10 things that wowed us at the 2026 World Cup
The 2026 World Cup concluded with Spain winning its second title after defeating Argentina. The tournament, hosted across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, was noted for high attendance and successful expansion to 48 teams.
Why it matters
The success of the 2026 tournament validates the expansion of the World Cup format and highlights the growing global popularity of soccer in North America.
The 2026 World Cup has ended — after almost six weeks, 104 matches and games spread across three countries: the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Soccer Edition Spain is the 2026 World Cup champion, defeating Argentina for its 2nd title Spain is the World Cup champion again , defeating the defending champion Argentina to claim its second title. With the win, Spain holds World Cup titles for both the men's and women's national teams — a first .
Here are the moments that stood out to NPR's team of journalists who covered the tournament:
For the most part, the 2026 World Cup was a smooth, fun and safe one.
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