Experience FIFA World Cup 2026 at Heart of Europe

كرّمت مدينة نيويورك اثنين من أساطير كرة القدم بتسمية شوارع مؤقتة باسمَي المهاجم الفرنسي تيري هنري والنجم البرازيلي بيليه، وذلك قبيل انطلاق بطولة كأس العالم 2026، وفقًا لما أعلنه مجلس المدينة.

وتنطلق البطولة، التي تستضيفها الولايات المتحدة وكندا والمكسيك، يوم الخميس، على أن تُقام مباراتها النهائية الشهر المقبل في ملعب نيويورك نيو جيرسي الواقع على مشارف المدينة.

وشهد تقاطع شارع 50 غربًا مع الجادة السادسة في وسط مانهاتن تجمّع حشود احتفالية لحضور تدشين طريق تيري هنري على يد المسؤولين، فيما كتبت عضوة مجلس المدينة فيرجينيا مالوني عبر حسابها على إنستغرام: اليوم، كرّمت نيويورك أحد أعظم لاعبي كرة القدم على الإطلاق.

وقال هنري، نجم أرسنال وبرشلونة السابق والبالغ من العمر 48 عامًا، والذي كان ضمن تشكيلة المنتخب الفرنسي الفائز بكأس العالم 1998، في رسالة مسجلة: أتوق للتجول هناك في المرة القادمة التي أزور فيها مركز روكفلر. وقد رسّخ اللاعب حضوره الأمريكي بعد أن أمضى خمسة مواسم مع نيويورك ريد بولز في الدوري الأمريكي حتى عام 2014.

في المقابل، أُطلق اسم بيليه على تقاطع شارع شيا وشارع ميريديان في حي كوينز، تخليدًا لذكرى الأسطورة البرازيلية.

وستبقى تسميات الشوارع سارية حتى الأول من نوفمبر المقبل.

Doha, Qatar: Argentina head into the 2026 FIFA World Cup aiming to defend the title they won so memorably in Qatar four years ago, carrying the confidence of a team that has enjoyed one of the most successful periods in its football history. xsportfeed.quest

La Albiceleste arrive as reigning world champions after lifting their third FIFA World Cup trophy in 2022. The triumph added to their previous titles in 1978 and 1986 and cemented their status among the sport’s greatest national teams.

Argentina have also strengthened their legacy in recent years by winning back-to-back Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024, extending their record haul in the competition to 16 championships.

Under head coach Lionel Scaloni, Argentina have built a squad that combines experience, talent and continuity.

Much of the core that conquered the world in Qatar remains intact, with captain Lionel Messi still leading the side, alongside key figures such as Emiliano Martinez, Cristian Romero, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez.

Argentina’s most recent outing was a 2-0 victory over Honduras in a friendly on June 6, providing another positive result ahead of the tournament.

The South Americans have been drawn in Group J, where they will face Algeria, Austria and debutants Jordan. Their campaign begins against Algeria on June 17, with expectations high that they can advance deep into the competition.

Despite Argentina’s recent success, Scaloni has repeatedly warned against complacency and stressed the difficulty of defending a World Cup title.

“It will be a very complex and difficult World Cup. We have to prepare the players because what’s coming is going to be tough; you can’t always win,” the coach said.

Scaloni, who guided Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022 and Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024, has emphasized the importance of managing his squad carefully throughout a demanding tournament schedule.

At the centre of attention once again will be Messi. The 38-year-old captain enters what could be his final World Cup, still determined to compete at the highest level.

“I love playing football, and I’m going to do it until I can’t anymore,” Messi said.

While Argentina are among the favourites, Messi believes several nations arrive in strong form and expects another highly competitive tournament. He highlighted France, Brazil and Portugal among the teams capable of challenging for the title, while also noting that surprises are always part of World Cup history.

The depth of Argentina’s squad provides further reason for optimism. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez remains one of the world’s best in his position, while defenders Romero, Nicolás Otamendi and Lisandro Martinez offer leadership and experience at the back. In midfield, De Paul, Mac Allister and Enzo Fernández continue to drive the team, while Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez provide a potent attacking threat alongside Messi.

Forward Julian Alvarez acknowledged the significance of what could be Messi’s final appearance on football’s biggest stage.

“We’re all fully aware that this could well be Leo’s last World Cup,” Alvarez said. “It’ll certainly make for a special World Cup.”

Doha, Qatar: From Uruguay captain Jose Nasazzi becoming the first man to lift the Jules Rimet Trophy in Montevideo in 1930 to Lionel Messi fulfilling his lifelong dream beneath the lights of Lusail Stadium in Qatar in 2022, FIFA World Cup finals have produced some of the most unforgettable moments in sporting history.

For nearly a century, the final match of the world’s biggest sporting event has served as the ultimate stage for football’s greatest heroes and its most painful disappointments. It has witnessed legendary triumphs, dramatic comebacks, controversial decisions, historic firsts and heartbreaking defeats that have shaped the legacy of nations and players alike.

Across 22 editions, World Cup finals have delivered stories that transcend football itself, from the silence that swept across the Maracana in 1950 and Pele’s emergence as a global superstar in 1958, to Diego Maradona’s crowning moment in 1986, Zinedine Zidane’s dramatic farewell in 2006 and Messi’s long-awaited coronation in 2022.

Ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, The Peninsula looks back at every World Cup final and the defining moments that turned each one into a chapter of football history.

1930 – Uruguay 4-2 Argentina

The first-ever FIFA World Cup final saw hosts Uruguay overcome neighbours Argentina at Estadio Centenario in Montevideo. Goals from Pablo Dorado, Jose Pedro Cea, Santos Iriarte and Héctor Castro secured a comeback victory and crowned Uruguay as football’s inaugural world champions.

