World Cup news

There's no sporting event bigger than the World Cup. It's the pinnacle of professional football, where global superstars are born, dreams die and legends live forever. Sometimes, with just one goal, one pass, one tackle, one block or one save, a previously little-known player can become a national hero, a name eternally etched in the memory of a country's collective consciousness.

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.

Harry Kane has confessed that the England squad remains in a "grieving stage" following their heartbreaking semi-final exit at the 2026 World Cup in the United States. Despite the disappointment of missing out on a first global final in 60 years, the Three Lions captain has offered his full support to manager Thomas Tuchel.

Several British television pundits have fiercely condemned the unsavoury post-match behaviour of Leandro Paredes following Argentina's World Cup final defeat to Spain in New Jersey. The tense fixture boiled over completely at the final whistle, with Paredes ultimately being shown a red card for his part in the ugly scenes.

Lamine Yamal received glowing praise after helping Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the World Cup final. The 19-year-old produced another composed display on football's biggest stage, with former England goalkeeper Joe Hart claiming the Barcelona winger had "completed football" after adding a World Cup winners' medal to his European Championship triumph.

Lionel Messi was left inconsolable at MetLife Stadium as Argentina's quest for back-to-back world titles ended in a shattering extra-time defeat to Spain. The 39-year-old legend, appearing in his sixth World Cup, could not find the inspiration needed to overcome a dominant Spain side, and broke down in tears as the result sank in.

Argentina’s players have been branded "classless" and an "embarrassment" after turning their backs on Spain during the World Cup trophy presentation. Following a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat in extra-time, Lionel Messi and his team-mates refused to watch as their opponents celebrated at the New York/New Jersey Stadium.

Argentina's president has confirmed that a public holiday will be granted to honour the squad's tournament campaign in North America. Despite losing the showpiece finale to Spain in extra time, Javier Milei announced that the players and coaching staff will be allowed to choose the exact date for the upcoming celebrations.

At the end of a gruelling battle of footballing philosophies, Spain are world champions once again. It was control vs chaos in the 2026 World Cup final as Luis de la Fuente's pass masters came up against the holders and experts in the dark arts, Argentina. Ultimately, after 120 minutes of bruising action, La Roja (and football) would prevail 1-0, leaving Lionel Messi disconsolate.

The 2026 World Cup came to a close in New Jersey on Sunday as Spain were deservedly crowned champions after a dour 1-0 win over 10-man Argentina in one of the worst finals in the tournament history. La Roja substitute Ferran Torres scored the only goal of a game that was essentially attack versus defence even before Enzo Fernandez got himself stupidly sent off for a second yellow card in the final minute of normal time.

Former England captain Wayne Rooney has delivered a scathing assessment of the first-ever World Cup final halftime show, admitting he couldn't wait for the music to stop. The Manchester United legend was left unimpressed by the star-studded spectacle at MetLife Stadium, which featured global icons like Madonna, Shakira, and Justin Bieber.

The former Argentina talisman Angel Di Maria quickly reached out to his compatriots to offer comfort after Lionel Scaloni's men suffered a painful extra-time defeat. Writing on social media, the legendary winger fiercely defended the squad's incredible legacy and insisted that a single match would never diminish their standing as icons of the nation.

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Spain's World Cup celebrations produced one of the defining images of the tournament as Lamine Yamal embraced a devastated Lionel Messi following the final whistle. Argentina's 1-0 defeat left the Albiceleste heartbroken, while the emotional exchange between football's past and present quickly became the enduring image of the night.

Nico Paz has sent an emotional message of defiance to supporters following the Albiceleste's agonising defeat in New York. Despite not featuring on the pitch during the showpiece event, the youngster voiced his immense pride in the squad and focused on long-term redemption by promising to secure the trophy in the future.

Unai Simon has described Spain’s World Cup glory as "madness" after the Athletic Club goalkeeper played a key role in La Roja’s historic march to the title. The 29-year-old was awarded the Golden Glove after maintaining a near-impenetrable wall at the back, helping his nation reclaim the trophy for the first time in 16 years.