Three Lessons We’ve Learned from the Historic 2026 World Cup

There was no shortage of drama leading up to the 2026 World Cup, but the tournament has surpassed expectations for many fans.

The largest World Cup in history has delivered for fans, providing stunning upsets, thrilling finishes, and elite performances from the sport's biggest stars. While there is still one match to go, the last month has ensured that fans around the world will long remember this tournament.

The tournament’s success has not only provided entertainment, but also taught us a few key lessons from FIFA’s North American experiment. Below, we’ll share the top three lessons we’ve taken away from this summer’s action.

The Talent Gap Between Teams is Shrinking

When FIFA announced it would be expanding the field for the 2026 World Cup, many fans were upset. They feared that smaller countries would hurt the overall quality of play, resulting in far more one-sided matches that would hamper the excitement around the world’s largest soccer tournament.

One month after the tournament’s start, we’ve learned those fears were unfounded. Some of the best moments of the tournament featured teams from countries like Cape Verde, who went toe-to-toe with some of the world's top teams. While we didn’t get a Cinderella-esque run deep into the knockout rounds from these teams, their inclusion in group play added a whole new layer of excitement.

We Need Clarity Around Card Reviews

One of the biggest scandals in soccer over the last month has involved a controversial red card issued to the USMNT in its Round of 32 match. The penalty wasn’t called initially, but a VAR review was called, and it led the ref to hand Flo Balogun a red card. While it was clearly a foul, fans and media were left stunned that it resulted in the highest possible penalty.

FIFA handled the controversy about as poorly as possible, eventually suspending the red card so that Balogun could play in the Round of 16. With no details shared about how and why the decision was made, it led to a wave of anger from soccer fans across the globe.

It’s easy to appreciate FIFA fixing a misapplied red card, but the lack of clarity around the process fueled speculation of corruption. It ultimately caused more stress for the USMNT, which would ultimately lose in a one-sided match against Belgium. 

While it doesn’t seem that FIFA really cares what people think of it, simply establishing a clear, detailed process for card reviews could help avoid accusations of dishonest dealings in the future. 

Messi Remains King 

In 2022, Lionel Messi finally managed to lead Argentina to its first World Cup title in almost 40 years. It seemed to be the perfect topping to an elite career before the superstar “retired” to play in the MLS. It was an incredible story that firmly established him as the best player of his generation, but it turns out that run wasn’t the final chapter.

Flash forward to today, and Messi is once again preparing to play in a World Cup Final. He leads the squad with eight goals and four assists, and opened the tournament with a hat trick against Algeria. The superstar is now the highest-scoring player in the tournament’s long history, adding yet another impressive chapter to his story.

While the 2022 World Cup largely settled the “Ronaldo vs. Messi” debate, this year’s success will silence any remaining doubters.