FIFA 2026: A tale of two world cups

Sometimes too much brilliance can be a bad thing. Exhibit A: the Round of 16 clash between two of the tournament’s technically
strong teams, Spain and Portugal. Packed with midfield maestros and great defenders, players who know how to work as a team and manipulate space, they ended up cancelling each other out. The result was a stultifying game: a slow deterioration of creativity and imagination, like sitting in a room without electricity in forty-degree heat and 90% humidity.

Neither the maverick Bruno Fernandes nor the wunderkind Lamine Yamal could produce anything worth mentioning. Vitinha and Pedri played the ball backwards more often than forwards. And with Spain punishing a nanosecond’s lapse in Portugal’s concentration in added time, the game marked the last international appearance of the only man to have played and scored across six World Cups — Cristiano Ronaldo.


Read more: FIFA World Cup 2026 Argentina vs Egypt: Argentina beat Egypt 3-2 after dramatic fightback in Round of 16

END OF AN ERA

Ronaldo, or the fact that Portugal manager Roberto Martinez insisted on playing a 41-year-old despite his loss of speed, touch and goalscoring abilities, is the real tragedy of a side that came into this tournament with so much promise. Ronaldo’s generation-spanning World Cup appearances produced only a couple of memorable moments: the winning penalty against England in 2006, the hat-trick that brought down Spain in 2018.

Otherwise, it has mostly been a pedestrian affair. His first World Cup in 2006 when he was just 21, proved to be the high-water mark. His speed and trickery were instrumental in taking Portugal to the semifinals, where they lost to France. Portugal never progressed beyond the quarterfinals again, and Ronaldo’s performances at the Cup nosedived.

THE VIKING REVOLUTION

If Monday marked the end of the international career of a forward of remarkable longevity and record-breaking scoring abilities, Sunday belonged to football’s newest strike-sensation. Norway’s Erling Braut Haaland condemned Brazil to yet another premature exit with two clinical finishes. Norway, led by that Viking marauder with hair of spun gold and a fjord-like jawline, are having the time of their lives.

Having qualified for the first time since 1998, they are proving to be the surprise package of the tournament, thriving on clever planning, playing patiently within their limitations, captain Martin Ødegaard’s midfield creativity, and Haaland’s uncanny ability to score from the few touches he gets in a match. Norway has also brightened up this World Cup with their Viking-row celebration, both fans and the team itself participate in this spectacular ritual every match. Along with the Mexican Wave and the New Zealand rugby teams’ Haka, this must now rank among the most entertaining rituals surrounding a sport.

CHAOS BEYOND THE TOUCHLINE

If Norway are bringing joy, Fifa and cohosts the US are continuing to do what they have done since before the start of the tournament — scandal, misery and dubious decisions. The latest? The decision to overturn the automatic suspension that would have ruled the US striker Folarin Balogun out of the round of 16 clash against Belgium. Briefly, here is what happened.
Balogun, who had been central to US’ run to the knockout stages, was shown a red card after a VAR review for a tackle he made during US’ knockout match against Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Balogun’s tackle, most experts agreed, perhaps did not warrant a red card. However, the tournament regulations state that a red card awarded following a VAR review can’t be appealed or overturned. Nor can the automatic one-match suspension that comes with it. But then US President Donald Trump made a direct appeal to Fifa chief Gianni Infantino. On the eve of the game, Fifa took the unprecedented step of lifting Balogun’s suspension, invoking the little-known Article 27, a provision that allows its judicial committee to overturn a refereeing decision.

Belgium’s football association blasted Fifa: “We are astonished by this decision,” its statement said. “We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision,” said UEFA in a statement. Fittingly, Belgium thrashed the US 4-1 to enter the quarter-finals.

Read more: FIFA rejects Belgium challenge over Balogun eligibility, Trump hails red card U-turn

The Balogun affair is merely the latest entry on a growing list of infractions from the co-hosts and Fifa. There has also been the mistreatment of the Iranian team, soaring ticket and transport prices, and Infantino awarding Trump Fifa’s inaugural “peace prize”. On the field, this has been a spectacular tournament. Off it, it may mark the beginning of the end of Infantino’s controversial tenure.