Yamal’s Spain in Numbers: The complete story of the 2026 FIFA World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup rewrote the history books as the biggest tournament ever staged.

Hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico, the competition featured 48 teams, 104 matches and attracted more than six million spectators, making it the best-attended World Cup in history.

Spain emerged as deserving champions after defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final to claim their second FIFA World Cup title.

Luis de la Fuente’s side impressed with their tactical discipline and attacking quality throughout a tournament that showcased football’s growing global competitiveness.

France striker Kylian Mbappé finished as the tournament’s leading scorer with 10 goals, claiming the Golden Boot after another breathtaking World Cup campaign.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi ended with eight goals and four assists, while England’s Jude Bellingham and Norway’s Erling Haaland each scored seven goals.

England captain Harry Kane and France forward Ousmane Dembélé also enjoyed prolific tournaments with six goals apiece.

Several youngsters announced themselves on football’s biggest stage.

Spain winger Nico Williams produced match-winning displays throughout the knockout rounds, England midfielder Jude Bellingham confirmed his status among the world’s elite, while Switzerland midfielder Johan Manzambi and Belgium playmaker Charles De Ketelaere impressed with their creativity and composure under pressure.

Veteran stars also proved age was no barrier.

At 38, Lionel Messi inspired Argentina to a second consecutive World Cup final, adding more records to his legendary career, while Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score in six different FIFA World Cups.

Cape Verde’s 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha became one of the tournament’s most inspiring figures, helping his nation reach the knockout stage for the first time.

Supporters were treated to several unforgettable encounters.

England’s remarkable 6-4 victory over France in the third-place playoff became the highest-scoring match of the knockout stage.

Argentina edged England 2-1 in a gripping semi-final, Spain defeated France 2-0 to reach the final, while Norway stunned five-time champions Brazil 2-1 in one of the tournament’s biggest upsets.

Argentina’s dramatic 3-2 extra-time victory over Egypt and Switzerland’s penalty shootout triumph against Colombia also ranked among the competition’s finest contests.

The tournament also set new statistical milestones.

A total of 280 goals had been scored after the first 96 matches before the closing fixtures, while referees issued 259 yellow cards and 14 red cards, reflecting the intensity of the competition.

Fans packed stadiums across North America throughout the tournament.

The New York New Jersey Stadium hosted the sold-out final between Spain and Argentina, while capacity crowds were also recorded at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, BC Place in Vancouver and BMO Field in Toronto, highlighting the tournament’s enormous appeal across all three host nations.

Beyond the trophies and statistics, the 2026 World Cup will be remembered for expanding football’s reach.

Nations such as Cape Verde, Curaçao and DR Congo exceeded expectations, proving that the new 48-team format can provide emerging football countries with a genuine opportunity to compete on the world’s biggest stage.