As the 2026 World Cup heads into its final, anyone tuning in late is arriving after five weeks of action in the tournament's new 48-team format. The expanded field has helped create a packed, fast-moving competition filled with drama from the opening stages to the last match.
One of the biggest themes has been Lionel Messi, whose performances have remained a focal point of the tournament. His heroics have stood alongside some of the event's most memorable moments, reinforcing his status as one of the sport's defining stars on the biggest stage.
The tournament has also been shaped by underdog upsets, with less-favored teams disrupting expectations and adding to the sense that this World Cup has been unusually open. That unpredictability has been one of the clearest signs of how much intrigue the larger format can produce.
For U.S. fans, the USMNT's brave performances have been another major storyline. Taken together, the run to the final has been defined by star power, surprise results and a constant flow of storylines that made this World Cup difficult to ignore.
