What comes to mind when you think of the top men’s FIFA World Cup moments?\u00a0<\/p>\n
It could be Diego Maradona carving through England’s defense for the Goal of the Century. Or, a legend like Pele or Lionel Messi raising the trophy up high into the sky. Or something more controversial, like Cristiano Ronaldo’s wink after getting Wayne Rooney sent off.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When the World Cup comes to North America this summer, we’ll be in store for many more moments. It remains to be seen if they’ll make the pantheon of the best.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Leading up to the 2026 World Cup, we’re counting down the most iconic, most controversial, most defining moments in tournament history.<\/p>\n
The World Cup will run from June 11\u2013July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports apps.\u00a0<\/p>\n
[WHEN AND WHERE: <\/strong><\/i>Full Schedule for 2026 FIFA World Cup<\/strong><\/i>]<\/strong><\/i><\/p>\n In 2018, the pressure on Lionel Messi was building. Argentina’s star captain had gone scoreless through two games, including a 3-0 loss to Croatia. He needed to do something against Nigeria. That’s when the Messi magic appeared. \u00a0<\/p>\n Argentina went on to win the game and advance. An unbelievable first touch from Lionel Messi that saved Argentina. And while La<\/i> Albiceleste<\/i> were eliminated by eventual champions France in the round of 16, Messi’s sublime goal was perhaps the best of the tournament.<\/p>\n Vincent Aboubakar made history for Cameroon when he scored a game-winning goal against Brazil in 2022, the first time an African country had defeated the five-time champions in a World Cup setting. The problem was that he was then sent off for excessive celebration.<\/p>\n The Indomitable Lions were still eliminated despite the win, with the Brazilians advancing to the knockout rounds. Nonetheless, it was punishment worth the moment of shirtless joy. It even seemed like the referee felt a bit bad for having to hand out that red card.\u00a0<\/p>\n Trying to shake off around two defenders? You should think about trying this trademark move created by one of the greatest Mexican players to ever live. It was so nice, it’s known throughout the world as the “Cuauhtemi\u00f1a.”<\/p>\n At the 1998 World Cup, Cuauht\u00e9moc Blanco clamped the ball between his feet did his best impression of a kangaroo by hopping between two South Korean defenders. It may not have produced a goal, but the player from el barrio bravo de Tepito<\/i> produced a move that has immediately leaped into the hearts and minds of soccer fans since.\u00a0<\/p>\n Long before he coached the United States men’s national team at the 2014 World Cup, J\u00fcrgen Klinsmann scored a ton of goals for Germany, including this stunner against South Korea.<\/p>\n Klinsmann, who four years earlier had helped his country win the World Cup for the third time, would turn what looked like a routine pass reception with his back to the goal into one of the most memorable goals of USA \u201894 with one swivel of his hips.\u00a0<\/p>\n The U.S. men’s national team hadn’t made a splash at the World Cup in decades \u2013 but that all changed it the USA hosted the 1994 edition. It was thanks to a wonder-goal against Switzerland by the USA star Eric Wynalda.<\/p>\n Wynalda’s unstoppable, curling free kick just before the teams headed to the dressing rooms nearly blew the roof off the Silverdome in suburban Detroit. The match ended 1-1. That point, plus an upset win over Colombia a few days later, was enough to send the USA to the second round, where they took eventual champ Brazil to extra time before losing 1-0.\u00a0<\/p>\n In 2006, Germany legend Philipp Lahm scored one of the best opening goals to a World Cup ever. From a distance, Lahm (wearing a cast on his right arm following a recent injury) curled the ball perfectly into the top corner past Costa Rica keeper Jos\u00e9 Francisco Porras.<\/p>\n Of course, it was even sweeter as the Germans were hosting the tournament with high hopes of winning it all on home soil. The hosts fell in the semifinals but Lahm’s amazing technique and control on this goal in Munich will be one of the tournament’s highlights.<\/p>\n Tim Cahill is arguably Australia’s best men’s soccer player ever and that’s due to his ability to score in big moments at the World Cup. That included this spectacular volley at the 2014 tournament in Brazil, where he showed his technique and ability against the Netherlands.\u00a0<\/p>\n A looping long pass from one side to the Porto Alegre pitch to the other, Cahill one-timed the shot into the net at the perfect angle as the ball kissed the underside of the bar. A stellar goal followed by his trademark fighting-the-corner-flag celebration.<\/p>\n A new rule was introduced in the 1998 World Cup round of 16: Golden Goal. Score in extra time, and it\u2019s over.<\/p>\n Hosts France were deadlocked with Paraguay at 0-0 going into extra time in their round of 16 matchup at Lens. The ball found Laurent Blanc at the edge of the six-yard box, and he buried it to end the match at 1-0. France advanced; Paraguay was eliminated on the spot.<\/p>\n France went on to win it all, but it would be one of the final few countries to benefit from the cruel rule, as it was scrapped altogether six years later.<\/p>\n It didn’t take long for the World Cup to have its first dynasty.<\/p>\n After lifting the trophy on home soil at the second-ever World Cup in 1934, Italy did it again at France 1938, stamping its legacy forever.