Why The World Cup Has Been So Successful And So Much Fun

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 30: Kylian Mbappe #10 of France celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between France and Sweden at New York New Jersey Stadium on June 30, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

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There is no exact formula to produce a successful FIFA World Cup.

The 2026 tournament is far from finished, and the final chapter has yet to be written, but the competition has taken it up a notch with dramatic confrontations and finishes, enthusiastic crowds in virtual sellouts.

We have not forgotten the off-the-pitch headaches, such as exorbitant ticket prices, huge transportation costs (particularly in New York/ New Jersey), and U.S. government regulations and the headaches of securing visas.

Here are some reasons why this World Cup has been a hit:

Host teams are winning

There’s nothing like keeping the natives involved and cheering on for their favorite sides.

The U.S. Men's National Team has recorded three victories in a World Cup for the first time and has also won its first knockout match in almost a generation (2002), with a Round of 16 match with Belgium looming in Seattle on July 6. The Americans have done it with flair, aggressiveness, a focused mentality, and resilience.

As expected, Mexico ran the table in the group stage with three consecutive victories, booking a Round of 16 meeting with England at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on July 5.

Canada won its first World Cup match, playing on home soil. Even though they finished second in Group B, the Canadians must play the rest of the tournament on U.S. soil. They will meet Morocco in the Round of 16 in Houston on July 4.

The stars come at night and in the daytime

To have a successful World Cup, you need the best players to excel. The soccer gods have smiled on the U.S., Mexico and Canada as Argentina's Lionel Messi, France's Kylian Mbappe, England's Harry Kane and Norway's Erling Haaland have scored multiple times for their respective sides. Through Thursday afternoon matches, Messi and Mbappe lead everyone with six goals apiece. Kane and Haaland have tallied five goals apiece. Brazil's Vinicius Junior and France's Ousmane Dembele are next with four goals each.

Plenty of late dramatic wins

Especially in the knockout round. It seems that every game has its own unique scenario and theatrics.

Here is just a smattering of memorable matches in the Round of 32:

* Stephen Eustaquio scoring two minutes into second-half stoppage time to boost Canada over South Africa.

* Brazil overcoming a solid Japan side with a goal by Gabriel Martinelli five minutes into second-half stoppage time to win, 2-1, and move on.

* Paraguay sending four-time champion Germany packing, winning in the penalty-kick shootout.

* Harry Kane living up to his reputation and then some by connecting for a late goal in a 2-1 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo.

* Erling Haaland knocking home a goal in the 86th minute to snap a 1-1 tie and lift Norway to a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast.

* Gonçalo Ramos scoring in stoppage time to lift Portugal over Croatia, 2-1. A controversial offsides call denied the Croatians of a late equalizer.

* Belgium rallying for two late goals in regulation against Senegal before it won on a controversial penalty kick deep into extra time.

* And then there was the drama and controversy surrounding the red card of U.S.'s leading striker Folarin Balogun in the 64th minute. The Americans not only kept their composure but scored in the 82nd minute to walk out of Levi's Stadium with a 2-0 victory.

Almost full houses

The World Cup is expected to reach seven million spectators when it is all said and done after the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Despite high ticket prices and hot and humid weather, the tournament eclipsed five million fans for France's 3-0 victory over Sweden at MetLife on June 30.

This World Cup smashed the attendance record of 3,587,538, which was set during USA '94.

No doubt ticket prices have gone through the roof, but crowds have been at capacity or close to sellouts at just about every match. The tournament has averaged 64,511 fans for an occupancy rate of 99.7%, through its first 78 games, according to the Sports Business Journal.

Through June 28, 44 matches were sellouts. The lowest capacity was 97.34 percent (62,764 of 64,478 seats) for the Saudi Arabia-Uruguay match in Miami on June 15, according to the Sports Business Journal.

Soaring TV Ratings

Plenty of people are watching.

A record 24.429 million people watched the U.S.'s 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 on Wednesday night. It was the most-watched soccer telecast in U.S. English-language history. Its peak audience was 31.883 viewers, from 9:45-10 p.m. ET, the final 15 minutes of the game.

On Tuesday, the Mexico-Ecuador drew 10.430 million viewers, the second-most non-U.S. Men’s National Team telecast, according to FOX Sports.

Entertaining, enthusiastic visiting fans

Visiting fans sometimes have stolen the show and headlines with their conduct and enthusiasm through the competition. Whether it was a march to the game, invading or taking over Times Square in New York City by the dozens or hundreds, or the Scottish supporters drinking Boston dry, some of the most entertaining and unforgettable moments came well off the pitch.

Scotland fans had to go home early because their team was eliminated in the group stage, even though they seemed to be having the most fun. Boston ran out of beer during the Tartan Army’s stay.

During and after games, Norway's fans performed the Row With Me routine, which the team recreated after the final whistle.

And Japanese supporters have continued their tradition of cleaning up after themselves at stadiums. That is a lesson to be learned by everyone.

Cinderella men

Every World Cup needs a team that comes out of nowhere to entrance fans. Cape Verde has played that role and then some. The tiny island off the west coast of Africa did not win a game in the group stage, but it didn’t lose one, either. The team recorded three draws (including a scoreless draw against favorite Spain), while conceding only two goals, thanks to a stalwart backline, team defense and 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha. Cape Verde, which finished second in Group H, is unlikely to get past defending champion Argentina and Lionel Messi. But then again, who thought Cape Verde would get this far in the competition?

Michael Lewis, the sixth recipient of the Clay Berling Media Career of Excellence Award in 2025, can be followed on X (formerly Twitter) and Bluesky at @Soccerwriter. His 10th soccer book, Around the World Cup in 40 Years: An American sportswriter’s perspective, has been published.