This summer’s World Cup tournament has been simply non-stop as the extended tournament led to the most football action in any World Cup tournament in history, and provided some huge talking points and drama.

In this post, we’ve gone over the last few weeks of action to pick out 5 of the biggest and most dramatic moments of the tournament both in terms of the excitement, drama and even controversy surrounding the action.

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).

Spain Are Champions

Spain reached the summit of international football on 19 July, defeating defending champions Argentina 1–0 after extra time in the World Cup final. It was a fitting conclusion to a tournament in which Spain combined technical quality, tactical discipline and impressive consistency to become world champions for the second time in their history. Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal, providing the finishing touch to a final that had remained goalless through 90 minutes.

What made Spain’s triumph particularly impressive was the control they exerted over the contest. They finished with 20 attempts on goal compared with Argentina’s two, demonstrating their ability to dominate possession while continuing to create dangerous opportunities. Argentina, who had negotiated a difficult knockout run to reach the final, ultimately ran out of answers against Spain’s organised and technically gifted side. The sight of Spain lifting the trophy brought a memorable end to the tournament and confirmed the emergence of a new world champion.

Goal-Fest For Third

England’s 6–4 victory over France in the third-place match on 18 July was the kind of game that reminded everyone why football is so difficult to predict. After the disappointment of losing their semi-final to Argentina, England arrived in Miami determined to finish their campaign on a high. They certainly made their intentions clear: Declan Rice opened the scoring in the third minute, Ezri Konsa doubled the advantage, and Bukayo Saka struck twice to send England into half-time with a remarkable 4–0 lead. For long stretches of the opening period, England looked unstoppable, attacking with pace and purpose while France struggled to contain them.

Yet the drama was only getting started. France emerged from the break with renewed urgency, and Kylian Mbappé quickly reduced the deficit before Bradley Barcola made it 4–2. When Mbappé scored again, England’s seemingly unassailable lead had been cut to a single goal, and the possibility of an extraordinary comeback suddenly felt real. Saka eventually restored some breathing room from the penalty spot in the 87th minute, before Jude Bellingham added a sixth in stoppage time after Ousmane Dembélé had scored France’s fourth. Saka’s hat-trick was the headline achievement, but the match belonged to everyone who loves a chaotic, end-to-end contest. England secured third place, their best World Cup finish since 1966, in a match that produced ten goals and a fittingly wild conclusion to their tournament.

Cape Verde’s Efforts

Few matches captured the World Cup’s underdog spirit quite like Argentina’s meeting with Cape Verde in the round of 32. Argentina, the defending champions, were expected to progress, but Cape Verde refused to play the role of passive outsiders. The tournament newcomers showed remarkable composure against one of the world’s most decorated sides, with goalkeeper Vozinha producing a series of important saves to keep his team in the contest. Even when Argentina appeared to have gained control, Cape Verde found the courage to fight back, turning what might have been a routine knockout victory into a gripping battle that stretched into extra time.

The defining moment arrived in the 102nd minute, when Sidny Lopes Cabral produced a stunning equaliser. Cutting in from the left, he unleashed a beautifully curled right-footed shot that arced beyond Emiliano Martínez and nestled inside the far post. It was a goal of extraordinary technique and nerve, made even more remarkable by the circumstances: Cape Verde were facing elimination against the reigning champions, yet Cabral had the confidence to attempt, and execute, something special. Argentina eventually won 3–2 after a late own goal, but Cape Verde left the competition with its reputation transformed. Cabral’s strike was voted the best goal of the round of 32 in FIFA’s public poll, a fitting recognition of one of the tournament’s most memorable moments.

Argentina Break England Hearts

England’s World Cup campaign came to a painful end on 15 July, when Argentina beat them 2–1 in the semi-finals. After navigating a demanding knockout run, Thomas Tuchel’s side were just one victory away from reaching the final, but standing in their way were the defending champions, a team with the experience and composure to thrive when the stakes were highest. The occasion carried all the ingredients of a classic international rivalry: enormous expectations, elite individual talent and the knowledge that one mistake could end a nation’s dream. For England, it was another opportunity to take a major step forward on the international stage.

The defeat was especially difficult to take because England had shown enough throughout the tournament to believe they could go all the way. Argentina, however, found a way to get the job done, winning 2–1 and booking their place in a second consecutive World Cup final. For England, the result meant another long wait for a first men’s World Cup final appearance since 1966, despite an impressive campaign that eventually ended with a bronze medal. Their subsequent 6–4 victory over France offered some consolation, but the semi-final loss remained the defining disappointment of their tournament. It was a reminder of the fine margins at this level: a team can play excellent football for weeks, only to see its biggest ambition disappear in 90 minutes.

Norway’s Spirit

Not every great World Cup moment needs to involve a goal, and Norway’s supporters provided one of the tournament’s most infectious spectacles. Their Viking Row, a synchronised chant accompanied by rhythmic rowing movements and a pounding drumbeat, spread far beyond the stadiums. Thousands of supporters moved in unison, reaching forward and pulling back as if rowing a longship through the waves, creating an atmosphere that was both intimidating and wonderfully theatrical. The chant became a symbol of Norwegian football’s growing confidence, giving the team’s supporters a distinctive identity at a tournament filled with competing songs, colours and traditions.

The celebrations took on an even greater significance as Norway progressed to the knockout stages, reaching that phase for the first time since 1998. After a dramatic 2–1 victory over Côte d’Ivoire, supporters filled the streets of Oslo to perform the now-famous rowing routine, demonstrating just how much the team’s success meant to the country. The celebration also spread into public spaces well beyond Norway, with fans and even public figures joining in. It was a reminder that the World Cup is about more than the players on the pitch: it is also about shared identity, national pride and the sense of belonging that football can create. In a tournament remembered for dramatic matches and brilliant goals, Norway’s fans made sure the stands had their own starring role.