FIFA president Gianni Infantino described the 2026 World Cup as the “biggest event in the history of mankind”, comparing the tournament hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada to 104 Super Bowls taking place in a single month. With 48 teams involved for the first time, the competition promised more matches, more nations, and more unforgettable moments. But the expanded format also raised questions about whether the increase in size came at the expense of quality.

The arrival of debutants such as Curaçao, Cape Verde, Jordan, and Uzbekistan added a fresh sense of discovery to the tournament. The group stage produced some memorable stories, especially from smaller nations who made their first appearance on football’s biggest stage. Cape Verde, a country with a population of around 530,000, impressed by securing draws against Spain and Uruguay, as well as Saudi Arabia, to finish second in their group.

Curacao also provided one of the tournament’s surprise moments by recovering from a heavy 7-1 defeat by Germany to earn a point against Ecuador. DR Congo reached the knockout rounds after drawing with Portugal, adding another unexpected chapter to the competition. Without the expanded format, these teams would not have had the opportunity to create those stories.

However, the new structure was not without criticism. The group phase featured 72 matches — more than an entire World Cup used to contain — but only 16 teams were eliminated. The use of head-to-head results as the first tie-breaker also created unusual situations, with teams such as Australia and Paraguay, as well as Austria and Algeria, knowing that a draw would send both sides through.

The real drama arrived once the knockout rounds began. Cape Verde pushed Argentina into extra time before eventually losing 3-2, meaning they completed the tournament without a defeat in 90 minutes against either of the eventual finalists. Their run, along with the story of veteran goalkeeper Vozinha, highlighted the value of giving more countries a chance to compete.

New rules, new formats and the impact on the road to the final

The 2026 tournament introduced a different approach to the World Cup draw, with FIFA attempting to prevent the highest-ranked teams from meeting too early. Argentina, England, France, and Spain were placed into separate sections of the bracket, ensuring they could only face each other from the semi-final stage onwards.

In the end, the special seeding system had little effect on the outcome. The four highest-ranked nations still reached the final four, something that had never happened before in World Cup history. However, one important adjustment was made to the draw to guarantee that Argentina and Spain, ranked first and second, could only meet in the final.

To achieve that, FIFA moved Argentina into Group J and France into Group I. Without that change, the semi-final match-ups would have been different, with England expected to face France and Argentina meeting Spain. The alteration changed the possible route to the final, even though the strongest teams still dominated the later stages.

Another major talking point was the introduction of mandatory three-minute hydration breaks in every match. Fifa presented the stoppages as a measure designed to protect players and maintain fairness, but the breaks became a source of frustration among supporters, especially as they were used for advertising opportunities by broadcasters.

Television companies outside the UK were allowed to show commercials during these interruptions, and advertising slots reportedly reached significant prices, particularly during matches involving the United States and during the final stages of the tournament. Coaches also used the breaks as tactical opportunities, with some matches seeing momentum shift after teams received additional instructions.

Despite criticism from fans, the hydration breaks are likely to remain part of future World Cups. However, European competitions have already rejected the idea, making their introduction into domestic leagues unlikely.

Faster football, record crowds and the business behind the tournament

FIFA refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina entered the tournament determined to improve the rhythm of matches. His focus was on reducing delays caused by slow restarts, substitutions, and players appearing to waste time through injuries.

The changes produced a noticeable difference compared with the 2022 World Cup. While matches in Qatar lasted an average of 101 minutes and 22 seconds, with 58 minutes and three seconds of actual playing time, the 2026 tournament reduced the average duration to 96 minutes and 24 seconds while slightly increasing ball-in-play time to 58 minutes and 15 seconds.

The percentage of matches spent with the ball in action also improved, rising from 57.4% in 2022 to 60.4%. The new approach was viewed as a success because games became more fluid, supporters faced fewer delays, and players provided more football within a shorter overall timeframe. The same regulations are expected to continue influencing domestic competitions.

Away from the pitch, concerns about attendance failed to materialise. Despite criticism over expensive tickets, FIFA announced that stadiums were operating at 99.7% capacity after the quarter-finals, with a record attendance figure of 6,527,410 fans.

