Cup memories, beyond the pitch

Spain won the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, lowering the overall level of football from excellent.

The tournament began and ended ingloriously, with FIFA over-trumped by the USA president and Iran made unwelcome.

Memorable moments included Vozinha’s tears, Sidny Lopes Cabral’s 103rd-minute equalizer against Argentina, and Iran’s thank you notes.

Stale Solbakken embraced his wife after Norway advanced from the group; Nico Williams handed his World Cup medal to his mother.

The World Cup featured a surge in goals from outside the penalty area and VAR following the letter, not the spirit, of the laws.