Best moments of the 2026 World Cup

With 104 games taking place over 39 days, and across three countries — the United States, Canada and Mexico — the 2026 World Cup produced hundreds of spectacular moments that will live long in the memory.

1. Goal of the tournament

Sidny Lopes Cabral of Cape Verde stunned defending champion Argentina with a tying goal in extra time of their round-of-32 match at Miami Gardens, Florida, on July 3.

The Blue Sharks, who entered the tournament ranked 67th, trailed 2-1 in the 103rd minute, when Cabral received a long pass from Yannick Semedo near the left flank with his left foot. The 23-year-old, who plays in Turkiye for Trabzonspor, cut past Alexis Mac Allister while playing the ball onto his right foot and, from just inside the penalty area, curled a stunning shot past goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and into the upper corner at the far post for his fourth goal in 14 international appearances.

2. Breakout player

Nineteen-year-old Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi played every minute of every match, as Spain, winner in 2010, won its second World Cup title. He had 668 successful passes in 690 attempts, a 96.8 percent completion rate that was the second best in the tournament among players with 400 or more attempts, just behind Norway's Sander Berge at 96.9 percent. Cubarsi's total was second only to teammate Rodri's 747. Cubarsi's 750 minutes tied teammate Marc Cucurella and Mac Allister for the tournament high among outfield players. At 19 years, 178 days, he became the seventh youngest to win a World Cup, trailing Pele (17-249) in 1958, Ronaldo (17-298) in 1994, Giuseppe Bergomi (18-174) in 1982, current teammate Lamine Yamal and Antonio Coutinho in 1962 (both 19-6), and Marco Antonio (19-135) in 1970.

3. Worst foul

Qatari midfielder Assim Madibo broke the left tibia and fibula of Canadian midfielder Ismael Kone with a tackle from behind in the 51st minute of a June 18 group-stage match in Vancouver. Madibo received a red card and a five-game suspension. Kone had surgery and Madibo visited him at the hospital.

4. Biggest blunder

Matt Freese had a howler in the United States' 4-1 loss to Belgium in the round of 16 that will long feature on goalkeeper blooper reels. Brandon Mechele played a long ball from deep in his own half. When Belgium's Charles De Ketelaere burst past US defender Chris Richards, Freese came off his line, and, about five yards outside the penalty area, he chested the ball. The 27-year-old, who became the No 1 keeper for the US last year, was about to clear the ball with his left foot, hesitated and tried to pass to his left, only for the ball to deflect off one of De Ketelaere's legs toward midfield. Hans Vanaken scored from about 30 yards, as US captain Tim Ream was left unsuccessfully flailing to try and block the ball.

5. Best fans

Norway's fans charmed fellow spectators and television viewers when they performed the "Viking Row" in stadiums and even in the bleachers above the TKTS booth selling Broadway theater tickets in New York's Times Square. Martin Odegaard and Erling Haaland led the row celebration on the field following wins. Scotland's Tartan Army also left indelible memories, depleting Boston's beer supply and taking in baseball games at Boston's Fenway Park and LoanDepot Park in Miami.

6. Biggest upset

Eliminated in consecutive group stages following its fourth World Cup title in 2014, Germany clinched top spot in its group with wins over Curacao and Cote d'Ivoire before losing its group stage finale against Ecuador. Paraguay, in its first World Cup since 2010, began the tournament ranked 41st and advanced as one of the top third-placed teams, opening with a 4-1 loss to the US, beating Turkiye 1-0 and drawing 0-0 against Australia. When Germany and Paraguay met in the round of 32 on June 29 in Boston, Julio Enciso put Paraguay ahead in the 42nd minute, but Kai Havertz tied the score 12 minutes later. Germany, which began the World Cup ranked No 10, thought it had taken a crucial lead off the head of Jonathan Tah in the 102nd minute, but it was overturned by VAR because of a foul by Waldemar Anton on Paraguay keeper Orlando Gill. Germany had won all four of its previous World Cup penalty shootouts, succeeding on 17 of 18 kicks — including 15 in a row. Havertz's opening spotkick was saved by Gill, who also batted away Nick Woltemade's effort three shots later. Tah skied Germany's sixth kick over the crossbar, leaving it all to do for Jose Canale, who beat Manuel Neuer. Paraguay won the shootout 4-3, only to go on and lose 1-0 to France in the round of 16.

7. Best photo

Raul Jimenez scored Mexico's second goal in its tournament-opening 2-0 win over South Africa on June 11. An image from Associated Press photographer Natacha Pisarenko captured the joy of a player who scored on a header, six years after his career was nearly ended when he fractured his skull in a clash of heads with Arsenal's David Luiz while playing in a Premier League match for Wolverhampton.