As the largest World Cup in history comes to a close, the 48-team tournament provided unforgettable moments, from comeback wins to international fans experiencing American culture for the first time.
Ahead of Sunday’s final, FOX Sports soccer analysts Zlatan Ibrahimović, Thierry Henry and Alexi Lalas recapped their favorite moments from the tournament:
Zlatan Ibrahimović: The Fans
(Photo by Bradley Collyer/PA Images
Ibrahimović:I will think about the fans. For me, the fans are very special. Different cultures, you have seen them sing, you have seen them cry, you have seen them celebrating, different cultures coming together. That is what football does. I can speak about goals and winning, whatever. Fans make it really special.
We wouldn’t be able to have this beautiful World Cup, or a game. It’s all about the fans. You give back to the fans, and they make it very special. I don’t want to enter a special country, because everybody has a special way of celebrating or bringing their cultures [together]. Football connects people. And that is what’s beautiful about it.
Thierry Henry: Tearful Tributes
Henry:First, the tears of [Alexi] during USA vs. Paraguay in the national anthem. Second, [Rebecca] getting emotional when England got knocked out. Third, fairytales, Cape Verde and Vozinha. Viking Row. Special moment for me, when Ronaldo put the shirt off of Diogo Jota, remembering him.
And lastly, maybe this is not a favorite moment, but we lost someone, Jayden Adams. Let’s not forget about that. Condolences to the family. That will stay with me forever.
Alexi Lalas: American Culture
(Photo by Alex Livesey – FIFA/FIFA
Lalas:That national anthem at that first [USA] game. For what it represented in that moment, in terms of nostalgia, and looking back 32 years and how far we had come. But also, I didn’t necessarily know it at the moment, but now a month later, it was also kind of the starting point for the discovery of people who came from outside the United States.
Or the rediscovery of Americans through the lens of the World Cup. Maybe a newfound respect. It’s something our country needed, and this tournament provided it. Sometimes, you need to look at it through somebody else’s lens to really appreciate it. I think that really happened this summer for Americans and for people that visited.
Coming To America ❤️ The Joy, Heartbreak & Magic of the FIFA World Cup™
2026 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot Race Tracker: Mbappé Extends Lead, Messi Lurks
What Do The World Cup Third-Place Winners Get?
<img src="https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2026/07/302/170/e332c41b-artboard-1arg-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1,%20https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2026/07/604/340/e332c41b-artboard-1arg-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1%202x" alt="FIFA WORLD CUP MEN Trending Image: Expert World Cup Predictions For The Spain-Argentina Final”>
Expert World Cup Predictions For The Spain-Argentina Final
How to Watch the 2026 World Cup Final This Sunday
How to Watch Mbappe and France vs. England: TV Channel, Live Stream, Live
France vs. England Prediction, Odds, Picks For World Cup Match
Move Over, Messi! Kylian Mbappé Breaks All-Time Record For World Cup Goals
Lionel Messi Tells Tom Brady ‘Crazy’ Story Behind Viral Lamine Yamal Baby Photoshoot
Top 50 Players From The 2026 World Cup Ahead Of The Final
Get more from the FIFA Men’s World CupFollow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
in this topicCape Verde
Vozinha
Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal
FIFA Men’s World Cup
United States
Paraguay
Alexi Lalas
Zlatan Ibrahimović
Thierry Henry
NEXT STORY
How to Watch the World Cup Today: Schedule, Times, TV, Streaming for Bronze Final
-
2026 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot Race Tracker: Mbappé Extends Lead, Messi Lurks
What Do The World Cup Third-Place Winners Get?
Expert World Cup Predictions For The Spain-Argentina Final
-
How to Watch the 2026 World Cup Final This Sunday
How to Watch Mbappe and France vs. England: TV Channel, Live Stream, Live
France vs. England Prediction, Odds, Picks For World Cup Match
-
Move Over, Messi! Kylian Mbappé Breaks All-Time Record For World Cup Goals
Lionel Messi Tells Tom Brady ‘Crazy’ Story Behind Viral Lamine Yamal Baby Photoshoot
Top 50 Players From The 2026 World Cup Ahead Of The Final
