Spain were crowned champions of the expanded FIFA World Cup in a final overshadowed by an uninvited podium appearance from Donald Trump and a controversial, defensive display from Argentina.
La Roja lifted the trophy following a match in which Argentina failed to produce a single shot on target across 120 minutes and managed no attempts at all during regulation time. The Albiceleste’s negative approach culminated in Enzo Fernández’s dismissal, while Leandro Paredes was involved in aggressive post-match scenes. Lionel Messi also attracted criticism for petitioning referee Slavko Vincic to show a red card to Spain’s Marc Cucurella.
Presentation Stage Intrusion
The trophy ceremony descended into farce when Trump joined the Spanish players on the champions’ plinth. FIFA president Gianni Infantino was forced to remove the US president from the stage, allowing midfielder Rodri to step forward and celebrate with the trophy. Trump, who had earlier claimed the tournament ranked among the greatest events ever staged, appeared despite the elimination of the United States co-hosts.
Expanded Format Divides Opinion
The competition featured 104 matches involving 48 teams across multiple host nations, up from 64 games in 2022. While the expansion delivered historic moments, including Cape Verde’s impressive run as the only team to remain unbeaten against Spain, the sheer volume of fixtures proved exhausting for viewers. Few neutrals stayed awake for the conclusion of Ecuador’s goalless draw with Curaçao, which kicked off at 3am UK time.
African fans celebrated Cape Verde’s resilience, with the Blue Sharks pushing Argentina to the limit in the last 32 before falling to Messi’s individual brilliance. Senegal’s clash with Belgium provided genuine drama through the Europeans’ late comeback victory.
Memorable Encounters
England claimed third place with a chaotic 6-4 triumph over France, a match described as weirder than any third-place playoff deserves to be. The Three Lions also featured in the “Battle of the Azteca” against Mexico, a fixture that left defender Dan Burn with lasting memories. The United States, managed by Mauricio Pochettino, earned praise for swashbuckling football before their elimination, which followed Trump’s ill-fated interaction with striker Folarin Balogun.
Former England captain Wayne Rooney delivered a blunt assessment of the tournament’s entertainment, calling the half-time show “crap”. The conclusion of the marathon schedule brings relief to supporters, with domestic football set to resume.