10 World Cup moments we'll still be talking about in 2030

Ask any football fan four years from now who scored the first goal of the 2026 World Cup. Take it from me: almost nobody will remember. For those who are about to Google it, here's the answer: the first goal of the 2026 World Cup was scored by Julián Quiñones. In the ninth minute of the opening match, he gave Mexico the lead against South Africa.

Just to show how quickly we forget things. The same goes for match results and the final group standings.

But say "Cape Verde." Or bring up the 'crazy' rowing Norwegian supporters. Or mention that unbelievable third-place play-off between England and France (6-4). Then the memories immediately come flooding back.

That's also the beauty of a World Cup. The winners go into the history books, but the memories that stay with us often have very little to do with the trophy itself. Do you remember referee Wilton Sampaio, for example, who went viral during the opening match between Mexico and South Africa because of his awkward English while explaining a VAR decision?

Cape Verde

Or, as mentioned, Cape Verde. Almost every World Cup has a team that neutral supporters slowly fall in love with. Not because they are favourites, but because they have something special.

Curaçao had that as well. With barely 160,000 inhabitants, it became the smallest island ever to take part in a FIFA World Cup. The team also surprised many by holding Ecuador to a 0-0 draw.

Bodycam

But not every surprise happened on the pitch. When FIFA announced that referees would wear body cameras, many supporters reacted sceptically. The general feeling was that it was another new gadget nobody had asked for.

Until the first controversial moments appeared.

Suddenly, you were no longer watching a confrontation or a disputed penalty from the stands. You were standing right in the middle of it. You could hear players arguing with each other, see how little time a referee sometimes has to make a decision and experience situations from a completely different perspective than the traditional television cameras could offer.

Rarely has a technological innovation received so many positive reactions.

Just as impressive were the Norwegians. Their match seemed to begin hours before kick-off. City squares turned into huge singing festivals, cafés were packed and entire city centres were coloured red. Even tourists with no interest in football stopped to record videos. The Norwegian supporters and the national team stole the show at the 2026 World Cup with the 'Viking Row': a massive, synchronized rowing movement in the stands and on the streets, imitating a Viking ship.

Third-place play-off

Results fade. Atmosphere doesn't. And if there was one match that turned every expectation upside down, it was the battle for third place. Normally, it's the game hardly anyone is looking forward to. Two disappointed teams, little tension and players who mainly want to go home.

In 2026, it turned out completely differently. England raced into a 4-0 lead, France fought back to 4-3 and later 5-4, but deep into stoppage time England eventually made it 6-4. Never before had so many goals been scored in a World Cup third-place play-off.

Spain eventually won the tournament deservedly. Argentina were beaten 1-0 after extra time in the final. But it didn't feel heroic. There were no spectacular comebacks or huge scorelines. Spain played calmly, made hardly any mistakes and controlled almost every match.

A final that became a major talking point for another reason as well.

Halftime show

The halftime show immediately divided the football world into two camps. Some supporters thought it was a logical addition during a World Cup in North America. Others felt it simply didn't belong in football.

Because of the halftime show, the break during the World Cup final lasted no less than 27 minutes and 23 seconds. During halftime, an impressive line-up of global stars performed: Madonna, BTS, Shakira, Justin Bieber and, to close the show, Coldplay together with the Muppets. One thing was clear: everyone had an opinion about it.

The same applied to the phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino. The reason was the red card shown to American forward Folarin Balogun, which Trump believed should never have been a red card. Balogun was initially suspended for the match against Belgium, but that suspension was overturned after the conversation with Infantino. Something never seen before.

A new generation of stars

Like every World Cup, this edition also introduced a new generation of stars. Young players who started the tournament as promising talents boarded the plane home a month later as internationals attracting interest from Europe's biggest clubs. That may well be the greatest tradition of a World Cup: every four years, a new generation emerges. A tournament that seemed almost impossible to predict. Although...

During a World Cup, more money is wagered worldwide than during most other periods. Casino games also become more popular. That's something they know all too well at BeCasino in Belgium. Spain becoming world champions may have been in line with expectations, but the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico produced many other moments that may remain in our memories for much longer.

Do you still remember who scored the opening goal of the World Cup?

Or have you forgotten already?

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10 World Cup moments we'll still be talking about in 2030

About the author

Author of this content is Patrick. I have been playing soccer for more than 25 years and follow the daily news closely. My hobbies include playing football, running and maintaining various websites, in addition to my job as a financial professional.

I do not work for any related company or institution, so the information is reliable and independent. The information has been collected accurately from reliable sources and is regularly updated.