The organisation also generated additional revenue through its resale platform, which charged a 30% fee on every transaction. Yet controversy remained, with authorities in New York and New Jersey investigating ticket pricing practices and seat information. Supporters also criticised restrictions on bringing water bottles into stadiums, forcing FIFA to reverse the decision, while transportation costs around venues such as New Jersey and Boston also caused complaints before reductions were introduced.

Politics, refereeing debates and the legacy of the tournament

The political atmosphere surrounding the 2026 World Cup was present before the first match was played. Immigration restrictions affected supporters from several countries, while Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry at Miami Airport before the tournament began. The situation created an uncomfortable moment for Infantino, who responded by telling people to “chill” and “relax”.

Iran’s participation also became a political issue, with the team facing restrictions on how long they could stay in the United States around their matches. After Iran’s elimination, US homeland security official Markwayne Mullin publicly expressed his reaction to their exit.

One of the biggest controversies emerged when US President Donald Trump contacted Infantino regarding Florian Balogun’s suspension. A FIFA disciplinary committee member later made an unprecedented decision by suspending rather than enforcing the forward’s ban, allowing him to play against Belgium. However, the United States suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat, while the decision raised concerns about possible political influence over football matters.

VAR also became a major discussion point as the tournament progressed. The group stage passed with relatively little controversy, but knockout matches produced more debate over refereeing decisions. The Egyptian Football Association requested an investigation after their defeat by Argentina, following a VAR decision that ruled out one of their goals.

Across the tournament, VAR interventions occurred at a similar rate to the 2022 World Cup, but subjective decisions involving referee monitors were more frequent than in the Premier League. Despite complaints, one major difference was the speed of decisions, with most reviews being completed quickly compared with the longer delays often criticised in domestic football.

The 2026 World Cup delivered more matches, more participants, and more debates than any previous edition. While the expanded format created unforgettable stories from emerging nations, it also brought new challenges involving scheduling, commercial interests, politics, and technology. The tournament’s legacy may ultimately depend on whether football can preserve the excitement of a larger World Cup while addressing the concerns that came with its growth.

FIFA will introduce a new tradition at Sunday’s World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, with the winners set to receive championship rings after lifting the trophy.

The rings are inspired by a long-standing tradition in American sports, where champions in competitions such as the NFL’s Super Bowl receive specially designed jewellery to celebrate their success.

A total of 30 rings will be produced for the newly crowned world champions, while another 1,996 will be available for supporters to purchase. Each item will feature a miniature version of the World Cup trophy as part of its design, along with a personalised engraving on the band.

Trump confirmed for trophy presentation at MetLife Stadium

Donald Trump will attend the final and present the trophy to the winning team, despite not having watched any of the 102 matches played during this World Cup.

The US president missed all of the United States’ fixtures before their elimination in the last 16 by Belgium. However, his appearance at major sporting occasions is not unusual, with Trump previously attending events including the Super Bowl, the US Open tennis tournament, the NBA finals, and the Ryder Cup.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino had already announced that Trump would be present at the final, while White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later confirmed his attendance.

World Cup controversy involving Trump and Infantino

The connection between Infantino and Trump has been at the centre of the tournament’s biggest controversy after the US president contacted the FIFA chief to request a review of United States forward Folarin Balogun’s red card.

The decision to overturn Balogun’s automatic suspension attracted criticism and led to questions over the consistency of disciplinary decisions during the competition.

Balogun was subsequently available for the knockout match against Belgium, although the USA were beaten 4-1 and eliminated from the tournament.

No other red or yellow cards have been suspended during the World Cup, even though France and England both appealed against decisions involving their players.

Officials in New York and New Jersey have introduced an air quality health alert after smoke from Canadian wildfires spread across the region just days before the World Cup final.

The haze has covered the New York area, leading authorities to advise people to limit outdoor activity and remain inside whenever possible. The warning comes shortly before the meeting between Spain and Argentina at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, scheduled for Sunday, 19 July, at 20:00 BST.

