Some of pop’s biggest stars, from Madonna to Shakira to BTS, gathered for an immaculately staged but bizarre spectacle

Ferran Torres scores the winner for Spain against Argentina in the World Cup final Angela Weiss/AFP via Do you have a favourite match of the World Cup? Could you order all of them? Well, that’s what we’ve done.

After 39 days and 104 matches, the World Cup has come to an end. No more videos of Scottish fans putting traffic cones on statues and taking over baseball stadiums. No more clips of fans in tears of joy over what they just witnessed.

For fans trying to get last-minute tickets to the most expensive soccer match in history, a crowded market tested their devotion — and their bank accounts.

The World Cup brought hordes of soccer fans to town, and locals flocked to watch parties. But did the games deliver on promises of an economic boon?

Concerns over high-level interference and visa difficulties for some fans overshadowed the action on the field at ​times as the lines between politics and sport blurred.

The 2026 World Cup champions host a victory parade through Madrid. The Spain team brings the World Cup home. Video, 00:00:39The Spain team brings the World Cup home Up Next. 'A date with history and we got there first' - Spain react to World Cup win.

Spain's celebrations after beating Argentina in the World Cup final turned ugly as players briefly clashed on the field