The 2026 World Cup review offers a conclusion as ruthless as it is romantic: Spain tamed Argentina in the final (1-0) to clinch their first star in this expanded-format edition. A tournament that delivered on every promise, with 72 group stage matches and unhinged scenarios right to the end. Here's a look back at the highlights of a competition that Asierta's players followed day by day.
Spain, the uncompromising boss
La Roja clamped an iron fist on the knockout phase right from the round of 32, sweeping Austria aside (3-0) without a flicker of doubt, then edging a suffocating Iberian derby against Portugal (1-0). The quarter-final against Belgium was the only match where their defence cracked (2-1), yet Spanish control was already absolute. In the semi-final, France were reduced to silence (2-0), and the final against Argentina was settled by a single goal, crowning them champions. Across five cut-throat encounters, Spain conceded just one tiny goal: a fortress.
Argentina, queen of thrills without the crown
The Albiceleste delivered an attacking festival but paid for defensive fragility at the worst moment. In the round of 32, a tenacious Cape Verde pushed Argentina to a nervy 3-2. The same story in the last 16 against Egypt, where another 3-2 kept supporters' hearts pounding. The quarter-final against Switzerland (3-1) hinted at greater serenity, and the 2-1 semi-final win over England installed Argentina as favourites. But in the final, Spanish efficiency extinguished the momentum: a dry 1-0 that turned the dream into regret.
The bracket's seismic shocks
This 2026 World Cup review will be remembered for a string of enormous surprises. Paraguay, Germany's conquerors on penalties (1-1, 4-3 in the shootout), made the established order tremble before falling to France in the last 16 (0-1). Morocco wrote the most beautiful African epic: a penalty victory over the Netherlands (1-1, 3-2 in the shootout), then a 3-0 demolition of Canada to reach the quarter-finals, where only France halted the fairy tale (2-0). In another seismic shock, Norway knocked Brazil out in the last 16 (2-1), denying the Seleção a quarter-final spot. Finally, the third-place match turned into a fireworks display: France 4-6 England, ten goals that say everything about the non-stop spectacle.
The numbers behind the review
- 72 group stage matches launched the competition.
- 5 knockout matches for Spain, 4 clean sheets and just one goal conceded (against Belgium).
- 11 Argentine goals before the final, against 7 conceded: a high-risk equation.
- 3 decisive penalty shootouts (Germany-Paraguay, Netherlands-Morocco, Switzerland-Colombia).
- 10 goals in the bronze medal match France-England, the highest-scoring game of the knockout phase.
- Morocco, the only African nation in the quarter-finals.
Make your picks on Asierta
This 2026 World Cup review proves that nothing is ever written, and that's the beauty of this sport. Why not prolong the emotion by challenging your friends? On Asierta, you predict scores with no hassle, purely for the love of tactics. Take a look at the rules of the game, create your private competition, and see who really reads football like an open book. The next big date is already on the horizon, and the best tipster might just be you.