bahrainthismonth.com | AUGUST 2026 SPORTS 66 20. History Across Three Nations The 2026 tournament rewrote the World Cup blueprint. Jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, it became the first edition staged across three countries while expanding to 48 teams, creating the largest competition in FIFA history. 21. The Hosts Exit Together Canada, Mexico and the United States all reached the knockout rounds but were eliminated in the round of 16. It was an unusual outcome for the co-hosts, who had hoped to build momentum deep into the tournament. 22. The Biggest Tournament Yet The expansion to 48 teams transformed the scale of the World Cup. Across 39 days, 104 matches were played in 16 host cities, making 2026 the largest edition in the competition’s history and reflecting football’s growing global reach. 23. Record Prize Money The tournament also set new financial benchmarks. FIFA distributed a record US$871 million in prize money, a significant increase on Qatar 2022, with Spain receiving the largest champions’ payout in World Cup history. 14. Cape Verde Captivate the World Making their World Cup debut, Cape Verde quickly became one of the tournament’s feelgood stories. Draws against Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia secured an unlikely place in the knockout stages and proved they belonged on football’s biggest stage. 15. Vozinha Becomes a Cult Hero At the heart of Cape Verde’s success was 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha. A series of outstanding performances, particularly against Spain, transformed him from an unfamiliar name into one of the tournament’s breakout stars. 16. Norway Reach New Heights Inspired by Erling Haaland, Norway reached their first-ever World Cup quarter-final. Their standout result came in the round of 16, where Haaland’s double eliminated five-time champions Brazil in one of the tournament’s biggest shocks. 17. Paraguay Stun Germany Few expected Germany’s campaign to end so early, but Paraguay produced one of the competition’s defining upsets by eliminating the four-time champions on penalties. It was Germany’s first defeat in a World Cup shootout. 18. Curaçao Break New Ground Curaçao also wrote history by becoming the smallest nation by population ever to qualify for a men’s World Cup. Managed by veteran coach Dick Advocaat, they demonstrated how the expanded tournament could open the door for emerging football nations. 19. Long-Awaited Returns The expanded 48-team field also welcomed DR Congo and Haiti back to the World Cup for the first time since 1974, ending waits of more than five decades and giving supporters fresh moments to celebrate. 24. A Halftime Show First For the first time, the World Cup final featured a dedicated halftime show. Curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay, the performance brought together international artists including Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber and BTS in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. 25. A Star-Studded Opening The entertainment began before a ball had been kicked. Mexico City’s opening ceremony featured performances from Shakira, Michael Bublé and Katy Perry, setting the tone for a tournament that embraced football’s global appeal both on and off the pitch. 26. A Tournament for the History Books Between the drama, the records and the upsets, the 2026 World Cup delivered a changing of the guard at the top of the scoring charts and a Spanish side that may just have begun a new era of its own.
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