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The 2026 World Cup has officially concluded, with Spain taking home the coveted golden trophy. On Sunday (July 19), they defeated Argentina 1-0 at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.

Spain dominated the defending champions throughout the match to claim its second World Cup title after first winning the tournament in 2010.

Barcelona forward Ferran Torres scored the winning goal. Argentina were reduced to 10 men after Enzo Fernández received a second yellow card for a foul on Spanish defender Pau Cubarsí.

Spanish captain Rodri won the Golden Ball, awarded to the tournament's best player, while teammates Unai Simón and Cubarsí won the Golden Glove, awarded to the tournament's best goalkeeper, and the Young Player Award, awarded to the tournament's best young player, respectively.

French captain Kylian Mbappé won his second Golden Boot for scoring the most goals (ten) during the tournament, becoming the World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer.

This year’s tournament was the first to be jointly hosted by three countries—the United States, Mexico, and Canada. It will also be remembered as the last World Cup for several football legends, including Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modrić, and Neymar.

The 2026 tournament also marked the first time 48 teams competed on the world stage, up from 32 teams four years earlier.

For the first time, the game featured a halftime show, with co-headliners Justin Bieber, Shakira, BTS, and Madonna.

Some football fans will also remember the 2026 World Cup for its sky-high ticket prices. According to Forbes, this year's tournament was one of the most expensive in World Cup history. FIFA, football’s international governing body, drew criticism over the cost of tickets, which ranged from $60 to over $10,000.

During the month-long tournament, football fans flooded social media with memes capturing all the reasons the 2026 World Cup won’t be forgotten anytime soon. Here are some of the best ones.

#1

A World Cup 2026 meme showing a Spanish goalkeeper sitting on a stool and drinking during the game.

ScrewderiaF1 Report

Bored Jellyfish
Community Member
Premium
12 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He didn’t even break a sweat.

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    #2

    nocontextfooty Report

    Serial pacifist
    Community Member
    9 hours ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Had Americans and their coach said: No, we don’t need unsportsmanly help from a politician who knows nothing about the game, and Balogun will sit through the game like other big boys who do their penalty, the USA team would have earned everyone’s affection and respect. This way, they just played along to the orange strings and ended up just as popular as that guy.

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    #3

    A social media post questioning Shakira's role in the World Cup 2026. This meme captures chaos from the World Cup.

    big_business_ Report

    Mr Karate
    Community Member
    11 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think Shakira has already started composing the song for the 2030 World Cup... she's begun experimenting with new tribal onomatopoeias: hula-hula, noko-noko, tiki-tiki, chuku-chuku...

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    #4

    A World Cup 2026 meme showing a man crying, devastated that Norway lost to England in soccer.

    _that_meme_girl_ Report

    Lene Leth Winterberg
    Community Member
    9 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Perhabs the brits should have asked if the norwegians would row them home? They know the way… 😄

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    #7

    Alkolikyorumlar Report

    Serial pacifist
    Community Member
    9 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He has won it and Argentina should have taken the defeat like champions outplayed by a better team on the day, and not like toddlers putting up a tantrum because they lost their favorite toy.

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    #9

    A World Cup 2026 meme showing a tired male football player with dark circles under his eyes.

    TrollFootball Report

    sbj
    Community Member
    Premium
    12 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As an England fan I've aged 10years during this World Cup

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    #11

    Simpsons characters in a World Cup 2026 meme about cheating and losing, featuring a US flag. This meme captures chaos from the World Cup.

    Metsimato Report

    Did I say that out loud?
    Community Member
    10 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I actually have a lot of sympathy for the US team. They know the game, they understand the rules and were dragged into something beyond their control by someone else's ego and stupidity. And because the current FIFA president has the backbone of a jellyfish.

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    #13

    A Scooby-Doo meme illustrating a 'Hydration Break' unmasking an 'AD Break,' a World Cup meme about 2026 chaos.

    Avaryr Report

    Alessa Gillespie
    Community Member
    8 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I hope they do away with this farce for the next one.

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    #15

    TrollFootball Report

    Serial pacifist
    Community Member
    9 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    …and presenting the trophy of the best in the world to the country he called all kinds of names nad insulted them without any basis.

    Never miss a story that brings joy to the world. Follow on Google News

    #16

    A World Cup 2026 meme with a FIFANIC movie poster featuring Messi and another man, referencing the Titanic.

    memeskkkz Report

    sbj
    Community Member
    Premium
    12 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I dislike these two men immensely

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    #17

    A World Cup 2026 meme featuring Donald Trump as a FIFA referee reviewing a play on multiple screens.

    nocontextfooty Report

    Serial pacifist
    Community Member
    8 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am the best VAR ref. It was the best refereeing ever. Abdolutely fantastic and beautiful. Everybody saw that I did the best job, they just don’t want to admit it.

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    #20

    A World Cup meme showing a crying wojak with a happy mask, reflecting American cope over World Cup 2026 chaos.

    zuss33 Report

    JayWantsACat
    Community Member
    6 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Eh. I think we've had way less coping than many other countries. And we obviously care about the sport, it's just not one of top four sports unlike the rest of the world.

