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Defector

Luis Paez-Pumar

Lionel Messi of Argentina shows off the FIFA World Cup Trophy to fans while he is carried around the pitch on the shoulders of former teammate Sergio Aguero after the team's victory during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.

Soccer

Argentina Is Cool, Calm, Collected, And Ready To Repeat As World Champs

Billy Haisley

Bilal El Khannouss of Morocco celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammate Achraf Hakimi during the international friendly match between Morocco and Paraguay.

Forget A Generation, Morocco Is Simply Golden

Teammates of Netherland celebrate the teams own goal from Mert Müldür of Türkiye to the 2:1 on the top of the grape Virgil van Dijk of Netherlands during the UEFA EURO 2024 quarter-final match between Netherlands and Türkiye at Olympiastadion on July 6, 2024 in Berlin, Germany

The Netherlands Has To Get Over The Hump At Some Point, Right?

Aaron Timms

A big inflatable soccer ball fills with air at the houston world cup fan zone.

The World Cup For Nobody Is Almost Here

Florian Wirtz of Germany runs with the ball during the international friendly match between Germany and Ghana at MHP Arena on March 30, 2026 in Stuttgart, Germany.

Germany Just Wants To Be Germany Again

Tom Ley

FIFA Will No Longer Allow Fans To Bring Water Into World Cup Stadiums

Luka Modric of Croatia controls the ball during the international friendly match between Brazil and Croatia at Camping World Stadium on March 31, 2026 in Orlando, Florida.

Croatia Is Ready To Keep The Good Times Rolling

Raul Jimenez of Mexico celebrates after scoring a penalti during an international friendly match between Mexico and Paraguay.

Mexico Can’t Let This Chance Slip By

Colombia's forward #07 Luis Diaz shoots during a friendly football match between Colombia and France at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, on March 29, 2026.

Colombia’s Almost Too Old For This Shit

Sadio Mane and Pape Thiaw hold the AFCON trophy

Senegal’s Bringing A Good Team And Some Nasty Vibes To The World Cup

Patrick Redford

The USMNT Is Still Stuck In The Middle

Gianni Infantino: We’re Just Here To Extract Wealth From You American Hogs

World Cup Tallies Another Human Rights Abuse

U.S. President Donald Trump receives the FIFA Peace Prize from Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 05, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Report: FIFA Plans To Ask Peace Prize Winner If He Would Maybe Consider Pausing Domestic Terrorism Program For One Month

Players of Italy reacts at the end of the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia &amp; Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Oops, Italy Did It Again, Again!

Here’s The 2026 World Cup Draw

A general view of the performance as Saudi Arabia is displayed on the LED Screen during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final Draw at Doha Exhibition Center on April 1, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.

Saudi Arabia Will Host The 2034 World Cup

Ray Ratto

Victor Francos at left and RFEF chief Luis Rubiales, smirking in the center, at a reception following the Spanish women's team's triumph in the 2023 Women's World Cup.

Luis Rubiales Can’t Even Be A Pig Right

Spain players celebrate at the end during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Final match between Spain and England at Stadium Australia on August 20, 2023 in Sydney, Australia.

Spain’s Players Earned This World Cup

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<div>Abigail Segel is a contributing writer at Defector. She is also an editor for The IX Soccer and the Equalizer. Her work has been published in the Guardian and the Montreal Gazette.</div>
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Abigail Segel

Jorge Vilda, Head Coach of Spain, looks on during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Quarter Final match between Spain and Netherlands at Wellington Regional Stadium on August 11, 2023 in Wellington / Te Whanganui-a-Tara, New Zealand. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

When Your Coach Sucks, Everybody Loses

Salma Paralluelo of Spain celebrates after scoring her team's second goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Quarter Final match between Spain and Netherlands at Wellington Regional Stadium on August 11, 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand.

Salma Paralluelo Shook The Netherlands Out Of The World Cup

Kenza Dali (3rd R) of France celebrates with teammates after scoring her team's second goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Round of 16 match between France and Morocco at Hindmarsh Stadium on August 08, 2023 in Adelaide / Tarntanya, Australia.

France Is Taking Care Of Business

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 06: USA players react as Sophia Smith of USA misses her team's fifth penalty in the penalty shoot out during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Round of 16 match between Sweden and USA at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on August 06, 2023 in Melbourne / Naarm, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Sunrise Is Way Too Early To Be Crying For The USWNT

Caitlin Foord of Australia celebrates after scoring her team's first goal with teammates during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Round of 16 match between Australia and Denmark at Stadium Australia on August 7, 2023 in Sydney, Australia.

Root, Root, Root For The Host Team

Kelley O'Hara, Alyssa Thompson, Megan Rapinoe, and Alyssa Naeher of the USA are dejected after their team was defeated in the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Round of 16 match between Sweden and USA at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on August 06, 2023 in Melbourne / Naarm, Australia.

World Cup