World Cup
The tournaments, upsets, and unforgettable moments that defined football history — told from the inside.
worldcup
Spain's Unbeaten Run Reaches 38 Games as De la Fuente Makes History
Spain finished unbeaten in 38 games, a new world record. De la Fuente became the oldest manager ever to win the World Cup. The complete story.
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Every World Cup 2026 Award, Explained, and the History Behind Each One
Mbappe scored more than anyone since Gerd Muller in 1970, yet lost the Golden Ball. Every award handed out, and the history behind each one.
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The Story of World Cup 2026: BackPage FC's Complete Retrospective
Haiti qualified without a home game. Cape Verde never lost to three world champions. Norway beat Ancelotti. Spain won it all. The full story, threaded together.
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How Much Did Every Country Actually Make at the 2026 World Cup?
Cape Verde earned $13.5 million for reaching the Round of 32. Spain earned $52.5 million for winning it all. Exactly how FIFA works out the number.
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Messi's Ballon d'Or Is Already Won. The Final Is Just Confirmation.
Messi could be the first Ballon d'Or winner playing outside Europe, even without lifting the trophy on Sunday. Scaloni faces the man who literally taught him to coach.
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Who Earned the Most at This World Cup? The Real Money Table
Ronaldo $300m, Messi $140m, Bellingham $44m, Yamal $43m. The World Cup's biggest earners, the deals signed mid-tournament, and how trending turned into real money.
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Tuchel Went Cowardly Again. It Cost England the World Cup.
England led Argentina in Atlanta, then one Simeone chance put fear in them and they sat back. Tuchel took off his goalscorer and finished with six defenders. Bayern 2024 all over again.
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The Cape Verde Team That Never Was: Nani, Larsson, Ronaldo
Nani won the Champions League. Larsson is a Celtic legend. Ronaldo's great-grandmother was born there. All connected to Cape Verde. None ever played for them.
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Spain Do Not Win With Talent. They Win With a System.
Spain's unbeaten run has reached 37 games, built by a generation De la Fuente developed from the Under-17s. Here is how the system explains the streak.
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How Tuchel Made Bellingham a Beast: From Benched to Matching Maradona
Bellingham had one World Cup goal before this summer. He now has seven, ties Lineker, and matched a 40-year-old Maradona record.
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Why Was Embolo Sent Off? The VAR Rule Nobody Saw Coming
Embolo was in tears. A VAR rule almost nobody had heard of took the card off an Argentina player and gave it to him instead. Here's exactly what happened.
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Deschamps vs De la Fuente: Two Builders, One World Cup Semi-Final
Deschamps chases history nobody has made. De la Fuente built this Spain generation himself from the Under-19s. Two builders, one semi-final.
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Deschamps Won the Double at Marseille. Then It Was Taken Away.
Deschamps captained Marseille's genuine 1993 double. The league title was stripped. He came back as manager and won it back himself, 17 years later.
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Only One Manager Has Ever Won the World Cup Twice
Vittorio Pozzo won it with Italy in 1934 and 1938, unmatched since. Deschamps has one already. Two wins from Atlanta and he joins the shortest list in football.
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Only Three Men Have Won the World Cup as Player and Manager
Zagallo did it twice as player, once as manager. Beckenbauer as captain then coach. Deschamps is the third and only active member. Zidane could be next.
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FIFA Paid Cape Verde $13.5 Million. What Does That Mean?
Cape Verde earned 13.5 million dollars from FIFA for reaching the Round of 32 — more than most small federations see in years. The exact breakdown explained.
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The Coach Who Made Socks Into Footballs, Then Beat Half the World
Bubista watched World Cups on one shared TV as a boy. At 56, he coached Cape Verde to their first World Cup, held Spain, then resigned. His full story.
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Cape Verde Sent People Away. The World Cup Brought the World In.
Cape Verde diaspora built the squad. Now their World Cup run is reversing the flow — tourism searches up 800%. Morocco and Croatia show two different outcomes.
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Six of Eight: Why Europe Owns This World Cup's Last Eight
Six European teams, one African, one South American. Senegal and Egypt both blew late 2-0 leads. Here's what other continents can learn from it.
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Egypt's Fury, Messi's Escape, and a Tactical Switch Nobody Noticed
Egypt's coach accused referees of favouring Messi after a 3-2 collapse. The disallowed goal was controversial, but so was Egypt's own tactics.