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    #21

    TrollFootball Report

    Serial pacifist
    Community Member
    8 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Shakira has more World Cup appearances in the last 16 years than Italy.

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    #22

    nocontextfooty Report

    #23

    nocontextfooty Report

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    #27

    kirawontmiss Report

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    #29

    World Cup 2026 meme with a tweet about the final teams inability to beat Cape Verde, capturing humor.

    patrick_kidd Report

    Francois
    Community Member
    13 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ergo, Cape Verde is World Champion!

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    #32

    HYPEX Report

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    #34
    World Cup Referees be like..
    byu/Moesaei insoccermemes

    Moesaei Report

    FreeDragon
    Community Member
    5 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There is a chant of the English fans (of course) that goes like this: "I'm blind, I'm deaf, I wanna be a ref!".

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    #38

    A World Cup 2026 meme features Matt Damon and his wife watching the final, celebrating his timely return.

    espn Report

    Francois
    Community Member
    13 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Obvious the gods still were offended, giving the Spanish wings.

    #39

    TrollFootball Report

    KitchenToto
    Community Member
    Premium
    7 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wow exceptional skill. My cats have been watching.the football on my tablet and have been trying to bat the ball. They have also been practicing dribbling with their toy balls until they bat them under the sofa

    #40

    A World Cup 2026 meme showing a city skyline with the sun replaced by Argentinas national emblem.

    1scottishbanter Report

    Loosey Goosey
    Community Member
    11 hours ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Where did Scotland finish? They waited 28 years to play in a World Cup, turned up, played some bagpipes, sang a few songs, drank a few pubs dry in Boston and then f****d off back home having watched their national team score just one goal. But sure, "no Scotland, no party." Don't then knock England fans for having higher hopes for their team.

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    #42

    TrollFootball Report

    Lene Leth Winterberg
    Community Member
    8 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The way Argentina and Paraguay played they were a disgrace to the sport! And the fact that the referees barely lifted a finger really pissed me off. Its not Ultimate fighting! Its football!

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    #43

    TrollFootball Report

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    #46

    TrollFootball Report

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    #51

    A World Cup 2026 meme with a father and son, the father saying he doesn't know what a World Cup final is because they are Ronaldo fans.

    nocontextfooty Report

    Loosey Goosey
    Community Member
    13 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Try being an England fan. 🎶 "So many hopes, so many sneers, but all those oh-so-nears wear you down through the years." 🎶

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    #52

    TrollFootball Report

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    #54

    mbappefc10 Report

    Loosey Goosey
    Community Member
    13 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Then it turned out to be hugely entertaining. Admittedly, France took a while to turn up which helped England but both teams finished with their heads held high, which is more than can be said for a certain other team.

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    #58

    TrollFootball Report

    #60

    A tweet about a World Cup 2026 match between Spain and Argentina, discussing its historical context.

    PanasonicDX4500 Report

    Roman Arendt
    Community Member
    14 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Is "c*******r" censored but "colonized" isn't? Or what is the censored word?

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    #62

    nocontextfooty Report

    #64

    TrollFootball Report

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    #71

    nocontextfooty Report

    #72

    TrollFootball Report

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    #73

    TrollFootball Report

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    #74

    TrollFootball Report

    Fred L.
    Community Member
    6 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Upvote for Scott Sterling though.

    #76

    TrollFootball Report

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    #77

    TrollFootball Report

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    #78

    nocontextfooty Report

    #79

    theberneese Report

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    #81

    nocontextfooty Report

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    #83

    A World Cup meme comparing player ratings, capturing the humor and chaos from World Cup 2026.

    glascowcomascale Report

    Lene Leth Winterberg
    Community Member
    8 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Eriksen is the kindest person. As a Dane I’m allowed to say that our national men’s football team often seem alouf and somewhat arrogant. But never Eriksen. He’s a genuinely good guy! However the national men’s handball team they are a completely different story. They get payed less but give so much more!

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    #87

    A World Cup 2026 meme showing Messi and Ronaldo's football stats comparison, capturing chaos.

    TrollFootball Report

    Tre Molloy
    Community Member
    11 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    difference is messi is a d**g cheat allowed by fifa to use hgh and is assisted by fifa refereeing decisions the other plays for little Portugal

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    #88

    TrollFootball Report

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    #89

    TrollFootball Report

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    #90

    TrollFootball Report

    #91

    GelNox Report

    #92

    nocontextfooty Report

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    #93

    nocontextfooty Report

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    #94

    nocontextfooty Report

    #95

    nocontextfooty Report

    #96

    nocontextfooty Report

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    #97

    nocontextfooty Report

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    #98

    TrollFootball Report

    KitchenToto
    Community Member
    Premium
    7 hours ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think it was too hot and too many games so by the end top players were too worn out to play their best in the 3rd 2nd and final

    #99

    TrollFootball Report

    #100

    brfootball Report

    Dedly
    Community Member
    11 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    One of these is the odd one out

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    #101

    Jlsesugh Report

    David Beaulieu
    Community Member
    11 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So, 4 of the best football players of all time and a 19 y/o kid who in no world is more relevant than Mbappe?

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