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367 Comments Spain defender Marc Cucurella has kept his promise to get a tattoo of World Cup-winning coach Luis de la Fuente. Cucurella helped Spain win the World Cup this month as they beat Argentina 1-0 in the final. The 28-year-old, who joined Real Madrid from Chelsea for £52m in June, revealed the tattoo - a portrait of De la Fuente holding the World Cup in front of a number 26 - on social media., external "Promise kept," Cucurella wrote alongside pictures and video of him having the tattoo done. After the final De la Fuente said he expected Cucurella to stick to his word. "I've already told them, 'did you make a mistake?" he joked in his post-match news conference. "They did, but they'll enjoy it. "I'm not so terribly ugly that they will need to put it somewhere nobody can see it. But it makes me laugh and I am proud they keep their promises." Cucurella carried his wife's pyjama top with him as a lucky charm during the World Cup, and recently said he has his trademark long, curly hair so his child can easily keep track of him during matches.

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In a 15-slide post on his personal Instagram account - reposted to Fifa's eight million followers - Infantino addressed "those behind their pens and papers, behind their screens" to affirm his belief that, while they were "busy planting seeds of hate", Fifa was delivering the "greatest event on earth". He said the World Cup "celebrated humanity at its best", adding that the 2026 tournament had "100% safety and security, only joy and happiness". Infantino downplayed several of the tournament's high-profile controversies and hailed the involvement of Iran, who featured at the World Cup despite their ongoing conflict with co-hosts the United States, as a success. He said Fifa "worked tirelessly to unite two countries at war", with Iran entering the country "without incident or conflict". His comments are in stark contradiction to those of Iran's head coach Amir Ghalenoei, who said his team were the "most oppressed" at the World Cup. Infantino's 'time is up' with Fifa - La Liga boss They later also encountered restrictions on their movements as they travelled between their training base and group matches in Los Angeles and Seattle. Such issues were not unique to Iran, with fans from Haiti, Senegal, and Ivory Coast impacted by travel bans imposed by the Trump administration, while Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the US - despite holding a diplomatic passport and a single entry US visa - because of his "association with suspected members of terror organisations". Infantino wrote: "You mentioned the few people denied visas and overlooked the millions who were approved, from all parts of the world. Because football unites the world, and it was impressively demonstrated this summer." Doubling down on the tournament's safety, Infantino said there were "zero incidents, zero violence, just joy, emotions, happiness, unity, and togetherness". However, Fifa is investigating Argentina's actions after players and backroom staff were involved in altercations with Spain's players after losing the World Cup final. It is also investigating allegations of racist abuse towards American social media influencer IShowSpeed, while supporters were arrested at multiple matches - including following England's semi-final against Argentina in Atlanta. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials were also controversially present at World Cup stadiums. Infantino also addressed criticism surrounding the standard of officiating at the tournament, in particular concerns about political interference after USA forward Folarin Balogun was made available for their last-16 tie when his one-match ban was suspended by Fifa - following the intervention of US President Donald Trump. Of the 191 other red cards shown at a men's World Cup, only one other player has escaped a suspension. Infantino, however, argued that such decisions are not out of the ordinary, claiming similar rulings are "routine and widely accepted in some of the biggest leagues worldwide". He added: "It's curious that the same countries employing these practices are the ones criticising." The International Olympic Committee has said it will not investigate Infantino for any possible breaches of political neutrality, stating the complaint levelled by human rights campaign group FairSquare falls outside the jurisdiction of its ethics commission. Infantino's advice to his opponents was "to show some love" and "respect" to a tournament where "people came together as families, as fans, as one". "To everyone who missed our beautiful game, the emotions, the celebrations, the laughter, the crying, the deception and the joy. To all of you who missed watching kids, babies, grandparents and parents come together for the beautiful game... sorry that you were so consumed by hate and criticism that you missed it all," Infantino wrote. "While they celebrated, you were busy planting seeds of hate. Our world needs love, not hate; tolerance, not division; celebration, not mourning. "To those spending their time and energy hating us, please take a moment to reflect, meditate, pray or watch a football match and truly observe the faces, the eyes, the emotions. "Because only our beautiful game can deliver such an extraordinary show, a show where everyone becomes one and reconnects as humans. "I am incredibly proud, as Fifa President, to have contributed, even a little, to this show. It's a great feeling." Sports editorIt may be that Infantino's astonishing outburst reflects a genuine grievance he feels about some of the criticism Fifa has faced over its handling of the World Cup. It appears he does not believe the governing body has received enough credit for organising a tournament that enjoyed record ticket sales, entertained many millions, and successfully delivered a huge security operation, despite the tense geopolitical landscape. It also arguably conveys a high degree of confidence in his position and chances of re-election next year, that he feels he can be so defiant. But for many, turning on his critics in such a fashion, and portraying them as negative, biased and unfair 'haters', risks reinforcing an impression that Fifa is unable or unwilling to handle legitimate scrutiny, and is out of touch. The reality is that a host of controversies made such scrutiny inevitable; the issues related to US visa policies, which undermined claims that it would be the most welcoming tournament ever. The unprecedented costs facing fans. The outcry over Fifa's suspension of Folarin Balogun's ban after lobbying by US President Trump, leading to concerns over political interference (regardless of Fifa's denials). The introduction of innovations such as hydration breaks and a 27 minute long half-time show for the final. And the environmental impact of the biggest and longest World Cup ever. Infantino held a media conference on the eve of the tournament - his first for three years - when he told his critics to "chill & relax". Maybe, if he had conducted another one after the event began or once it ended, he could have addressed some of the issues it raised sooner, and not responded in a way that many will see as further evidence of a siege mentality. When the World Cup finishes, the football continues on BBC Sport

