Among the personalities surrounding the event were Gianni Infantino, Donald Trump, Marcelo Bielsa, Joseph Blatter, Folarin Balogun, Minky Worden, Daniel Norona, Ronan Evain and referee Omar Artan, each adding a distinct dimension to the tournament’s story.
The 2026 World Cup, the first edition to be shared by three nations, brought together the United States, Mexico and Canada in a sprawling celebration of football. With 6,810,966 spectators filling stadiums across the continent, the tournament set a new benchmark for attendance, filling nearly every seat available.
A tournament of records and revelations
Spain emerged as champions, a triumph that placed the country at the intersection of men's and women's football glory. FIFA President Gianni Infantino hailed the competition as the greatest sporting, social and cultural event in human history, while former coach Marcelo Bielsa warned that the newly introduced hydration breaks added little to the spectacle.
Fans, however, faced steep costs for tickets, accommodation and even basic refreshments. In the United States a beer could cost up to €20, while in Mexico food and drink prices surged. The debate over cooling breaks divided the technical area, with many coaches backing the measure despite criticism from Uruguay’s Marcelo Bielsa.
The competition also delivered unexpected moments on the pitch. Cape Verde held the eventual champions Spain to a goalless draw, the Democratic Republic of Congo earned a 1‑1 stalemate with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, and the tiny island of Curacao celebrated its first World Cup goal against Germany. Paraguay’s surprise elimination of Germany in the round of 32 added another layer of intrigue.
Political undercurrents ran deep. Former U.S. President Donald Trump waded into FIFA affairs, lobbying for the eligibility of Folarin Balogun, while visa complications saw Somali referee Omar Artan denied entry despite a valid travel document. Human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International USA, condemned the tournament’s record on visa policy and broader governance.
Looking ahead, FIFA’s president Gianni Infantino is expected to seek re‑election, and plans are already afoot to expand the World Cup to 64 teams, a move that could reshape the tournament’s structure and commercial prospects.