Much like the Olympics, every four years, the FIFA World Cup reminds us there is more that connects us than divides us. Forty-eight countries, competing across the United States, Mexico, and Canada make 2026’s match-ups the biggest tournament yet.
Beyond brilliant athletic feats—such as Lionel Messi’s hat trick when facing Algeria—the moments off the pitch have been even more heartwarming. Seeing people from different backgrounds come together for a common purpose is always special.
Here are ten feel-good moments of the World Cup, to put a smile on your face.
Curaçao’s team manager
Right before Curaçao faced Germany, manager Dick Advocaat got teary. One could speculate that the oldest manager ever in the tournament couldn’t contain his love of the game, but there’s so much more going on under the surface.
Curaçao, a small island country located in the southern Caribbean Sea, was making its World Cup debut as the smallest country by population to ever qualify. (Curaçao is a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.) And Advocaat recently returned to his position after resigning to care for his daughter, who was facing serious health issues.
The team made Advocaat even more emotional when they scored their first goal. Although the Blue Wave ultimately lost the game and did not advance past the group stage, sometimes what matters is not whether you win or lose, but simply playing the game.
Japanese fans cleaning up
Japanese fans don’t simply get up and leave after games. They stick around and help clean up. According to the Associated Press, it’s embedded in their culture to do so. It’s a sign of respect to the host stadium and nation. The world could use a little more of that spirit.
Scotland takes over Boston
Scotland’s fans, or the Tartan Army, took over Boston for the group stage. The Bostonians and the Scots got along famously.
The Tartan Army even helped redecorate the city, by placing cones on the heads of historical monuments. (This is a nod to the Duke of Wellington statue in Glasgow, which has had similar headgear since a prank in the ’80s.) Boston’s Mayor Michelle Wu even got in on the action.
The friendship between the city and the Scots is sure to live on long past the games. “We wish we could keep you all forever,” Wu gushed, in a statement of intent to create a sister-city arrangement.
Ranch dressing
Steve Henson created ranch dressing in the early 1950s, but the 2026 World Cup was where many non-Americans experienced it for the first time. This salad dressing, made up of buttermilk, mayonnaise, sour cream, and herbs, is also perfect for dipping: Carrots, French fries, tater tots, and pizza crusts are all elevated by this condiment.
World Cup tourists have been trying to take bottles of it home, and TSA has had to remind several to put it in a checked bag, not a carry-on.
Stacy Stokes, Hidden Valley’s vice president of marketing, told CNN that the solution to this is packing dry seasoning mix packets instead. The company plans to hand them out in host cities to promote international sales.
Texas BBQ
Another American culinary delight discovered by fans is Texas BBQ. This revelation has translated to record profits for the Dallas location of Terry Black’s Barbecue. In the first week of the games alone, the local joint made $2 million in sales. It only took five and a half days to make the next $2 million. The popularity of beef ribs is part of the reason for the large sales figures—the big bones aren’t cheap, but make a great Instagram picture.
Cape Verde’s team mom
The Republic of Cabo Verde is a group of islands located off the western coast of Africa. Their team, known as the Blue Sharks, represents the third-smallest country by population, and the smallest in land area to qualify for the World Cup.
These underdogs faced the powerhouse Spanish team in their first game, and managed to draw, thanks in part to their goalkeeper, Vozinha. In a post-game interview, he lamented that he wished his mom had been able to see him play, but there were issues with her visa.
Thankfully, Cape Verde’s soccer federation, the State Department, FIFA, and American politicians were able to team up and get Ana Candida Evora to the next match against Uruguay. While Cape Verde was eliminated after giving Argentina a run for its money in the round of 32, Vozinha’s mom couldn’t be prouder.
Iran’s thank you card
If you’ve watched the news lately, you know the ongoing war between America and Iran is tense, to say the least. The Iranian team faced major visa and travel restrictions because of this.
Despite the strain, the team left a handwritten thank you note in the Los Angeles locker room after their first game.
“Thank you, Los Angeles, for your hospitality,” it read. “And thank you to every Iranian who gave their heart, voice, and soul for Iran throughout these 180 minutes. May peace, respect, and friendship prevail among all nations.”
Residents of Lawrence, Kansas, love Algeria
The northern African country of Algeria is the largest country on the continent—and it was fully welcomed by the college town of Lawrence, Kansas, where the African team made its home base.
The population of Lawrence is diverse, and there are actually thousands of Algerians living in the larger metropolitan area. Local organizers and the community wanted their guests to feel welcome, so they made signs and social media accounts, and hosted events.
It’s another example of people coming together to welcome strangers, and leaving with new friends.
The Viking row
Norway has a not-so-secret weapon: Its fans perform a synchronized Viking row, to send good energy to their team.
Created by superfan Ole Frøystad, the now-viral row starts out with two drum beats, followed by a large group of fans pretending to row a boat, and saying, “ro” (Norwegian for “row”). This continues, and the pace increases until cheers overtake the practice.
The row is working. For the first time, Norway is heading to the quarterfinals.
What’s next?
The quarterfinals kick off on July 9, with eight teams heading into these high-stakes matches.
France will face Morocco, Spain will play Belgium, Norway will try to stop England, and Argentina will face Switzerland.
Unfortunately, the American team was eliminated by Belgium, so co-hosting the matches will have to be enough this round.