The 2026 FIFA World Cup has drawn to a close, with Spain beating Argentina by 1-0 in extra time in a thrilling final at the New York/New Jersey Stadium on Sunday.
As HuffPost has for weeks breathlessly covered, even before a ball was kicked, the 23rd edition of the tournament was engulfed in controversy: from Iran’s tough journey to the competition amid Donald Trump’s war, to the president’s close relationship with FIFA’s Peace Prize-awarding President Gianni Infantino. That’s not to mention Trump’s travel bans keeping some fans and officials out and the fury over soaring ticket prices.
Once the soccer actually began, much of the concern was eased — at least for a short while. The sport’s biggest stars came out to play, and the Cape Verde’s Cinderella story captured the imagination. Off the field, Norway’s “Viking row” went viral and Boston was a sea of tartan as Scotland’s fans took over.
But the introduction of hydration breaks, seen as a vehicle for TV advertising, prompted booing from fans and questions about the fundamentals of the game being undermined. And Trump’s intervention in an effort to get a red card reversed for U.S. forward Folarin Balogun, which was fruitless, as the Americans were soundly defeated by Belgium, will likely leave a stain on this World Cup.
Check out our coverage below:
Messi Has Work To Do To Catch Mbappé For The Golden Boot
Lionel Messi has quite a climb to catch Kylian Mbappé for the Golden Boot.
The Argentina superstar has won just about everything in soccer except for the award for being the leading scorer at the World Cup, and he’s now two behind Mbappé after the France striker upped his total to 10 goals in a wild third-place game.
Even if Messi can’t get there, a record-extending third Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player seems well in reach after Sunday’s World Cup final against Spain in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
He’s already the only player to win the award multiple times since it was first given in 1978, and sparking Argentina’s run to a second straight final at age 39 gives him a strong case for another.
“He is the history. He is the legend,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said.
The other awards to be presented Sunday for performances at the World Cup are the Golden Glove for the top goalkeeper, and the Best Young Player Award, given to the top player 21 years old or younger.
Spain is in good shape to win at least one if not both of those, with Unai Simón allowing only one goal in seven games and 19-year-old Yamine Lamal providing the dazzle up front and showing why he is already considered one of the most promising players in the world.
Messi is at the other end of a career in which he’s won the Ballon d’Or, given to soccer’s player of the year, a record eight times.
The Golden Boot has eluded him, but he had the lead going into the final two matches of this year’s tournament. Both Messi and Mbappé had eight goals through the semifinals, but Messi owned the tiebreaker with one more assist.
Mbappé then scored twice Saturday in France’s 6-4 loss to England, making him the first player with 10 goals in a World Cup since Germany great Gerd Müller had 10 in 1970.
Mbappé also won the Golden Boot four years ago in Qatar, when France lost to Argentina in the final. This time, he could join players such as Italy’s Salvatore Schillaci in 1990, Croatia’s Davor Suker in 1998 and Germany’s Thomas Müller in 2010 as players whose goals in a third-place game carried them to the Golden Boot.
Should Messi beat out Mbappé in an Argentina victory, he would be the first Golden Boot winner to play for the champion since Ronaldo scored eight goals when Brazil won the title in 2002.
He may not need any goals to secure another Golden Ball.
Messi won that trophy for the first time in 2014, when Argentina was the runner-up, and again in 2022 when his seven goals in seven games powered his country to its third title.
The Golden Ball, Golden Glove and the Best Young Player Award are voted on by members of the media from a list of players compiled by the FIFA Technical Study Group.
See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here
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Spain Now Rules Both Men’s And Women’s World Soccer
Spain’s 1-0 victory over Argentina in Sunday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup final capped the 39-day tournament across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The win means Spain now holds both the men’s and women’s FIFA World Cup titles, after the women’s team triumphed in Australia and New Zealand in 2023.
Spain’s women’s team will defend their crown at the next Women’s World Cup in Brazil, which begins on June 24, 2027.
The men will defend their title at the 2030 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco ― with opening matches in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay to mark the tournament’s centenary.
Before then, Spain’s next major international tournament will be Euro 2028, held across England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland, starting June 9.
