How Worldly Is the World Cup?

This opinion piece from The New Yorker reflects on the 2026 World Cup, arguing that genuine surprises are becoming rarer. It highlights Spain's semifinal victory over France, where French stars like Mbappé, Olise, and Dembélé underperformed after peaking early. The author notes the fleeting nature of tournament memory, citing forgotten goals and heroic goalkeeper performances from Curaçao and Cabo Verde. Despite criticizing FIFA's corruption, the author credits the expansion to 48 teams for introducing underdog stories, such as Cabo Verde's Sidny Lopes Cabral scoring a stunning equalizer against Argentina. The piece concludes that underdogs serve to challenge the status quo, making the tournament more entertaining.

First published Aug 4, 02:01 PM UTCUpdated Jul 17, 10:44 PM UTC1 reports · 1 sources

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Last updated: Jul 17, 10:44 PM UTCEditorial record as of Aug 4, 02:01 PM UTC

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How Worldly Is the World Cup?

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How Worldly Is the World Cup?News, Politics, Opinion, Commentary, and AnalysisWesternJul 17, 10:44 PM UTC

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Spain France Kylian Mbappé FIFA Curaçao