The open-air venue is expected to welcome more than 80,000 supporters for the final, which will also feature a major half-time performance. At present, there are no indications that the match will be impacted by the conditions.

The situation improved slightly compared with the severe smoke pollution experienced in New York in June 2023, when wildfire smoke turned the sky orange across the city.

Spain arrive as conditions worsen

The air quality became noticeably worse shortly before Spain arrived in New Jersey on Wednesday evening, only a day after their semi-final victory over France in Texas.

Despite the difficult conditions, Spain continued with outdoor training on Thursday and appeared unaffected by the smoky atmosphere. The team has not made any public comments about concerns surrounding the air quality.

Argentina took a different approach after beating England in their semifinal, remaining in Georgia before travelling to New Jersey. The team is scheduled to begin preparations there on Friday afternoon.

The changing conditions have also affected people working around the stadium. Contractor Dan Edgar revealed that his daughter Kaitlynn, who is due to dance and perform during the final, was practising at the venue on Thursday and struggled with the atmosphere.

“She’s texting me that it’s bad out there,” Edgar said. “It’s hard to dance, she says you can feel the air, it’s heavy.”

Players already dealing with difficult conditions

Footballers have already experienced the combination of smoke and high temperatures in recent days. A National Women’s Soccer League match between Gotham FC and Washington Spirit went ahead at Citi Field in Queens on Wednesday despite the orange-coloured haze.

Because of the air quality index, players were required to take two additional breaks during each half under league regulations.

Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman admitted the conditions were challenging after the game and suggested the match should not have taken place.

“Not to make excuses at all, but I think on both sides we were all like, ‘another break, another break, another break’,” Rodman said.

The forecast offers hope before the final

The air quality around New York and New Jersey is expected to improve on Friday, while predicted rainfall on Saturday could help clear some of the remaining smoke.

Elsewhere, poor air conditions have already caused football disruption, with Thursday’s Major League Soccer fixture between Chicago Fire and Vancouver Whitecaps postponed due to pollution levels in the Chicago area.

The match had been expected to feature former Bayern Munich and Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski, who was preparing to make his debut for Chicago after joining the club as a free agent last month.

Argentina may face disciplinary proceedings from FIFA after their players displayed a political message during celebrations following their World Cup semi-final triumph over England.

The reigning champions secured a place in the final after a dramatic comeback in Atlanta, overturning England’s lead to win 2-1 thanks to late goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez.

After the match ended, Argentina’s squad gathered with a banner carrying the words “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”, which translates as “The Falklands are Argentine”.

The Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory located in the southwest Atlantic Ocean, have long been at the centre of a sovereignty dispute between Britain and Argentina.

Previous controversy over similar message

The two countries previously fought a war over the islands in 1982, with the conflict lasting 74 days between April and June.

The war resulted in the deaths of 655 Argentine servicemen, 255 British servicemen, and three residents of the islands.

Argentina has already faced punishment from world football’s governing body for a similar incident. In 2014, FIFA fined the Argentine Football Association £20,000 after players held the same message before a friendly match against Slovenia.

At the time, FIFA ruled that the banner violated regulations regarding political statements and team misconduct.

Political reaction after Argentina’s win

Following Wednesday’s semi-final victory, Argentina vice president Victoria Villarruel shared a post on X featuring a video that appeared to show Argentine soldiers, accompanied by the words: “It wasn’t just another match”.

Villarruel also wrote: “The Falklands are Argentine,” claiming that the islands had been prevented from being brought into the stadium but remained part of Argentina’s identity.

Before the match, Villarruel had described the semifinal as an opportunity to “put the invaders in their place”.

Peter Kyle, the UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, criticised the banner and said he expected FIFA to investigate the incident.

“I think [an investigation] is certain to happen because it was such an egregious violation of the rules of not having political activity as part of the football,” Kyle told BBC Breakfast.

Scaloni urged focus on football before the semifinal

The Falklands issue had already appeared during Argentina’s tournament, with players singing chants referencing the islands, including Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi, after their 3-2 victory over Egypt in the last 16.

However, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni had previously insisted that football and politics should not be mixed ahead of the semi-final.

Scaloni said the match should be viewed purely as a sporting event and showed respect for those affected by the conflict.

“It was a very sad period in our history, and there isn’t much we can do about it,” Scaloni said.

He added that wars happening around the world should be criticised but stressed that the meeting with England was a football match and should not be confused with political issues.

The semi-final was played with additional security measures due to the historical tensions between the two countries.

Few people in football history have witnessed as much as Enrique Macaya Márquez. The Argentine broadcaster, known simply as Macaya, has built a career that stretches across almost seven decades and includes coverage of 18 consecutive World Cups — a record that reflects his extraordinary connection with the game.

His journey began at the 1958 tournament in Sweden, when he was only 24 years old. Among the stars of that competition was a 17-year-old Pelé, but Macaya’s first major memory from the tournament came from Argentina’s painful 6-1 defeat against Czechoslovakia, a match later remembered as the “Disaster of Sweden”.

“We knew almost nothing about Czechoslovakia. We had no information, no data, and they surprised us,” Macaya recalled, describing a defeat that has stayed with him throughout his career.

Since then, he has watched football change dramatically. He has reported on legends such as Pelé, Diego Maradona, and Lionel Messi, while witnessing the sport move from traditional television coverage to the digital era, with instant statistics and increasingly global tournaments.

Despite all those changes, one principle has remained constant for Macaya: the importance of avoiding quick conclusions. For him, understanding a person and their journey must come before making any judgement.

Scaloni’s rise and the importance of patience

That belief influenced his reaction when Lionel Scaloni was appointed Argentina manager in 2018. At the time, Macaya admitted he was uncertain about the decision because he did not know much about the coach.

“I didn’t have high hopes. I didn’t know him,” he said.

Scaloni eventually transformed doubts into admiration, guiding Argentina to success in the Copa América, Finalissima, and World Cup. What initially appeared to be a risky choice became one of football’s most successful stories in recent years.

For Macaya, Scaloni’s achievements proved why patience and deeper understanding are essential before judging anyone. He believes that a person’s qualities cannot be evaluated without knowing their background, character, and complete story.

Argentina have once again reached the semi-finals of the World Cup and are preparing to face England, with Macaya convinced that the team has the ability to lift the trophy again.

“Of course they can,” he said. “If we’re talking about what is possible, about the future, I believe Argentina is capable of winning.”

Messi, Maradona and the impossible comparisons

When asked about his favourite Argentine player, Macaya’s answer was immediate.

“Clearly, it’s Messi,” he said.

However, when the conversation turned to the greatest player of all time, the veteran broadcaster refused to provide a definitive answer. In his view, comparing footballers from different eras is almost impossible because the game itself has constantly evolved.

“There’s no way to measure players throughout history,” Macaya explained. “Times have changed. Opponents have changed. Every player is unique.”

The same approach applies when discussing Messi and Maradona. Although both wore Argentina’s famous number 10 shirt and became symbols of their generation, Macaya believes their careers cannot be judged through a simple comparison.

“The opponents were different. The needs were different. The support from their teammates was different. Each had their own life and their own history,” he said.

He also rejects comparisons between Pelé’s Brazil team of 1970 and Maradona’s Argentina side from 1986, insisting that the different styles and circumstances make such debates impossible to settle.

A career built on memories and respect

For Macaya, football history is not defined only by victories. While World Cup triumphs naturally hold a special place in his memories, he believes defeats are also an important part of the story.

“There are many memorable matches. Negative results are also part of that memory,” he said.

Among the moments that stand out most for him are Argentina’s World Cup successes. He believes the 1986 triumph was especially significant for Maradona, as the trophy fulfilled the dream of becoming a world champion.

After nearly 70 years documenting football’s greatest moments, Macaya knows that retirement is approaching. Yet even when discussing the end of his career, he keeps the same relaxed attitude that has defined his work.

“I’m going to retire at some point,” he joked.

For a journalist who has spent a lifetime recording the evolution of football, his farewell may eventually come — but his influence on the sport’s history will remain unforgettable.