The first 48-team World Cup, the first co-hosted by three nations, and 104 matches later, it ended the way the smart money never quite predicted: with Spain, not a host and not a pre-tournament favourite in the loud sense, lifting the trophy after the most controlled title run in recent memory. Here is the whole thing, wrapped.
Interactive · The podium
How the final four got there
The 2026 podium, and the full path each of the top four took. Tap a team to walk its tournament.
Spain · Champions
7W 1L · 14 scored, 1 conceded across 8 games
0-0
Cape VerdeL4-0
Saudi ArabiaW1-0
UruguayW3-0
AustriaW1-0
PortugalW2-1
BelgiumW2-0
FranceW1-0 AET
ArgentinaWThe hosts all fell in the Round of 16
The story of the second week was a painful one for the organisers. The United States, Mexico and Canada all reached the Round of 16 and all lost it. Mexico, unbeaten to that point, fell 3-2 to England. The USA were overrun 4-1 by Belgium. Canada were beaten 3-0 by Morocco. For the first time, a World Cup rolled into its quarter-finals with no host nation left standing.
The giants who went early
It was a brutal tournament for the traditional powers. Germany went out in the Round of 32, beaten by Paraguay on penalties. The Netherlands followed them, losing a shootout to Morocco in the same round. Brazil made the Round of 16 but were stunned 2-1 by Norway, whose run behind Erling Haaland became the tournament's great underdog tale until England ended it in the quarters.
Spain, imperious
Through all the chaos, Spain simply won. A patient group stage gave way to a knockout run of ruthless clean sheets: Austria, Portugal, Belgium, France and Argentina all beaten, only Belgium managing to score. Spain never trailed in a knockout game and conceded once in the entire tournament. It was not always spectacular, but it was utterly dominant in the way that wins World Cups.
The wildest games
- •**England 6-4 France** in the third-place game, a ten-goal farewell that made up for the two teams' semi-final disappointments.
- •**Canada 6-0 Qatar** in the group stage, the host nation's high-water mark before the fall.
- •**Netherlands 5-1 Sweden** and **Germany 7-1 Curacao**, group-stage statements that did not translate into deep runs.
- •**Norway 2-1 Brazil**, the upset that defined the Round of 16.
- •**Paraguay over Germany** and **Morocco over the Netherlands**, both on penalties, the shootouts that sent giants home in the Round of 32.
The verdict
The expanded format delivered drama, upsets and a worthy, if unfashionable, champion. The hosts underwhelmed, the giants stumbled, and a Spain team built on defensive excellence proved that the oldest formula in football still works. See exactly where everyone finished in the final standings.