Photo. When the air went out of football in the World Cup 2026.
Was the beautiful game deflated? The biggest World Cup in history delivered unforgettable football, but it also exposed many of the game's growing problems. The expanded 48-team tournament was overshadowed by fierce on-field clashes, brutal tackles, racism, political controversy, lengthy commercial breaks and growing frustration over the spectacle itself.
The World Cup 2026 become bigger, longer and more controversial than ever. Was this the World Cup that took football down? Did football loose its way?
Read football issues correspondent, Dale Johnson`s article published 18th July 2026 on BBC`s website:
“More games, more controversy - good and bad of biggest World Cup yet.”
Critics questioned whether football had become secondary to entertainment and business, while some knockout matches, including a surprisingly one-sided final, left fans disappointed. The 2026 World Cup will be remembered not only for its champions, but for the debate over what the modern game is becoming. And in addition, the World Cup final turned extra ugly at full-time.
Read also the football issues correspondent, Dale Johnson`s article published 20th July 2026 on BBC`s website:
Fifa opens investigation into Argentina post-final trouble.
The 2026 World Cup has raised an important question: how big can football become before it starts losing what made it special?
Instead of celebrating skills and creativity, too many matches were remembered for dangerous challenges, player confrontations and constant stoppages.
The final 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina on 19th July was also a major disappointment for those hoping for joy, excitement and entertaining football. It was a largely one-sided affair with only one team did their best to play football. Spain dominated with 65% possession and a record 896 pass attempts, while Argentina became the first team in World Cup final history to fail to record a single shot on goal in regular time (FIFA stats from the final).
What a shame for Argentina. A World Cup final is meant to celebrate the beauty of football, but a defensive, brutal tacles, uninspiring display left many wondering how such a great football nation could produce so little ambition on the game's biggest stage.
The lengthy halftime show in the World Cup final became another symbol of how entertainment and commercial interests increasingly compete with football itself. For many fans, the extended break disrupted the rhythm of the match and reinforced the feeling that the spectacle surrounding the game had begun to overshadow the game itself.
This halftime show may have divided opinions, but for me it was still more entertaining than Argentina's display in the final. A World Cup final should be remembered for moments of brilliance, not for a team that offered so little going forward.
This World Cup proved that football can become bigger than ever before. But bigger does not always mean better. As FIFA pushes for growth, the real challenge will be protecting the soul of the game. If football becomes just another entertainment product built around television schedules, advertising and commercial interests, the World Cup risks losing the very magic that made it the world's greatest sporting event. The question is no longer whether football can grow: it is whether it can do so without leaving its identity behind.
Despite the controversies, the tournament also produced moments that reminded us why the World Cup remains so special. Smaller football nations such as Morocco, Norway, Cape Verde, DR Congo, South Africa, and Egypt captured the imagination with fearless performances and memorable matches. They showed that passion, discipline and belief can still challenge football's established powers. Their success proved that, even in an increasingly commercialized World Cup, there is still room for inspiring underdog stories that unite fans around the world.
Stein Morten Lund, 21st July 2026
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