With the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals on the horizon, the biggest tournament in football history has already delivered a remarkable collection of storylines — from Lionel Messi defying his age to presidential interference and the controversial introduction of hydration breaks.
The superstar of the tournament
Nobody stole the spotlight quite like Messi. At 39 years old and widely expected to play a reduced role, the Argentina captain has been the tournament's top scorer and its most compelling figure. His performances have only reinforced his claim to be the greatest player of all time.
He has not been alone among the elite. Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Ousmane Dembele, and Vinicius Jnr have all found the net. Jude Bellingham has been a transformative presence for England. Even Cristiano Ronaldo produced moments to silence his doubters, feasting on weaker opposition when Portugal put five past Uzbekistan.
Among the breakout names, Switzerland's 20-year-old Johan Manzambi has announced himself on the world stage, while Cape Verde's 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha captured hearts. USA's Folarin Balogun made a flying start before his tournament took an unexpected turn — more on that below.
Has the 48-team format delivered?
Concerns ahead of the tournament centred on mismatches and lopsided results, and the group stage did produce some heavy defeats for Qatar, Curacao, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. Yet the expanded format's greatest champion has been Cape Verde.
One of the smallest nations ever to reach a World Cup, Cape Verde held European champions Spain to a goalless draw before pushing world champions Argentina to the limit in the round of 32. Elsewhere, Qatar drew with Switzerland, Curacao held Ecuador, and DR Congo picked up a point against Portugal to reach the knockouts for the first time in their history.
South Africa advanced from the group stage for the first time ever. Co-hosts Canada secured their first-ever point and win, going through to the last 16. Switzerland reached a first World Cup quarter-final since 1954, and Norway have made the last eight for the first time.
The drama has been relentless
No World Cup has produced more stoppage-time winners — ten of them, including Argentina's stunning comeback against Egypt. Hydration breaks and VAR checks have pushed added time to extraordinary lengths, and those extra minutes have delivered unforgettable moments.
The Algeria-Austria encounter produced a jaw-dropping finish deep in injury time. Iran saw a winner disallowed in the final seconds against Egypt, ending their knockout hopes. Brazil's Gabriel Martinelli scored the latest winning goal in a World Cup knockout match since 1966 — a 95' heartbreaker that eliminated Japan.
Hydration breaks: a game-changer
Fans in the stands have made their feelings clear — booing has greeted the mandatory three-minute hydration breaks that pause play midway through each half. The breaks were introduced to protect players in the extreme North American heat, but their application to air-conditioned venues has drawn criticism.
Their impact on the game itself has been significant. Defensive teams can reset their shape; struggling sides receive direct coaching input. England, in particular, have prospered from manager Thomas Tuchel's instructions during these pauses.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino suggested after England's win over DR Congo that the breaks serve a broader purpose beyond the weather — giving coaches a dedicated moment to engage with their players in every match. Whether hydration breaks become a permanent fixture of football remains to be seen, but their influence on this tournament has been undeniable.
Politics on and off the pitch
The relationship between Infantino and US President Donald Trump came under intense scrutiny when Trump revealed he had personally contacted Infantino to push for a review of Balogun's suspension before USA's last-16 tie with Belgium. FIFA's disciplinary committee ultimately cleared Balogun to play.