1934 – Italy 2-1 Czechoslovakia

Italy claimed its maiden World Cup title on home soil at Stadio Nazionale PNF (Rome) after Angelo Schiavio scored the decisive goal in extra time. The victory marked the beginning of Italy’s emergence as one of football’s traditional powerhouses.

1938 – Italy 4-2 Hungary

Led by the prolific Silvio Piola and Gino Colaussi, Italy became the first nation to successfully defend the World Cup trophy, defeating Hungary at Stade Olympique de Colombes, Colombes, and establishing a record that would stand for decades.

1950 – Uruguay 2-1 Brazil

Although not officially a final under the tournament’s format, the decisive match between Brazil and Uruguay effectively determined the champion. Before nearly 174,000 spectators at the Maracana, Alcides Ghiggia stunned the host nation with the winning goal in one of football’s greatest upsets, forever remembered as the “Maracanazo.”

1954 – West Germany 3-2 Hungary

Heavy favourites Hungary entered the final unbeaten in four years and had already defeated West Germany 8-3 earlier in the tournament. Yet Germany staged one of the greatest shocks in football history at Wankdorf Stadium, Bern, recovering from a two-goal deficit to lift its first World Cup trophy.

1958 – Brazil 5-2 Sweden

A 17-year-old named Pelé introduced himself to the world with two goals as Brazil defeated hosts Sweden at Rasunda Stadium, Solna. The teenager’s brilliance helped launch one of football’s greatest careers while delivering Brazil’s first World Cup title.

1962 – Brazil 3-1 Czechoslovakia

Despite losing Pelé to injury early in the tournament, Brazil retained the trophy at Estadio Nacional, Santiago, through a collective effort led by Amarildo, Zito and Vavá. The victory cemented Brazil’s status as the dominant force in world football.

1966 – England 4-2 West Germany

England captured its only World Cup title at Wembley Stadium in one of the most debated finals in history. Geoff Hurst scored a hat-trick, including the famous disputed goal that remains one of football’s most controversial moments.

1970 – Brazil 4-1 Italy

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Widely regarded as one of the greatest teams ever assembled, Brazil’s 1970 side dazzled the football world. The final is remembered for Carlos Alberto’s iconic goal following a flowing team move that many consider the greatest goal in World Cup history at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City.

1974 – West Germany 2-1 Netherlands

The Netherlands took the lead through Johan Neeskens before West Germany had touched the ball. Yet the hosts recovered to win through Paul Breitner and Gerd Müller, denying Johan Cruyff’s revolutionary Dutch side a world title at Olympiastadion, Munich.

1978 – Argentina 3-1 Netherlands

Mario Kempes delivered one of the finest performances in World Cup final history, scoring twice as Argentina secured its first world title on home soil at Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, after extra time.

1982 – Italy 3-1 West Germany

Italy completed a remarkable resurgence after a difficult start to the tournament. Paolo Rossi, Marco Tardelli and Alessandro Altobelli scored in Madrid, while Tardelli’s emotional celebration became one of football’s most enduring images.

1986 – Argentina 3-2 West Germany

Although he did not score in the final, Diego Maradona orchestrated Argentina’s triumph and completed one of the greatest individual World Cup campaigns ever witnessed. Jorge Burruchaga’s late winner sealed Argentina’s second title at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City.

1990 – West Germany 1-0 Argentina

One of the most defensive World Cup finals in history was settled by Andreas Brehme’s late penalty at Stadio Olimpico, Rome. It remains the only World Cup final won through a penalty goal scored during normal play.

1994 – Brazil 0-0 Italy (Brazil 3-2 on penalties)

For the first time, a World Cup final was decided by a penalty shootout. Roberto Baggio’s decisive penalty sailed over the crossbar, handing Brazil a record fourth World Cup title and producing one of football’s most heartbreaking images at the Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California.

1998 – France 3-0 Brazil

Zinedine Zidane scored twice with headers as hosts France claimed their first World Cup title at Stade de France, Saint-Denis. The victory sparked celebrations across the country and transformed Zidane into a national icon.

2002 – Brazil 2-0 Germany

Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima completed one of football’s greatest comeback stories after his knee injury by scoring both goals in Yokohama to secure Brazil’s fifth World Cup crown.

2006 – Italy 1-1 France (Italy 5-3 on penalties)

The final is remembered as much for Zinedine Zidane’s infamous headbutt on Marco Materazzi as for Italy’s triumph at Olympiastadion, Berlin. The incident ended one of football’s greatest careers dramatically before Italy prevailed on penalties.

2010 – Spain 1-0 Netherlands

Andrés Iniesta’s extra-time strike at Soccer City in Johannesburg delivered Spain’s first World Cup title and completed an era of dominance built around possession-based football.

2014 – Germany 1-0 Argentina

Mario Götze emerged from the bench to score a stunning extra-time winner at the Maracanã, giving Germany its fourth World Cup title and denying Lionel Messi the trophy he coveted most.

2018 – France 4-2 Croatia

France captured its second World Cup title in Moscow, while 19-year-old Kylian Mbappé became the first teenager since Pelé in 1958 to score in a World Cup final.

2022 – Argentina 3-3 France (Argentina 4-2 on penalties)

Often described as the greatest World Cup final ever played, the match featured Lionel Messi’s brace, Kylian Mbappé’s hat-trick and a dramatic penalty shootout. Argentina emerged victorious as Messi finally lifted the trophy that had eluded him throughout his illustrious career, before being presented the iconic Qatari bisht during the trophy ceremony at Lusail Stadium.

From Nasazzi’s pioneering triumph in Montevideo to Messi’s crowning moment in Lusail, every World Cup final has added a unique chapter to football’s greatest story. Together, they form a timeline of unforgettable memories, defining generations of players and inspiring billions of fans around the world.