After six weeks, 104 games and a pile of glittering goals, the World Cup has mercifully come to a close. The tournament’s victors, Spain, proved nigh-on impenetrable throughout the competition, conceding just one goal en route to the podium.
It was the showcase befitting the title of world’s best side. There’s no doubt that La Roja deserves the denomination. After all, Luis de la Fuente’s bunch bested Portugal, France and Argentina to claim the crown.
Littered across the pitches that pockmarked the North American landscape were a handful of noteworthy showings. Some conjured joy among onlookers, while others drew rancor.
So, just who were the winners and losers from this year’s tournament? Here’s what you need to know.
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World Cup 2026 winners
Spain’s latest golden generation
After capitulations in the 2014, 2018 and 2022 World Cups, Spain went in-house to find a managerial appointment, handing the keys to its roster to Luis de la Fuente. Under his tutelage, La Roja have gone on a glorious winning run in the years since his hiring, claiming titles in the Nations League, European Championship and, now, the World Cup.
There’s little to suggest this run of form will end anytime soon. Yamal spearheads a roster teeming with youthful vigor. He’s joined by Pau Cubarsi (19), Gavi (21), Yeremy Pino (23), Pedri (23) and Nico Williams (24), all of whom have shined in Spanish colors at one point or another during their budding careers.
There are other young talents waiting in the wings, from defenders Dean Huijsen (21) and Cristhian Mosquera (22) to attackers Samu Aghehowa (22) and Fermin Lopez (23). The future looks bright for La Roja. Expect the accolades to keep pouring in as the Spaniards get older and wiser, even if De La Fuente steps away.
African football
The knockout stages proved one step too far for Africa’s best and brightest sides, with only Morocco advancing out of the Round of 16. Nevertheless, the nature of African sides’ showings in this year’s World Cup suggests that the continent should play a starring role in the competition for years to come.
No side came closer to testing Spain and Argentina than Cape Verde, who held La Roja to a scoreless draw in their tilt before authoring the game of the tournament in a 3-2 extra time loss to La Albiceleste. Senegal and Ivory Coast flashed their considerable talent against European powerhouses France and Germany, while Egypt had Argentina on the ropes prior to Messi’s late-game outburst in the Round of 16.
While a strong World Cup run doesn’t necessarily foretell future African footballing success — many of the continent’s best talents land in Europe, gutting local leagues of the best their pastures have to offer — it does indicate that the continent is awash with footballing potential. That should lend itself to stronger displays in the World Cup for years to come.
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The kids are alright
Perhaps this was a World Cup for the youth. Teenagers made their marks throughout the competition, with Ayyoub Bouaddi, Yan Diamande, Ibrahim Mbaye, Gilberto Mora, Lucas Herrington and Kerim Alajbegovic all making starring contributions in addition to Yamal and Cubarsi.
Few things linger in soccer enthusiasts’ minds quite like seeing a young star come of age under the scorching spotlight of the World Cup. At this year’s tournament, there were multiple standouts who lit up the sky across North America.
It seems likelier than not that the vast majority of teens we saw in this year’s competition will return in four years’ time to set the fields of Morocco, Spain and Portugal ablaze once more. They won’t be newcomers when that happens.
World Cup 2026 losers
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Portugal
The Portuguese were unable to get past their Iberian rivals in the Round of 16, falling to Spain courtesy of a Mikel Merino late winner. It’s hard not to feel there was more potential within Portugal’s ranks. Joao Neves, Vitinha, Nuno Mendes and Bruno Fernandes are widely considered some of the world’s best players at their respective positions, while Rafael Leao figured to be a wild-card who, if he popped, could help anchor the Portuguese attack.
Ultimately, however, Roberto Martinez opted to hand the reins of his attack to an aging — or rather decaying — Cristiano Ronaldo. The 41-year-old was unable to offer much in Portugal’s front line save for two goals against World Cup newcomer Uzbekistan and a penalty against Croatia.
Martinez’s insistence to play Ronaldo up front rather than the sprightly Goncalo Ramos left the Portuguese at a disadvantage. The Al-Nassr striker does not have the physical attributes to offer the outlet his teammates needed, neutering the potency of their attack. La Roja had a better roster than the Portuguese across the board. But Martinez’s decision to leave Ronaldo instead of shaking things up proved him most costly.
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USMNT
Just to get it out of the way, the U.S. had no chance of beating Spain if it had somehow downed Belgium in the Round of 16. Mauricio Pochettino’s side looked a captivating sight during the group stage and Round of 32, getting past its opposition — Turkey notwithstanding — with relative ease.
That might have created the appearance that a new dawn was on the horizon for the Stars and Stripes. Any suggestion that was the actual case was summarily swept aside when the U.S. fell to Belgium, 4-1.
There’s not much to be said about the contest. The best collection of U.S. talent fell victim to an aging Red Devils side that looked far less menacing than its predecessors.
The U.S. has some prodigies within its youth ranks and should take something out of the nature of its group stage wins. But the fact remains: when matched up against the sport’s elite – or close to it — the U.S. has faltered more times than most.
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Gianni Infantino
Between FIFA and the U.S. government’s treatment of Iran, the dehumanizing techniques used to frustrate and fluster players and fans coming from Global South nations and the desire to suck those watching the beautiful game dry of every penny, Infantino should not emerge from this year’s World Cup unscathed.
Some have suggested retrospectively that the U.S. was an apt host for this year’s World Cup. That concept should be rebelled at every step. Refereeing was shoddy, hydration breaks were little more than money grabs and the soundtrack was underwhelming.
The buck stops with Infantino’s, whose friendship with Trump was hard to ignore as the six-week spectacle wore on. Good riddance!
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