The primary 48-team World Cup has offered an exhilarating spectacle and a string of compelling storylines.
AFP Sport picks out a number of the key speaking factors after greater than 5 weeks of motion in Canada, Mexico and the USA.
Hotshots
The race for the Golden Boot caught hearth early and has remained absorbing till the ultimate weekend.
The names on the high of the charts are a who’s who of the world’s high marksmen — together with Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane.
Mbappe, who scored twice in France’s 6-4 defeat by England in Saturday’s third-place playoff, leads Messi by two objectives with simply Sunday’s ultimate to return.
France’s Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring their first aim in Bronze Ultimate in opposition to England in Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, US on July 18, 2026. — Reuters
The Frenchman can be now the highest goalscorer in World Cup historical past — with 22 to his title throughout three tournaments, one forward of Messi.
Minnows sparkle
Debutants Cape Verde completed the group stage unbeaten and superior from a piece that included former champions Spain and Uruguay.
“To be honest, it feels like I’m living in a fairytale,” mentioned Deroy Duarte after his group arrange a last-32 match in opposition to defending champions Argentina.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi in motion with Cape Verde’s Deroy Duarte throughout Spherical of 32 Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, US on July 3, 2026. — Reuters
The African nation pushed Lionel Messi’s males to the brink, twice coming from behind, earlier than a winner for Argentina in extra-time.
Caribbean island Curacao — the smallest nation to compete at a World Cup by each inhabitants — additionally had their second of glory, holding Ecuador to a goalless draw after a gap 7-1 hammering by Germany.
Argentina comebacks
Again and again Argentina have appeared weak on the 2026 World Cup, however they’ve all the time discovered a manner.
The defending champions cruised by means of their group however had been taken to extra-time by Cape Verde and recovered from 2-0 down late within the sport in opposition to Egypt.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates after the match in opposition to England in Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, US on July 15, 2026. — Reuters
They wanted extra-time once more to beat Switzerland within the quarter-finals and had been watching defeat in opposition to England within the semi-finals earlier than a late double.
Argentina haven’t performed the silkiest soccer however their never-say-die perspective is their superpower.
Balogun row
The World Cup was remarkably freed from off-field controversy till Folarin Balogun discovered himself on the centre of a political storm.
The US ahead, who scored three objectives, was despatched off in his group’s last-32 match in opposition to Bosnia-Herzegovina, ruling him out of the subsequent sport.
However Fifa stepped in and suspended his ban, resulting in widespread condemnation, particularly when it emerged that US President Donald Trump had intervened.
Folarin Balogun of the US in motion with Belgium’s Brandon Mechele throughout Spherical of 16 in opposition to Belgium Seattle Stadium, Seattle, Washington, US on July 6, 2026. — ReutersÂ
The host nation had been outclassed 4-1 by Belgium within the final 16, with Balogun making little impression.
Afterwards, the 25-year-old admitted the episode had put further strain on the group.
Haaland goes viral
Erling Haaland fired Norway to their best-ever World Cup end — and likewise turned a social media sensation together with his quirky posts.
The towering Manchester Metropolis ahead has gained 30 million Instagram followers because the begin of the match to maneuver to greater than 71 million.
Haaland, 25, whose group had been crushed by England within the quarter-finals, now has much more Instagram followers than Metropolis’s official account.
Norway’s Erling Haaland in motion with England’s Marc Guehi in Quarter Ultimate in Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, US on July 11, 2026. — Reuters
One in all his posts featured the “Viking row”, which can be one of many abiding pictures of the match.
The ritual featured gamers main Norway followers in a rhythmic row in a fake Viking boat.
He additionally shared an image of himself arriving again in Norway accompanied by a stuffed raccoon, explaining: “It followed me home.”
Falklands dispute
The build-up to the semi-final between Argentina and England was dominated by speak over the contested Falkland Islands, identified in Spanish because the Malvinas.
A banner displaying a message referencing The Falkland Islands is seen on the pitch after Semi Ultimate, England v Argentina in Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, US on July 15, 2026. — Reuters
Argentina recovered from a aim right down to win 2-1 and attain their third ultimate in 4 World Cups.
After the ultimate whistle the gamers held a banner that learn: “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” (The Falklands are Argentine).
Britain known as for Fifa to look into the incident and the governing physique put out an announcement saying it was “assessing the match reports”.
