What a tournament this World Cup has been. Despite the huge criticism around the build-up, the commercialisation, the extended format and much more, the on-field action has been hugely dramatic. With more games than ever before, we have more drama and excitement to enjoy and look back fondly upon.

As a result, we’ve gone through all 100+ games to pick out our 5 best games of the tournament due to drama and excitement, emotion and nerves or purely the impact of the game itself.

As always, if you have any thoughts on the World Cup this summer, get in touch with us by leaving a comment, following us on Bluesky (@NextGoalWinner) or Instagram (@NextGoalWin) and checking out our YouTube channel (@NextGoalWinner).

France 4-6 England (3rd Place Playoff)

If anyone ever asks what happens when two footballing heavyweights completely abandon the idea of a quiet afternoon, show them this match. England came flying out of the blocks in Miami, with Declan Rice opening the scoring in the third minute before Ezri Konsa doubled the advantage. Bukayo Saka then took centre stage, scoring twice before half-time to send England into the break with an astonishing 4–0 lead. France looked shell-shocked, and the match appeared to be heading towards a comfortable English victory.

But France had Kylian Mbappé, and that meant the story was far from over. Mbappé scored shortly after the restart, Bradley Barcola made it 4–2, and Mbappé struck again to reduce the deficit to a single goal. Suddenly, England were hanging on, and France had two opportunities to draw level. Saka’s penalty in the 87th minute looked to have settled the contest, only for Ousmane Dembélé to make it 5–4 in stoppage time. Jude Bellingham finally put the game beyond doubt with a brilliant individual goal in the 98th minute. England won 6–4, Saka claimed the match ball, and the tournament’s bronze-medal game became one of its defining spectacles. It was exhilarating, ridiculous and gloriously unpredictable football.

Spain 1-0 Argentina (Final)

World Cup finals rarely need a complicated storyline. Here, the stakes were enormous: Spain were chasing their second world title, while Argentina arrived as defending champions, with Lionel Messi and his teammates hoping to add another glorious chapter to their country’s football history. Spain controlled much of the contest, moving the ball with their trademark patience and precision, but Argentina’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez repeatedly stood between them and the trophy. Every missed opportunity increased the tension, and as the minutes ticked away, the final began to feel like a test of nerve as much as ability.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 106th minute. Pedro Porro delivered a cross from the right, Nico Williams nodded the ball down at the far post, and substitute Ferran Torres finished first time into the roof of the net. Spain had their goal, and Argentina suddenly had to find an answer with the world watching. They could not. When the final whistle sounded, Spain were world champions for the second time in their history, having won 1–0 after extra time. It wasn’t the highest-scoring game of the tournament, but it was arguably the most consequential: one perfectly executed move separating glory from heartbreak.

Belgium 3-2 Senegal (Round Of 32)

For 86 minutes, Senegal looked to have Belgium exactly where they wanted them. Habib Diarra put the African side ahead in the first half, and Ismaïla Sarr doubled the advantage shortly after the interval with a superb finish. Belgium, packed with attacking talent, were running out of ideas. Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku had already been substituted, and Senegal could almost taste a place in the next round. With the clock running down and Belgium still two goals behind, the tie seemed all but over.

Then came a remarkable late turnaround. Romelu Lukaku pulled one back in the 86th minute, and Youri Tielemans headed home the equaliser less than three minutes later. Senegal’s lead had vanished in a flash, and the match went into extra time. The drama escalated again when a VAR review led to a penalty for Belgium after Tielemans was brought down in the area. After a lengthy review and considerable controversy, Tielemans stepped up and converted in the 125th minute. Belgium had somehow snatched a 3–2 victory from the jaws of defeat. Senegal were devastated, Belgium were delirious, and the debate over that late penalty only added to the match’s extraordinary afterlife.

Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde (Round Of 32)

On paper, this was a match Argentina were expected to win. The reigning champions faced Cabo Verde, the ambitious World Cup debutants, with Messi leading the way. The Argentine captain opened the scoring in the 29th minute, delicately lifting the ball over goalkeeper Vozinha after a perfectly weighted pass from Lisandro Martínez. It looked like the beginning of a routine victory, but Cabo Verde refused to play the role of supporting cast. Deroy Duarte levelled the match in the 59th minute, finishing a slick attacking move, and Argentina found themselves in a genuine fight. Vozinha then produced several excellent saves, including a crucial stop against Messi, to force extra time.

Argentina regained the lead just two minutes into extra time through Lisandro Martínez, who pounced on a loose ball from a corner. Yet Cabo Verde had one more extraordinary moment in them. Sidny Lopes Cabral unleashed a wonderful curling strike from the edge of the box in the 103rd minute, drawing the teams level again and sending their supporters into raptures. With a giant-killing suddenly within reach, the island nation dared to dream. Instead, Messi’s corner in the 111th minute caused Diney Borges to turn the ball into his own net, giving Argentina a 3–2 win. The champions survived, but Cabo Verde won enormous respect: they had twice come from behind against the holders and forced them to play every one of the 120 minutes.

Norway 1-2 England (Quarter Final)

This was the sort of knockout tie that leaves supporters exhausted. England arrived with ambitions of reaching the final, but Norway were making their first-ever World Cup quarter-final appearance and had no intention of simply enjoying the occasion. The match was tight and tense until Andreas Schjelderup’s effort found the net, giving Norway the lead and putting England under serious pressure. The goal appeared to jolt England into life, and Jude Bellingham responded with a superb equaliser, driving into space and finishing across the goalkeeper. Norway, however, were dangerous throughout the second half, with Erling Haaland leading the threat and a header from Kristoffer Ajer striking the crossbar. England had survived a series of anxious moments, but neither side could find a winner in normal time.

Extra time brought the decisive twist. England pushed forward, and when goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland spilled a long-range effort from substitute Morgan Rogers, Bellingham reacted quickest to turn the rebound home. It was the kind of instinctive finish that separates great players from merely very good ones, and it sent England into the semi-finals with a 2–1 victory. Norway continued to threaten, and England had to withstand a frantic finish before they could celebrate. The performance was far from flawless, but knockout football is about finding a way through, especially when the pressure is at its highest. Bellingham had delivered when England needed him most, while Norway departed with their heads held high after a landmark run.