What to remember from the 2026 World Cup after the final between Spain and Argentina? Gianni Infantino could be tempted to answer the question by praising the overall success of the competition across the Atlantic, in view of the spectacular matches, the stars present or even the crowds in the stadiums. But this World Cup of excess was also marred by the Balogun affair, the best American player who was ultimately not suspended – after intervention by Fifa – even though he had received a red card.
Our fileEverything you need to know about the 2026 World Cup
This competition was unprecedented in many aspects: sporting, geographical, organizational, environmental, diplomatic, political, with the arrival of enormous financial benefits which should ensure Gianni Infantino a re-election to a chair at the head of Fifa next year, and at the same time a tarnished image and contested credibility.
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An XXL World Cup with 48 teams
Gianni Infantino can thank the Cape Verdeans: alone, by pushing Argentina into overtime after holding Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia in check, they justified the move from 32 to 48 selections.
UEFA boss Aleksander Ceferin predicted more “uninteresting” matches? The performances of the small nations, including four neophytes, were honorable and even surprising, like Curaçao which snatched a draw against Ecuador. Or the DR Congo capable, for its second participation, of neutralizing Portugal and leading against England in the round of 16.
Of the 104 matches played, the vast majority were of real interest. Even during the group stage, with tickets for the eight best third-placed teams waiting until the last match of the last day to be distributed, at the end of the suspense. With a remarkable performance from the African selections, nine out of ten having passed the cut of the group stage.
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Enough to reassure Gianni Infantino in the idea of an expansion to 64 participants for the centenary of the World Cup in 2030. “If we do not offer small countries the opportunity to participate in the World Cup, they will no longer have the motivation to continue to improve,” he predicted.
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There remain questions around the enormous climatic impact of the tournament, played in 16 cities, in four different time zones, which forced some teams to make long trips. As for Gianni Infantino’s private jet, present at a multitude of matches, sometimes on the same day, its total carbon footprint is considered by experts to be unprecedented in the history of major sporting events.
Show on all floors
The 2026 edition of the World Cup looked like a Hollywood blockbuster, with a dream cast on the pitch, a plot with twists and turns, moments of bravery and supporters who also put on the show, like the Scottish “Tartan army” or the now famous “Viking row” of the Norwegians. Not to mention the people in the stands and the megastars who performed at multiple “American-style shows”.
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From the start, a hair-raising sprint was launched for the title of top scorer of the tournament, which also shook up the historic ranking of the World Cup. For his last at 39, Lionel Messi, stainless until the final, was only supplanted by Kylian Mbappé (10 goals which make 22 in total, new record), despite other “star-shooters” on the lookout, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Ousmane Dembélé…
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The “feel good story” of this World Cup was that of Cape Verde, with players unknown to the football world, amazing from start to finish and heroic losers against Argentina, guided by their goalkeeper Vozinha, who at the age of 40 had become one of the revelations of the World Cup.
Fresh break or ad break?
The tournament was also an opportunity to test the reliability of VAR, despite some controversial decisions, and to see the motion sensor integrated into the ball in action. Infallible in denying a goal to the Croatians against the Portuguese in the round of 16, the device did not, according to Fifa, beep when the ball seemed to hit an overhead cable, to finally allow England to equalize against Norway in the quarterfinals for (2-1).
Introduced because of the extreme heat, cooling breaks were almost unanimously… against them: whistled in certain air-conditioned stadiums, criticized for breaking the dynamic of matches, these “hydration breaks” mainly benefited broadcasters with advertising breaks synonymous with juicy recipes. And if they became widespread, it could even change the very structure of a match, with coaching in four periods instead of two.
Finally, in terms of expenses for supporters, the exorbitant cost of tickets subject to dynamic pricing has been a hot topic. But in the end, the stands were almost full every time.
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Controversy surrounding American visas
For a long time, due to the war in the Middle East, Iran’s participation was uncertain. While some members of the management did not obtain a visa, Team Melli had to play its three matches in Los Angeles then in Seattle, in conditions very degraded by the express return trips from its Mexican base camp, chosen at the last minute.
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Gianni Infantino, who assured that Iran would compete well in this World Cup, was right. And ICE agents, the federal immigration police, did not raid the areas around the stadiums, as some feared.
Infantino’s detractors, however, consider his “servility towards” the American president “obscene”, but many still see in this close relationship something “rational to ensure the success of the tournament, so dependent on the federal administration”, summarizes to AFP a person familiar with international football authorities.
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There were nevertheless some hiccups, such as when Fifa accepted without question the refoulement of Somali referee Omar Artan, despite holding a visa, but “linked to people suspected of belonging to terrorist organizations”, according to the American State Department. “It’s unfortunate, but we don’t control everything,” argued Gianni Infantino.
The Balogun scandal, an indelible stain?
But the most devastating event for the image of Fifa remains the phone call made by Donald Trump for Gianni Infantino to have the red card awarded to American striker Folarin Balogun re-examined in the round of 16. Fifa tried everything to minimize the matter, but its disciplinary committee – whose members are chosen by the executive of the body – did not provide a single explanation justifying suspending the sanction of the player, who was therefore able to play and lose with Team USA against Belgium (4-1).
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This political interference on the sporting field is not a first in the history of the World Cup. But it was unprecedented in its process and its consequences, calling into question the very integrity of the tournament.
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Outraged reactions came from all sides, from the sporting and political worlds. Ulcerated, UEFA considered that a “red line” had been crossed. However, the European body has not closed ranks around a possible rival to Infantino for the March election at the head of Fifa.
The fact is that Gianni Infantino has made no secret of his complicity with Donald Trump since his return to power. In December 2025, he presented the American president with the “FIFA Peace Prize” created for the occasion, already displaying his allegiance in world vision.
With AFP
