Ranking 14 best moments from 2026 World Cup, from Messi’s opening hat trick to Scotland’s Boston takeover originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The old saying goes, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”
The 2026 World Cup has unfortunately come and gone, but what it brought to the table will be remembered for a very long time. This year’s tournament featured many iconic moments both on and off the pitch, and the lives of many players were changed forever.
From a beer shortage in Boston to nearly 30 million Instagram followers for the goalkeeper of Cape Verde, to Spain hoisting the trophy, the 2026 World Cup’s best moments were immensely hard to rank.
Here are the best moments that this year’s tournament shared with the world.
MORE: Watch Spain’s World Cup celebrations from around the world
Top 14 moments from 2026 World Cup
Imagn Images
14. Raul Jimenez scores his first goal for Mexico
At 35 years old, longtime El Tri team member Raul Jimenez most likely played at his last World Cup. After four tournaments played for his country, however, Jimenez was still seeking his first goal for his country.
His shining moment finally came in the 67th minute of the tournament’s opening match when Mexico faced South Africa. Here’s a look at Jimenez’s goal and the emotions intertwined with scoring in front of his home crowd.
RAUL JIMÉNEZ FIRST-EVER FIFA WORLD CUP GOAL! 🇲🇽 pic.twitter.com/Kit2ENm24M
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 11, 2026
13. Canada earns first win at World Cup
Not only did Canada enter the 2026 World Cup seeking their first win, but the team was also still vying for their first point at the tournament. Heading into their match against Qatar, Les Rouges had just picked up their first-ever tie against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Against the 2022 World Cup host, the Canadians scored not once, not twice, but six times en route to a massive victory in Vancouver. During the match, Jonathan David scored a hat trick for his country and helped them coast to victory.
A HAT TRICK for Jonathan David 🇨🇦
Canada leads 6-0 over Qatar! pic.twitter.com/OUlpKC4dmk
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 19, 2026
MORE: Lionel Messi’s reaction to World Cup loss looked more prideful than sad
Imagn Images
12. Malik Tillman scores rare USMNT free-kick goals
Malik Tillman made quite a name for himself at this summer’s World Cup. His first free-kick goal against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 was just the USMNT’s second all-time, and first since 1994 per the team.
In the team’s next match against Belgium, Tillman scored a second goal from a setpiece that briefly leveled the match for Team USA and gave fans a reason to believe that the team was capable of beating their familiar tournament foe, the Belgians. Tillman also became just the second player in World Cup history to score two direct free kicks in the last 60 years, according to OptaJean.
MALIK TILLMAN FREE KICK GOLAZO AND THE @USMNT IS UP 2-0 🇺🇸
Advantage doubled even down to 10 men. pic.twitter.com/HskiCro7xD
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 2, 2026
MALIK TILLMAN FORCES THE EQUALIZER FOR THE @USMNT 🇺🇸
ANOTHER FREE KICK BEAUTY AND THE BUILDING SHAKES IN SEATTLE! pic.twitter.com/uUO9amIJ3Z
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 7, 2026
MORE: How does Lamine Yamal’s first World Cup win compare to soccer’s greats?
11. Tartan army takes over Boston
Fan groups becoming notable was a familiar trend at this year’s World Cup. A group of those fans, making their tournament return for the first time since 1998, was Scotland’s Tartan Army. Along with supporting local businesses in Boston, including a reported city beer shortage, Scottish fans sang loud and proud despite their team’s tough tournament.
Here is the moment thousands of Scotland fans, known as the Tartan Army, arrived on Lansdowne Street pic.twitter.com/Tx3ndtrhdZ
— Justin Turpin (@JustinmTurpin) June 14, 2026
Scotland’s Tartan Army has arrived at Fenway Park pic.twitter.com/mFDmWloB13
— Justin Turpin (@JustinmTurpin) June 14, 2026
MORE: Why soccer’s Messi vs. Ronaldo GOAT debate is unchanged by World Cup final defeat
Imagn Images
10. Japanese fans tidy up after matches
Another country whose fans made a great impression was Japan. As seen previously during the World Baseball Classic and the 2022 World Cup, the Japanese team and their fans always make a conscious effort to clean up after themselves.
In the stands, fans take a few minutes to make sure the space around them is clear of garbage, whether its their own or not. Even New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston, one of Fox’s World Cup correspondents, stayed with the fans to clean up.
Shoutout to our FIFA World Cup correspondent @Jaboowins and all the Japan fans cleaning up their trash at Dallas Stadium 👏#JameisOnFOXpic.twitter.com/1bX8kKSnoS
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 14, 2026
9. Haaland, Lamine Yamal score first World Cup goals
While many soccer fans are already familiar with stars Erling Haaland and Lamine Yamal, some casual fans had never heard of the duo until the World Cup. The 2026 World Cup was the stellar pair’s first tournament, but fans gave them high expectations regardless.
Haaland ended the tournament as one of the field’s leading scorers, while Lamine Yamal was a part of the Spanish team that lifted their first World Cup since 2010. Take a look at both of their first-ever goals at the World Cup.
MORE: Why do people hate Argentina’s soccer team?
Brett Davis, Imagn Images
8. Goalkeeper stardom during tournament
A large audience loves it when goals are flying into the net at a rapid pace. This tournament, however, put goalkeeping in the spotlight. Names like Vozinha and Eloy Room gave fans reason to stand up and applaud valiant efforts between the posts.
Vozinha, a 40-year-old goalkeeper from Cape Verde, made headlines after keeping future champions Spain scoreless. Just five days after Vozinha garnered over 29 million Instagram followers, Curacao’s keeper, Eloy Room, nearly broke Tim Howard’s record for the most saves during a World Cup match. His 15 saves gave Curacao its first point in tournament history.