<\/p>\n Italy might not be the most famous repeat World Cup champions of all time, but it will go down in history as the first.<\/p>\n Archie Gemmill\u2019s wonder goal for Scotland in the 1978 FIFA World Cup would have sent them to the knockout stage if they hadn\u2019t fallen short on goal difference against the Netherlands.<\/p>\n Gemmill had Scottish fans dreaming of an upset against one of the world’s best sides. In the 68th minute, the diminutive midfielder danced away from three Dutch defenders before lobbing a left-footed finish over the keeper Jan Jongbloed. With a two-goal lead, it seemed Scotland would advance.<\/p>\n But it was to no avail as the Dutch scored minutes later, leaving the heartbroken Scots wondering what could have been. Instead, the Netherlands advanced on goal-difference and would go on to make a second consecutive World Cup final appearance.<\/p>\n 25 passes. Nine players. One iconic goal for Argentina.\u00a0<\/p>\n At the 2006 World Cup (the first one in which Lionel Messi appeared), Argentina faced a stern test against Serbia in the group stage. It was one of those games where the underdogs knew they would have to be sharp on defense to keep a far more talented Argentina side at bay.\u00a0<\/p>\n Except it didn’t work that way, and Argentina pounced from the get-go with an early goal in the sixth minute by Maxi Rodriguez. And that’s when the Albiceleste<\/i> magic took over. In the 31st minute, a patient ballet of teamwork that involved a combination of on-target passes led to Hern\u00e1n Crespo looping a ball to early-match substitute Esteban Cambiasso. Goal, Argentina.\u00a0<\/p>\n Four more followed \u2013 including Messi’s first ever at a World Cup. \u00a0But Cambiasso’s strike stood above all that day.\u00a0<\/p>\n One of the toughest groups at the 2022 World Cup featured Germany (four-time champions), Spain (2010 champions), always talented Japan, and feisty Costa Rica. So you knew that this group was going to have some fireworks.\u00a0<\/p>\n That happened on the final matchday. Germany facing Costa Rica and Japan taking on Spain with all four teams having hope of advancing.\u00a0<\/p>\n At halftime of both matches, it seemed like Spain and Germany would advance, while Japan and Costa Rica would go home. But the script was then ripped apart. In the 51st minute of the Japan-Spain game, Kaoru Mitoma chases the ball down \u2014\u2028it looks out.\u2028But he crosses it to\u2028Ao Tanaka, who scores off an improbable angle.\u2028VAR says the ball remained in play by the slimmest of margins.\u2028The goal stands.<\/p>\n Japan topped the group. Spain also advanced. Germany was eliminated despite beating Costa Rica. Joy and heartbreak all around.\u00a0<\/p>\n Soccer is known for its simplicity of rules when compared to other major sports. And one of the most well-known rules is that when you get two yellow cards, that equates to a red card and therefore an automatic dismissal from the game.\u00a0<\/p>\n Which is why an error by England official Graham Poll at the 2006 World Cup was so memorable. Poll had shown Croatia’s Josip \u0160imuni\u0107 two yellow cards in the group-stage finale against Australia, but the player inexplicably stayed on. Only until a third card was shown to \u0160imuni\u0107 that the defender actually left the pitch.<\/p>\n It was the last World Cup game Poll ever worked as he asked not to be considered for future tournaments on account of his unforgettable mistake.<\/p>\n When your nickname is “El Matador,” you better have a killer instinct in front of the net. Luis Hernandez had that and then some as a star striker for Mexico at the 1998 World Cup.\u00a0<\/p>\n By beating South Korea and tying Belgium in their first two group stage games at France \u201898, Mexico appeared well-positioned to progress to the knockout rounds. Still, advancing was not guaranteed. And with the Netherlands looming in their final first-round match, the nerves of El Tri <\/i>fans were, understandably, frayed.<\/p>\n They stayed that way until almost the last kick of the ball. Mexico was losing 2-1 to the Dutch as the contest entered stoppage time. In the other Group E finale being played simultaneously, the Koreans and Belgians were tied. If El Tri <\/i>lost and Belgium managed to score a late winner, they\u2019d advance at Mexico\u2019s expense.<\/p>\n Hernandez, with his trademark flowing blonde hairstyle, wasn\u2019t about to leave anything to chance. Instead of relying on another result, the striker known as “El Matador” pounced on a botched clearance in the box by Dutch center back Jaap Stam and stabbed the ball into the net. The goal pulled Mexico level in the 94th minute. When the final whistle blew moments later, Mexico was en route to the round of 16.<\/p>\n El Salvador was desperate to produce a respectable showing in just its second tournament appearance, having lost all three of their games and failing to score a goal at the 1970 event. But a lack of funding meant they took just 20 players, two short of the roster limit, and were the last team to arrive for competition. Add in an overly aggressive gameplan from young coach Mauricio “Pipo” Rodr\u00edguez, and the result was a 10-1 loss to Hungary in their opener. It remains the most lopsided scoreline in World Cup history.\u00a0<\/p>\n The performance was so humiliating that when ES forward Luis Ram\u00edrez Zapata scored to make it 5-1, some of his teammates implored him to tone down his celebration, lest he make the Hungarians angry. Maybe he did; L\u00e1szl\u00f3 Kiss came off the bench to score a seven-minute hat trick (also a record) and Hungary added two more goals before the final whistle to complete the rout.