Departing Deschamps Looks Back on ‘Wonderful’ World Cup

The 2026 World Cup, staged across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, is proving to be a resounding success, defying early predictions of disruption. Concerns over high prices, geopolitical tensions, and extreme heat have largely faded, replaced by the thrill of the game and a pervasive feel-good factor that has captivated fans across the host nations.

FIFA is already celebrating the tournament as a triumph, particularly as fears that expanding the competition to 48 teams would diminish the quality of play have been thoroughly debunked. Instead, the event has delivered the expected blend of drama and footballing brilliance. Even smaller nations have made their mark; the Atlantic archipelago of Cape Verde held eventual finalists Spain to a goalless draw and pushed Lionel Messi's Argentina to extra time in the last 32. Curacao, with a population of just 185,000, secured a draw against Ecuador, while Egypt reached the knockout rounds for the first time, narrowly missing a stunning upset against Argentina.

The rise of African football is a notable theme, with a record nine teams from the continent advancing to the knockout stages. On the individual front, football's biggest stars have lived up to their billing. Lionel Messi, in his record sixth World Cup, opened Argentina's campaign with a hat-trick and is among the top scorers. Kylian Mbappe leads the scoring charts, while Norway's Erling Haaland has become a fan favorite with his goal-scoring prowess. England's Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane have also impressed, contributing significantly to their team's performances.

The tournament has also been a high-scoring affair, with 307 goals scored through 103 matches, averaging 2.98 goals per game, making it the most prolific World Cup since 1958. The matches have largely been played in front of packed stadiums, despite FIFA's controversial "dynamic pricing" strategy for tickets, which had drawn criticism from fan groups prior to the tournament.