And just like that, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is over.
After weeks of late kick-offs, dramatic finishes, shock exits and a heroic number of questionable predictions, Spain finished as the last team standing.
Their 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina brought the tournament to a tense conclusion and secured Spain’s second World Cup title.
Before we pack away the flags and return to normal life on Koh Samui, here is one final look at the teams, matches and players that shaped the tournament.
The Final Standings
World Champions: Spain
Runners-up: Argentina
Third place: England
Fourth place: France
Spain completed an outstanding campaign by defeating Argentina in the final, while England recovered from their semi-final disappointment to beat France 6-4 in a wonderfully chaotic third-place play-off.
Spain’s Road to the Trophy
Spain entered the knockout rounds looking composed, confident and increasingly difficult to break down.
They began with a convincing 3-0 win over Austria before edging Portugal 1-0 in the Round of 16. Belgium provided a sterner test in the quarter-finals, but Spain came through with a 2-1 victory.
A controlled 2-0 win over France followed in the semi-final, setting up a final against defending champions Argentina.
The final remained goalless through 90 minutes, but Spain eventually found the breakthrough in extra time and held on to complete a remarkable tournament.
Eight matches, seven clean sheets and just one goal conceded. Spain’s defence was every bit as important as its attacking talent.
The Matches That Stood Out
Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde
Cape Verde came within touching distance of one of the greatest World Cup upsets, pushing Argentina all the way in an entertaining Round of 32 encounter.
Argentina survived, but Cape Verde left the tournament with plenty of new admirers.
Belgium 3-2 Senegal
Belgium and Senegal produced one of the most open matches of the early knockout rounds.
Five goals, constant pressure and very little interest in slowing the game down made this one of the tournament’s most enjoyable contests.
Brazil 1-2 Norway
One of the biggest shocks of the tournament arrived when Norway knocked Brazil out in the Round of 16.
Brazil had entered the competition as one of the favourites, but Norway played without fear and earned a famous victory.
Mexico 2-3 England
England’s World Cup journey could easily have ended against Mexico.
Instead, they survived a five-goal contest and moved into the quarter-finals, where another narrow victory over Norway took them into the final four.
England 1-2 Argentina
England’s semi-final against Argentina was tense, scrappy and difficult to watch at times, particularly for anyone who had already started planning where to watch England in the final.
Argentina did enough to advance, leaving England to settle for the third-place play-off.
France 4-6 England
The match nobody really wanted to play became the biggest goal exhibition of the tournament.
With both teams freed from the pressure of reaching the final, England and France produced ten goals before England finally secured third place with a 6-4 victory.
Spain 1-0 Argentina
The final was a very different kind of match.
Spain controlled possession, Argentina defended with determination and neither side could find a goal during normal time.
The breakthrough finally arrived in extra time, giving Spain the victory and bringing Argentina’s title defence to an end.
The Tournament’s Biggest Surprises
Norway’s victory over Brazil will be remembered as one of the defining shocks of the competition.
Paraguay also provided an early upset by eliminating Germany on penalties, while Morocco knocked out the Netherlands after another shootout.
Cape Verde may not have advanced beyond Argentina, but their performance showed exactly why the expanded World Cup can produce some brilliant and unexpected contests.
Morocco, Norway, Paraguay and Cape Verde all helped ensure that this tournament was not controlled entirely by the traditional football powers.
Young Player Award: Pau Cubarsí
Spain defender Pau Cubarsí was named the winner of the FIFA World Cup Young Player Award.
The 19-year-old Barcelona centre-back started all eight of Spain’s matches and became a central part of the tournament’s strongest defence.
Spain recorded seven clean sheets and conceded only once throughout the competition, with Cubarsí displaying composure and maturity well beyond his age.
Winning the World Cup would already make this an unforgettable tournament. Leaving with the Young Player Award as well makes it a genuine breakthrough moment for one of Spain’s brightest talents.
FIFA Fair Play Award: The Netherlands
The Netherlands were presented with the official FIFA Fair Play Award following an impressive and highly sporting campaign.
Their tournament ended in a penalty shootout defeat against Morocco, but their discipline and conduct throughout the competition earned them recognition after the final.
It may not be the trophy they travelled for, but it is still a fitting acknowledgement of how the team represented itself on the world stage.
Players Who Left Their Mark
Spain’s success was built around a complete team performance, but several players stood out throughout their run.
Pau Cubarsí became one of the discoveries of the tournament, while Spain’s midfield controlled matches with patience and intelligence. Their defensive record tells its own story.
Argentina once again showed why they remain one of international football’s strongest sides, reaching another final after difficult victories over Cape Verde, Egypt, Switzerland and England.
Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice were central to England’s run to third place, finishing strongly in the 6-4 victory over France.
Players from Norway, Morocco and Cape Verde also helped make the tournament memorable, proving that some of the best World Cup stories do not always come from the teams that reach the final.
A World Cup to Remember
The expanded tournament brought more teams, more matches and more opportunities for surprises.
There were penalty shootouts, narrow escapes, unexpected exits and enough goals in the third-place play-off to compensate for several quieter matches elsewhere.
Spain were ultimately the most complete team. They defended brilliantly, controlled difficult matches and found the decisive goal when it mattered most.
Argentina finish second, England take third, and France complete the final four.
For Samui Unlocked, this also brings our World Cup coverage to an end.
It has been several weeks of football, late nights, dramatic headlines and watching supporters confidently predict matches they had apparently not seen either team play.
Now the trophy belongs to Spain, the tournament is finished, and we can finally return to beaches, restaurants, events and everything else happening around Koh Samui.
Congratulations to Spain, the 2026 FIFA World Cup champions.
