Story · Spain
How Worldly Is the World Cup?
This article from The New Yorker analyzes the 2026 World Cup, focusing on the semifinal where Spain defeated France. It describes French players Mbappé, Olise, and Dembélé as disengaged and frustrated, contrasting their early tournament success with their late failure. The piece highlights the fleeting nature of World Cup memories, recalling notable moments like Daniel Muñoz's goal for Colombia and Eloy Room's saves for Curaçao. It also credits FIFA's expansion to 48 teams for introducing underdog stories like Cabo Verde's Sidny Lopes Cabral, who scored a stunning equalizer against Argentina. The author argues that genuine surprises are becoming rarer in the tournament, but underdogs still provide gratifying challenges to the status quo.
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