Controversy, spectacle and numerous incidents at the World Cup. What worked and what disappointed

2026-07-21 17:13:00, Sport CNA

Controversy, spectacle and numerous incidents at the World Cup. What worked and

The 2026 World Cup closed another chapter in football history, bringing a tournament filled with records, innovations and debates that accompanied the competition from the first match to the grand final. The United States, Canada and Mexico jointly organized the World Cup for the first time, guaranteeing a modern infrastructure and stadiums filled to capacity for almost every match. Attendance figures were among the highest ever recorded. Stadiums welcomed fans from all over the world and were filled to capacity. Historic arenas such as the “Aztec” in Mexico, which hosted a World Cup for the third time, but also modern facilities in the USA and Canada, became centers of football spectacle throughout the tournament.

The World Cup also brought special sports stories. Cape Verde, led by veteran Vozinha, managed to put Argentina in difficulty. Curaçao showed potential against Germany, while Paraguay pulled off one of the biggest surprises by eliminating the Germans. Also, Japan, Morocco, Norway, Switzerland, Ivory Coast and the United States were among the teams that left a positive impression with their performances. From a technical point of view, the level of play was considered higher than in several previous editions. The smaller national teams presented better organization and higher quality, while the footballers who are active in the main European championships significantly influenced the increase in the level of their teams.

The refereeing was also positively assessed. In many matches, the game was allowed to continue, with fewer interruptions and fewer whistles for common contacts. However, there were also cases that caused discussions, especially in the France–Paraguay and England–Argentina duels, where several strong tackles were not punished. On the contrary, there was no shortage of criticism. One of the most discussed topics was the involvement of politics in the tournament. Various delegations faced situations that were widely commented on.

The match schedules were also considered problematic. Matches played in the afternoon or evening, with temperatures sometimes approaching 40 degrees, affected the pace and quality of the game. This was also reflected in the final between Spain and Argentina, which was decided only after extra time and was described by many analysts as a match with few chances and a slow pace. The artistic performance organized during the break between the parts of the final also caused much debate.

Another issue that generated reactions was the use of hydration breaks. In some cases, it was reported that the restart of the game was coordinated with the broadcast of television advertisements, which created discussions about the use of these breaks. Among the most talked about episodes was the case of Folarin Balogun. The lifting of his suspension before a match against Belgium caused numerous reactions and became one of the most discussed topics of the tournament. Despite the controversies, the 2026 World Cup will be remembered for its record attendance, packed stadiums, the expansion of the competition and the performances of several national teams that brought new stories to the world stage.