Behind the Scenes of the Winning Photo from the 2026 World Cup
This article from L'Équipe details the story behind the winning photograph of the 2026 World Cup, titled 'Olise's (almost) masterpiece.' The image, captured by photographer Pierre Lahalle during the Round of 16 match between France and Sweden (3-0) at MetLife Stadium, shows French player Michael Olise mid-air just before striking the ball. The photo won a reader vote with over 40% of the ballots. Lahalle used a Nikon Z9 with a 180-400mm lens at 250mm, set to f/4 aperture for background blur, 1/4000th second shutter speed to freeze motion, and ISO 1000 to handle stadium shadows. The composition follows the rule of thirds, with Olise centered and the advertising boards blending with Swedish players' kits. The article notes that if the ball had gone into the goal, the image might have achieved iconic status.
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