noise record
A Braveheart-scale roar during the match against Haiti, like a firework going off. All sparked by a song tied to Braveheart.
Credit to Cape Verde, but Spain cannot do without Lamine Yamal
The countdown to the Barcelona prodigy’s return is underway, but matches like this suggest La Roja can no longer wait for him.
Real Madrid’s World Cup-linked signings and the revenue they bring in
Dumfries, Bernardo Silva, Cucurella and Konaté are with their national teams at the World Cup. Real Madrid pick up FIFA-linked bonuses for them.
Spain’s internal shirt-number rule leaves Lamine Yamal without the 10
Seniority and caps accumulated, Yamal remains a few years behind Dani Olmo and his teammates.
Japan without several key players, holding its own against anyone
Moriyasu’s Japan without Mitoma and Minamino among others, a strong showing against the Oranje.
The World Cup’s halftime breaks are popular with almost no one
National team coaches and former players have raised concerns, while the fact that several broadcasters use them for advertising adds to the perception of football increasingly aligned with North American sporting models.
Brazil–Morocco night and 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi, talent and personality evident from the start
Refined technique, relentless focus, athletic build and the lightness of elite players: the Lille midfielder has the qualities to play at the highest level of football.