The best thing about the 2026 FIFA World Cup: memories that last forever

The best thing about the 2026 FIFA World Cup: memories that last forever

According to Foxsports.

Background

Lionel Messi, who played for Argentina during the 2026 World Cup, will remain a central figure in international football. His performances and those of his teammates will determine how Argentina fares in future tournaments as the world looks ahead to the next big events in football.

Why this is important

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has thrilled not only fans in the USA, but also players like Lionel Messi, who are competing for their nations on the world's biggest stage. The emotional games and unforgettable moments will go down in the history books and increase anticipation for future tournaments, including the 2026 World Cup. This event has the potential to have a lasting impact on soccer culture in North America.

Key findings

• The best thing about the 2026 FIFA World Cup: memories that last forever.
• The 2026 FIFA World Cup was a unique experience that featured many unforgettable moments and emotional games.
• Here's To The Best World Cup Of All Time. The Memories Will Live Forever.

NEW YORK NEW JERSEY STADIUM — I often joke that it's impossible to evaluate World Cups, much like choosing your own children: Each one is unique and special. I had the privilege of covering the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the sixth I have experienced in both men's and women's football. The first five took me to Brazil, Canada, France, Qatar, and Australia and New Zealand, and each one was incredibly special. Years ago, as a young professional, I dreamed of one day covering a World Cup if I worked hard enough and maybe had a bit of luck. Until this summer I couldn't choose a favorite, but a home World Cup like this summer? This was a completely new experience, as it was for many of my colleagues. It's hard to describe what a feeling that was. We all knew that this could probably be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in our careers. Now the biggest, most spectacular World Cup of all time is over. As I sit here in a near-empty 80,000-seat stadium after Spain beat Argentina in the final, and the La Roja players on the pitch below me celebrate their well-deserved triumph with their families, I feel gratitude - and perhaps a little sadness. Part of it is exhaustion because I was away from my family for almost two months. This will pass, but the memories will not: the way the US a The American national team took an early lead against Paraguay in their first World Cup game on U.S. soil in 32 years and won the game with an impressive 4-1 victory that thrilled the American public. How the upper stands at Seattle Stadium began to vibrate as VAR confirmed Alex Freeman's goal in the USA's 2-0 win over Australia, the first time the USA has won two consecutive World Cup games. I was in Los Angeles when Canada, under the leadership of American coach Jesse Marsch, won a World Cup knockout game for the first time in the country's history. A few days later, in the San Francisco Bay Area, Mauricio Pochettino's 10-man USA team not only survived a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina but extended its lead to 2-0 — only the second knockout victory in that country's history, albeit in the new Round of 32. Unfortunately, that was the best the co-hosts managed at this World Cup. By the time you read this, it will have been more than two weeks since Pochettino's team missed an incredibly rare opportunity as 50 million Americans watched live and suffered a 4-1 disgrace against Belgium, even after striker Folarin Balogun was controversially assigned by FIFA despite the red card he received against the Bosnians. It's still hard to understand the home team in front of another incredible Seattle crowd was playing, so unprepared for the game and unable to find its way back when everything went so horribly wrong, despite having the best paid and most decorated coach it has ever had. It was the biggest defeat the U.S. has suffered in a World Cup knockout game since 1934, and will likely remain that way for decades to come. But despite this painful defeat, the Americans have certainly gained millions of new fans. For other countries, the World Cup continued. I was lucky enough to see the hard-fought quarter-final between England and Norway in Miami. While the battle between the sport's two most dangerous center forwards — Harry Kane and Erling Haaland — didn't materialize, it was a treat to watch Jude Bellingham steal the spotlight with both goals in the 2-1 extra-time win. That evening, as I sat in the hotel lobby writing between bites of a Cuban sandwich, I was struck by how passionately the England fans were cheering for Switzerland, just as they had previously done for their own team. Under no circumstances did they want to compete against Lionel Messi and Argentina, that quickly became clear. For me, the highlight of this World Cup was England's next game. Whatever one may say about Thomas Tuchel's tactics after his Three Lions took a 1-0 lead against the defending champions, the sight of La Albiceleste scoring two goals in the last five minutes plus stoppage time left me meh t never leave the mind of the incomparable Messi, who prepared both of them. And not just because an Argentine journalist sitting to my right in the press box — where polite applause is usually forbidden — took off his shirt and swung it over his head in celebration. On the streets of Atlanta, a comically drunk English fan challenged every Argentine he saw to a fist fight. Luckily, everyone was too drunk on victory to give in to him. And so we got to the grand finale on Sunday. If every World Cup tournament is special, the final is another league. While Sunday's didn't match the drama of the 2022 final, which I saw on December 18, 2022 in Lusail, Qatar (no, I didn't have to look up the date), there is always that cosmic energy surrounding the title fight. It is known that more than a billion people around the world are watching and that history is being made in real time. I can vividly remember where I have watched every final since I caught the football bug as a child. To experience the final two men's versions in person is a great privilege, a goal that everyone in this business strives for for years, sometimes decades, before finally succeeding — if they ever succeed. For someone who grew up in New York City, Sunday was the ultimate full-circle moment. In my early twenties I reported on M LS games in the old Giants Stadium parking lot. A decade earlier, on a similarly sunny, humid summer day in 1994, I watched my first World Cup game in the same building, with my father. Football was a curiosity in mainstream America at the time. As these 39 days have proven, this country is now a football country. Although I hope to cover more World Championships in the future, it will be impossible to top this one. That's the magic of the World Cup. It's the memories that make them great.

What happens next

After the end of the 2026 World Cup, players, including stars like Messi and Kane, will focus on their club careers as preparations begin for the next international competitions. The experiences and memories from this tournament will motivate players to prepare for the challenges ahead, such as the 2026 World Cup. Fans can look forward to exciting transfers and developments in the 2026 World Cup clubs.

Frequently asked questions

What is special about the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is described as the largest and most spectacular World Cup of all time, with unique experiences for participants and spectators.

Who won the 2026 FIFA World Cup final?

Spain won the 2026 FIFA World Cup final against Argentina.

Why is the 2026 FIFA World Cup a unique opportunity for many players?

For many players The 2026 World Cup could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as it takes place on US soil and many of them may not participate in a home World Cup again.

Which teams took part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

Teams such as the United States, Spain, Argentina, England and Norway took part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Which players were mentioned in the article?

The players Lionel Messi, Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham and Folarin Balogun were mentioned in the article.

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