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:
World Cup Hydration Breaks Didn't Impact Results But Their Future Is Undecided, Top FIFA Official Says
EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey, July 18 (Reuters) - Hydration breaks introduced at the World Cup did not impact the flow of play and had no effect on results of matches but their future is still undecided, Arsene Wenger, FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, said on Saturday.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at the New York New Jersey Stadium, former Arsenal manager Wenger said FIFA would review the hydration breaks after the tournament, before taking a decision on whether to use them in future competitions.
FIFA made three-minute hydration breaks midway through each half mandatory in every World Cup match but they were not universally embraced.
Critics said the breaks, which essentially cut the game into four quarters, impacted the momentum of matches while allowing broadcasters to benefit from commercial breaks for over two minutes. Fans booed during hydration breaks early on in the tournament.
“No,” Wenger told a press conference when asked whether they had any impact on the games. “Sometimes they did not like them and we have to analyse after the World Cup what is the impact.
“It did not look to me that it (hydration break) changed the results of the competition. But we are here to serve people who watch football,” he said.
During the tournament, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente and Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk supported the intent behind the rule in extreme heat, but questioned the need for it in cooler conditions and at covered venues. England coach Thomas Tuchel said they had a bigger impact than initially anticipated and broke the moment of matches.
Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa was even more critical, saying the breaks had added nothing to football while destroying the sport’s cultural essence.
There were considerable differences in playing conditions during the World Cup, held across Mexico, Canada and the United States, with some matches played in extreme heat and others in much cooler conditions, especially in Canada and Boston.
“In some games it was really needed and because we did not want to make any difference between games we decided to do it (for every match),” Wenger said. “We will have a deep analysis after the competition.”
“In some games where stadiums were covered, people were not happy with it. Medically it was needed in many games. We have not come to a conclusion yet.”
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Ed Osmond)
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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).
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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