18 saves and countless big moments.
Vozinha played a key role in Cape Verde’s incredible World Cup run, helping them reach the Round of 32 and pushing Argentina all the way to extra time.
Now a free agent… which club should sign him? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/tEvsxu24nx
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) July 4, 2026
7. World Cup success for DR Congo, Cape Verde
One of the best parts of sports is an underdog story. At this year’s tournament, DR Congo and Cape Verde headlined the list. DR Congo, playing in its first World Cup since 1974, was able to qualify for the Round of 32 as one of the best eight third-place teams in terms of points and goal differential.
Cape Verde, playing in its first World Cup, valiantly tied in all three of their group-stage matches and qualified as a second-place team. They gave Argentina a run for their money in the Round of 32, including a world-class goal in extra time from Sidny Lopes Cabral, but fell just short of taking down the defending champions.
We still can’t get over Cape Verde’s goal against Argentina in extra time 🇨🇻
Off the boot of Sidny Lopes Cabral, one of the most incredible FIFA World Cup moments was born. pic.twitter.com/bbaGszGBPm
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 17, 2026
MORE: Spain, Africa the biggest winners from this year’s World Cup
Getty Images
6. Norway Viking row chant becomes tournament phenomenon
After this tournament, when fans hear the beat of a drum, their first thought may be Norway’s World Cup 2026 ride. During every match, Norwegian fans would come together and perform the synchronized motion of rowing a boat.
The team also led their fans in the chant after a win, and the chant was even seen in the middle of Times Square.
Erling Haaland leads the Viking Row for Norway 🇳🇴
One of the greatest traditions continues on in this FIFA World Cup. pic.twitter.com/mHDGCVH2b6
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 5, 2026
MORE: Explaining Norway’s Viking row chant from 2026 World Cup
5. Bellingham double leads England to semifinal
After England went down 1-0 to tournament fan-favorite Norway, the Three Lions had to buckle in. Much of the world was rooting against them, and now a team with one of the most dominant forwards around the globe proved they were a legitimate threat.
In comes Jude Bellingham, a player some writers in England did not want on the final World Cup squad, to score a double and lead the Three Lions past Norway. The Real Madrid star established himself as the future of England’s team, with some fans going as far as saying he has a great shot of being the most talented player to come out of England.
MORE: Here are the best goals from the 2026 World Cup
Imagn Images
4. Alvarez worldie against Switzerland
After the defending world champions needed someone other than Messi to step up and lift the team to victory in extra time, Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez was the man for the moment in the quarterfinal.
In the 112th minute in extra time, Alvarez hit a stunning right-footed curler that landed in the opposite top corner of Switzerland’s net. While the goal was a beauty, it broke the Swiss team’s and fans’ hearts around the world. The goal helped Argentina move on to the semifinal, where they would face England.
You voted. Julián Alvarez’s sensational long-range finish is your Quarter-finals & Semi-finals Goal of the Tournament winner 🚀⚽#FIFAWorldCup#Hyundai#HyundaiGOTT2026#GoalOfTheTournament@Hyundai_Globalpic.twitter.com/uuHc4zotLN
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 18, 2026
3. Argentina’s wild semifinal comeback against England
Sweat began to fall from many Argentine fans’ foreheads. For 84 minutes, their prized team was held goalless by a strong England side, and were just six minutes away from elimination from the 2026 World Cup courtesy of an Anthony Gordon goal in the 55th minute.
In just seven minutes, La Albiceleste not only equalized thanks to a Messi to Enzo Fernandez setup; Lautaro Martinez netted the winner in stoppage time off a cross from the “Little Boy From Rosario.” Martinez’s header sent Argentina into a frenzy, and also into their second-straight World Cup final.
LAUTARO MARTINEZ MATCH WINNER GOAL AGAINST ENGLAND !!!
🏟️ View from the stands
🏴 England vs Argentina 🇦🇷 #FIFAWorldCup#ENGARGpic.twitter.com/sZXgelMt4f
— StatPad Football📊📈📉 (@StatPadFootball) July 15, 2026
MORE: Why Spain cropped Donald Trump out of World Cup celebration photos
Getty Images
2. Messi scores opening match hat-trick against Algeria
Mere hours after Mbappe led off his World Cup 2026 campaign with a scoring double against Senegal, Messi was able to net his first-ever tournament hat trick against Algeria. The then 38-year-old was widely thought to be playing at his last World Cup, and he led off that campaign with a trifecta of goals.
This set the tone for Messi at this summer’s tournament as he finished second in the Golden Boot after a fierce back-and-forth battle with Mbappe atop the charts.
MORE: Who were the biggest winners and losers at the 2026 World Cup?
1. Spain wins second World Cup in country history
Without a doubt, the No. 1 moment from this year’s World Cup was Spain’s dominant win at MetLife Stadium. La Roja’s 1-0 win over Argentina was a top moment regardless of who and how they played, but the tournament’s top defense completely shut out Messi’s Argentina.
Messi finished the match with one shot that came in the 117th minute, which was blocked, which was one of Argentina’s two shots for the entirety of the 120 minutes played in East Rutherford.
The final also bolstered the resume of Lamine Yamal, aged just 19 years old. The starboy already has a 2024 Euro, three La Liga titles with Barcelona, and now the 2026 World Cup trophies in his hardware collection. Along with the youngster, Spanish midfielder Rodri may have clinched his second Ballon d’Or with the trophy hoist.
SPAIN LIFTS THE TROPHY AFTER WINNING THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP FINAL 🇪🇸🏆 pic.twitter.com/g9LXK96bIQ
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 19, 2026
About the Author
