World Cup 2026: Was It Really A Success? – Reuben Abati

Was the just-concluded FIFA World Cup 2026 a success? According to veteran commentator Reuben Abati, the answer is a firm yes.

Spain sealed the tournament with a 1-0 win over defending champions Argentina on Sunday, July 19, capping a 39-day spectacle that spanned 104 matches, 48 teams and six confederations across 16 cities in three host nations — the United States, Mexico and Canada. It was, by most measures, the biggest and costliest World Cup in history, with final-day tickets reportedly fetching over $10,000.

Spain’s win was emphatic. Argentina failed to register a single shot on target, while Spain piled on 20 attempts, 12 on target, before Ferran Torres broke the deadlock in the 106th minute. Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez kept the scoreline respectable with a string of saves, but the gulf in dominance was clear.

The victory made Spain the first nation to simultaneously hold the men’s and women’s World Cup titles, and the first to concurrently reign as men’s World, European and Olympic champions. Spanish players swept individual honours too — Rodri took the Golden Ball, Pau Cubarsí was named best young player, and Unai Simón won the Golden Glove. Spain conceded just once all tournament while scoring 14 goals.

For Argentina, the story was Lionel Messi, who at 39 may have played his final World Cup. He leaves with 21 World Cup goals and legendary status, though he was visibly emotional as the trophy slipped away.

Away from the final, other matches stole the show — Netherlands’ 2-2 draw with Japan, a wild 3-3 between Algeria and Austria, and Senegal’s near-upset of Belgium in the round of 32. Cabo Verde, the smallest nation at the tournament with a population of roughly 529,000, produced the fairytale run of the competition, inspired by 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, and came close to knocking out Argentina. Norway stunned Brazil 2-1 to reach the quarter-finals for the first time, while England’s run ended in a limp semi-final loss to Argentina before a bronze-medal win over France — still England’s best World Cup showing since their 1966 title.

Africa also made its mark, with a record 10 slots and nine teams reaching the knockout rounds. Morocco and Egypt both advanced to the last 16 or further, DR Congo impressed on just its second World Cup appearance, and Ghana held England to a goalless draw. But Cabo Verde stood out as the continent’s standout story.

Nigeria, notably, did not qualify — its “presence” limited to its entertainers. Burna Boy performed at both the opening and closing ceremonies, while Rema, Davido and Ayra Starr featured elsewhere. Fifteen players of Nigerian descent turned out for other countries. Abati argues Nigeria must begin serious preparation now for the 2030 World Cup rather than waiting until the last minute, as has been the pattern with the Nigeria Football Federation.

The tournament wasn’t without controversy. It played out against the backdrop of the US-Israel-Iran conflict, with Iran’s team facing hostile treatment and a Somali referee denied entry despite a valid visa. Senegal’s team was subjected to humiliating tarmac security checks. The ugliest moment came when a Paraguayan senator directed racist remarks at France’s Kylian Mbappé after his side’s win over Paraguay; Mbappé fired back, calling her unfit for her office. Argentina’s semi-final win over England also stirred old tensions, with players displaying a banner referencing the Falklands, prompting a FIFA investigation.

Commercially, the tournament was a record-breaker, with a total prize pool of $871 million — Spain earned $51 million, Argentina $34 million, and third-placed England $30 million, with every participating team guaranteed at least $12.5 million.