July 23 : After nearly six weeks of heroics and heartache, thrills and spills, heat, rain and rowing, the World Cup tournament is over, coolly confident Spain overcoming Argentina to claim soccer's top crown for the second time in their history. The tournament featured an expanded 48 teams and was host

Despite fears beforehand over how fans would be treated and how the hosts would fare, there were thrills aplenty and some fairy-tale stories.

And just like that, the 2026 World Cup is over. After 308 goals were scored during 104 matches in 16 host cities across three continents, it was Spain that lifted the trophy.