Spain’s World Cup Champions Head Home For Royal Welcome And Parade Through Madrid
Spain’s World Cup-winning team is set to return to Spain on Monday afternoon, where the squad will be greeted by the Spanish royal palace and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez before boarding an open-top bus for a parade through central Madrid in the evening.
Throngs of fans are expected to greet them as they travel from near Moncloa Palace, the prime minister’s official residence, to Cibeles Square.
A ceremony with the players will then be held at the square, where previous Spanish national teams and their supporters have traditionally gathered to celebrate.
Spain walked off with the trophy at Sunday’s final after defeating now-dethroned champion Argentina 1-0 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It was only the second time — after a 2010 victory in South Africa — that Spain won the title.
The Spanish capital erupted into celebrations after the final whistle, with thousands of supporters pouring into the streets from bars and restaurants, many draped in Spanish flags or wearing the team’s colors.
Crowds packed Madrid’s Puerta de Sol and other major squares — singing, dancing and setting off flares while car horns blared throughout the capital.
Many celebrated Sunday’s victory long into the wee hours of Monday morning.
“I’m very happy. I’ve slept three or four hours, but for the team, I’ll do whatever it takes,” said 19 year-old Victor Álvarez early Monday.
The World Cup title, combined with the Women’s World Cup won by Spain in 2023, makes the European nation the first to hold both the men’s and women’s titles simultaneously.
Celebrations were dampened, however, after local authorities reported that a 13-year old in Salamanca, northwest of Madrid, had died after a fountain he had climbed onto with friends celebrate had collapsed.
For many young Spanish supporters, the triumph is their first time witnessing the men’s team lift the trophy — and the national delirium that has followed.
Ahead of the team’s return, supporters waited in Madrid’s Barajas airport ready to greet them in an arrivals hall, many donning the team’s jerseys and waving Spanish flags.
Groups of supporters also began securing their spots near Cibeles Square late Monday morning, bringing umbrellas to protect against the sun and temperatures that are expected to climb to 35 Celsius (95 Fahrenheit).
Fox World Cup Announcer Commits Massive Celebrity Boner
Fox announcer John Strong badly booted a celebrity spotting during the World Cup final on Sunday. Read more below.
Javier Bardem Says He's 'Very Proud' Of This Spain-Trump World Cup Final Move
Politically outspoken Spanish Oscar winner Javier Bardem on Sunday spoke not only of his pride in Spain’s second World Cup triumph, but also in the way the team’s players handled Donald Trump during the trophy presentation.
Ivanka Trump's World Cup Photos Get The Red Card From Critics
Ivanka Trump drew criticism on social media on Sunday after sharing posts about attending the World Cup final.
Donald Trump's Sports ‘Curse' Trends Again After World Cup Final
Social media users joked on Sunday that Donald Trump’s infamous sports curse had struck once again after Spain beat Argentina in the World Cup final.
Teenager Dies In Spain During World Cup Celebrations
A 13-year-old died and two people were injured when a fountain partially collapsed in western Spain in the early hours on Monday, marring mass celebrations of the country’s second-ever soccer World Cup victory, emergency services said.
Trump-Allied FIFA President Racked Up Truly Staggering Number Of Air Miles At World Cup
FIFA President Gianni Infantino got some serious air time over the course of the 2026 World Cup, the tournament’s most far-flung edition ever. He crisscrossed North America for matches, meetings and other appearances during the competition, which took place in three countries, 16 cities and four time zones, and ended with Sunday’s final in New Jersey.
World Cup Player Appears To Snub Trump During Medal Ceremony
President Donald Trump was on hand to give out medals and handshakes to both the winners and losers of Sunday’s World Cup final at MetLife Stadium as Spain beat Argentina, 1-0.
But at least one player seemed to want nothing to do with the president.
‘He Won’t Leave’: Critics Rip ‘Narcissist’ Trump For Crashing World Cup Trophy Moment
President Donald Trump is being accused on social media of trying to hijack Spain’s big moment as the team hoisted the World Cup trophy after their 1-0 victory over Argentina on Sunday.
Source: HuffPost