\u00a0<\/p>\n Bulgaria were considered an afterthought. But one man made sure the world remembered them. At the 1994 World Cup, Hristo Stoichkov couldn’t be stopped. After converting two penalties against Greece, the Barcelona legend scored against Argentina to secure a place in the knockout round.<\/p>\n Then, the magic really started. In the Round of 16, Stoichkov bagged a 6th minute goal, as Bulgaria took down Mexico on penalties. Next came defending champions Germany. Trailing 1-0 in the 75th minute, he and Yordan Letchkov scored three minutes apart for the win.<\/p>\n Stoichkov and Bulgaria would ultimately lose in the semifinals, but it was truly an unforgettable run.<\/p>\n Mexico benefited from some good fortune just to make it to Brazil 2014 \u2014 if not for a late goal by their archrival United States versus Panama, El Tri<\/i> would’ve failed to qualify out of CONCACAF \u2014 but there they were, just moments away from finally reaching the elusive quinto partido<\/i>, or fifth game, at a World Cup.<\/p>\n Then their luck ran out. With just two minutes of the 90 to play, the Dutch made it 1-1 through Wesley Sneijder. Mexico captain Rafa M\u00e1rquez was then whistled for tripping Arjen Robben inside the penalty box deep into second-half stoppage time.<\/p>\n Replays showed that Robben had theatrically embellished the contact, if there was any at all. It wasn’t a penalty.\u00a0<\/p>\n That didn’t matter. VAR was still four years away from its World Cup debut. Without video review, the call on the field stood, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored from the spot, and Mexico were eliminated in the round of 16 for the sixth straight tournament.<\/p>\n At 5-foot-7, Wesley Sneijder was never an imposing figure for the Netherlands. But he knew how to rise in big moments, such as his standout two-goal performance against Brazil in the 2010 World Cup quarterfinals.<\/p>\n The Brazilians were up early on Robinho’s goal in the quarterfinal match, playing about as sound as anyone else in the tournament. But then the Dutch took over. Sneijder first had a deep wide cross that seemingly floated forever and slipped past Brazil keeper Julio Cesar’s punchout before skimming off Felipe Melo\u2019s head and into the net.\u00a0<\/p>\n Then it was the diminutive dynamo who scored again to complete the comeback, sneaking through the penalty area and finding space for an improbable header. Even he couldn’t believe it, grasping his forehead in delight. But it’s the win that kept the Netherlands marching on and eventually reaching the final.\u00a0<\/p>\n Zaire\u2019s qualification for the 1974 World Cup was a watershed moment for the country. They were the first team from sub-Saharan Africa to make it, and just the third from that continent overall.<\/p>\n But what should have been a joyous tournament for Zaire’s players turned sinister. After losing their opener 2-0 to Scotland, the players were informed that they wouldn\u2019t be paid their World Cup bonuses. They intended to boycott their next match, against Yugoslavia, but relented after threats from the country\u2019s president, dictator Mobutu Sese Seko.<\/p>\n Following a 9-0 loss \u2014 tied for the most one-sided scoreline in World Cup history \u2014 Mobutu told the team not to bother coming home if they lost to Brazil by more than four goals. So, down three late in the game, Zaire\u2019s Mwepu Ilunga raced from the defensive wall and booted the ball down the field. He was yellow-carded for time-wasting, but it was worth it: Brazil didn\u2019t score again, and the match finished 3-0. A lackluster but perhaps life-saving performance for a country who are now trying to qualify in 2026 \u2013 this time with hopes of a better outcome.\u00a0<\/p>\n Until the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 11, FOX Sports is counting down the top 100 moments in tournament history. Check back every day for a new moment.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" POPULAR SEARCHES BROWSE BY What comes to mind when you think of the top men’s FIFA World Cup moments?\u00a0 It could be Diego Maradona carving through England’s defense for the Goal of the Century. Or, a legend like Pele or Lionel Messi raising the trophy up high into the sky. Or something more controversial, like […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":3160,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3161","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-soccer"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/play-live.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3161","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/play-live.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/play-live.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/play-live.eu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3161"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/play-live.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3161\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/play-live.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3160"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/play-live.eu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3161"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/play-live.eu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3161"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/play-live.eu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3161"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}