Institute Overview

Spain’s control, especially in defence, was vastly underestimated at the 2026 World Cup. If that continues, they could retain their European title.

And just like that, it's over. After five-and-a-half weeks of breathless action, the 2026 World Cup is beginning to appear in the rearview mirror, the biggest international tournament in football history leaving behind a lifetime of memories while champions Spain continue their own celebrations.

After five weeks, a record 104 matches played and 308 goals scored, the 2026 World Cup is officially over. From a purely footballing perspective, FIFA's biggest tournament of all time did not disappoint, with 48 teams doing battle across three host countries and the vast expanse of North America. And when 46 of those nations had been whittled away, only the top two ranked teams on the planet remained: Spain and Argentina.

France’s 2026 World Cup campaign ended in a cloud of toxicity and defensive fragility following a remarkable 6-4 defeat to England in the third-place playoff. While the goal-fest in Miami provided entertainment for the neutral, veteran midfielder Adrien Rabiot was left fuming at the lack of professionalism shown by his teammates during Didier Deschamps' final game in charge.