Just like that, it’s all over. 39 days, 104 matches and 308 goals and now it’s all a memory. Spain are world champions, but Sunday night’s finale was about so much more. Football won, not just Spain.
World Cup 2026 was a fantastic tournament, with so many beautiful moments off the pitch – such as South Korean fans partying on opening night with the Mexico supporters – complemented by some incredible moments on it, like Cape Verde’s goal of the tournament against the reigning champions.
The third-place play-off cemented those facts. For all its perceived lack of purpose, that 10-goal thriller did show us exactly why we love this sport.
There were goals galore, all of high quality, landmark moments for Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa, Bukayo Saka, Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise, and there were no cynical fouls made or cards brandished.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhen the final whistle blew, we witnessed pure sportsmanship. Managers Thomas Tuchel and Didier Deschamps shared an embrace and a laugh, players from both sides came together to pray, and Morgan Rogers helped Bellingham find his family in the crowd. It all felt very wholesome, a fitting way to conclude the tournament for these two giants.
Then came the final. Spain were seemingly the only nation in New York that came to play football. Argentina didn’t manage a single shot until the 117th minute.
This was largely because they elected to try and win the game in the same manner they have throughout the campaign. Commit fouls – 25 in the final alone – contest almost every decision and hope for a moment of magic from the greatest player of all time.
This World Cup was wonderful, one of the best I can remember in my lifetime, and that’s exactly why it’s such a shame for its conclusion to have been anything but.
Argentina’s actions tarnished the final, all because for the first time in 39 days, not everything was going their way.
Embed from Getty ImagesArgentina didn’t lose with grace
Spain arguably should have won the game in the 1st half of extra-time when Nico Williams snuck the ball under Emiliano Martinez, but that was ruled out as Mikel Merino trod on Nicolas Otamendi’s toe.
The contact was there, albeit minimal, but of course Otamendi went to ground as though he had been shot.
There was no ruling out Torres’ goal though. Immediately from kick-off in the final 15 minutes before penalties, Pedro Porro launched a cross towards the back post to Williams. He headed back to Spain’s number seven, who was left unmarked to rifle the ball into the roof of the net.
The Barcelona boy, who was just ten years old when Andres Iniesta scored Spain’s World Cup-winning goal, produced another iconic moment under remarkably similar circumstances 16 years later.
Spain’s victory was fully deserved. Argentina never got out of first gear. They managed just two shots in over two hours of football and Lionel Messi barely featured. The most notable moment from an Argentina point of view was Enzo Fernandez’s second yellow card offence, where he sent Young Player of the Tournament, Pau Cubarsi, flipping in the air after a nasty late challenge on the halfway line.
La Albiceleste lost fair and square, therefore they owed Spain a response reflective of that. Did they give such a response? Of course not.
A lack of class on football’s biggest stage
As Spanish players spilled onto the pitch following Slavko Vincic’s final whistle, the Argentine’s behaviour was nothing short of disgraceful.
Nahuel Molina punched Rodri in the stomach as he ran over to his teammates, Leandro Paredes shoved Eric Garcia to the floor before grabbing his throat and throwing 21-year-old Pablo Gavi to the ground. All actions that outside a football pitch would likely see the Boca Juniors midfielder arrested.
Spain didn’t antagonise their opponents either, they weren’t asking for that kind of reaction. Luis de la Fuente’s side simply tried to celebrate amongst themselves, keeping away from the nonsense.
Argentina showed they were bad winners in the semi-finals against England, and proved to be even worse losers.
Against the Three Lions, Cristian Romero ran over and screamed in Jordan Pickford’s face when Fernandez equalised. Valentin Barco ran onto the pitch from the bench to celebrate in the faces of the England players.
Embed from Getty ImagesBarco, who was an unused substitute against England and played just 19 minutes throughout the entire tournament, decided to gloat instead of joining his teammates’ celebrations by the corner flag.
Lionel Scaloni’s side displayed a real lack of class during the semi-finals and final, their actions made worse by turning their back during Spain’s trophy lift. In fact, only Jose Manuel Lopez showed enough decency to face the Spanish players during the trophy lift.
One of FIFA’s core values is integrity, regarded as the honesty and truthfulness or accuracy of one’s actions. I don’t think many will argue that Argentina failed to align themselves with that value throughout this tournament.
BBC pundits Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart and Micah Richards labelled their actions as disgusting. Meanwhile, co-commentator Alan Shearer said: “We know how much it hurts to lose, but there’s a way to lose and too many times we’ve seen that reaction from them. The reaction after the final whistle is terrible.”
The example future generations will remember
Embed from Getty ImagesIt wasn’t just the players either; Argentina coach Roberto Ayala appeared to punch Dani Olmo in the face. Olmo responded with the utmost professionalism and explained after the match how Spain wanted to ‘set an example for the next generation’ with how they played and conducted themselves at the World Cup.
He said: “This is the message we want to send. Respecting the opponent at all times, win or lose. We are an example to the next generation for all young kids watching us. We need to set a good example. I think we done it through the whole tournament.”
Olmo was spot on, but his point posed the question as to what Argentina’s reaction teaches their next generation.
What does it tell all those little ones, from Salvador Mazza to Ushuaia, aspiring to become the next Messi? To lash out when things don’t go your way? To attack the opponents when you lose?
The Argentina players have let all those children down, they have set the poorest example of not only how to act as a sportsman, but as a person too.
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Written by Isabelle Martin
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