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Winning the World Cup brings many rewards for players... but receiving your own body weight in tomatoes is surely one of the more unusual. That is what Spain midfielders Fabian Ruiz and Gavi were presented with when they returned to their hometown after being part of the Spain squad that triumphed in North America. The pair come from Los Palacios y Villafranca - a town to the south of Seville that has a population lower than 40,000 - and returned there on Wednesday for an official reception at the town hall. Paris St-Germain's Ruiz, who started the final against Argentina, and Barcelona's Gavi wore their gold medals as they were greeted by Los Palacios y Villafranca officials and a large crowd. As part of the occasion to honour their achievement, they both stepped on to weighing scales to establish the quantity of tomatoes they would each be given. Ruiz is to receive 85kg and Gavi 68.5kg in a tradition that local officials say "has become a hallmark of the municipality for honouring its great athletes". Former Spain winger Jesus Navas also attended as he was the first player from Los Palacios y Villafranca to win the World Cup, when he did so in 2010. Navas, the former Manchester City forward, and Ruiz also received the gift of tomatoes after Spain won Euro 2024. The town's sports pavilion is named after Navas and Ruiz and Gavi will now have football fields renamed after them as a tribute to their achievements. "In addition, the town hall will promote the construction of a monument dedicated to the three champions from Los Palacios," said a town council statement., external "In this way, the city council wants to pay permanent tribute to three athletes who represent the pride of an entire town and who, with their sporting and human trajectory, have become role models for several generations of children and young people." Paredes should not be suspended - Spain's Gavi

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Spain midfielder Gavi does not believe Argentina's Leandro Paredes should be suspended for his part in the confrontation following the World Cup final. Argentina players Paredes, Nahuel Molina and Thiago Almada plus assistant coach Roberto Ayala all appeared to be involved in the fracas on the pitch as Spain celebrated their 1-0 win. Paredes seemed to push Spain's Eric Garcia by the throat and unused substitute Gavi tried to intervene but was forced to the ground by Almada. Paredes pushed the Barcelona midfielder to the turf by putting his hand in the Spaniard's face. "I don't think [Paredes] should be suspended," Gavi told El Partidazo de COPE, external. "I understand it's not a good image for children but I think there's also that side to football, which is a bit more physical, more aggressive. "The most logical thing would have been to send him off during the match and that's it. In the end, I think it's all football and it has to be that way." "When the match ended, I saw a scuffle in the middle of the pitch and I went over to stop it from escalating, because that's not who we are," Ayala told Capital Radio in Valencia. "I take responsibility for what I did. My intention was simply to go and separate them, nothing more." It was incorrectly reported on Fifa's commentator information system that Paredes had been sent off by referee Slavko Vincic for pushing Garcia by the throat. Paredes' red card was deleted on the system shortly afterwards and Fifa has confirmed to BBC Sport that no disciplinary action was taken at the time. Argentina's Enzo Fernandez was dismissed during the final, receiving a second yellow card in second-half added time.

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From historic World Cup debuts and emotional first victories, to new stars and the brilliance of legends - relive the defining moments of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

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Midfielder Enzo Fernandez has claimed Argentina represented their nation "in the best possible way" during the World Cup, despite ugly scenes during and after their final loss to Spain. Fernandez was sent off late in normal time for two yellow cards and Spain won 1-0 after extra time on Sunday in New Jersey. His first booking was for showing dissent towards Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic and Fernandez was later dismissed for catching Pau Cubarsi with a challenge that sent the defender cartwheeling in the air. But, in a statement on social media, the Chelsea midfielder did not mention the red card and said: "As time goes by, you realise there is something much bigger than just a result. "For years, this group has represented the team in the best possible way. It teaches that competing isn't just about winning; it's about giving your all for the jersey and never giving up. "It has been a privilege to be part of a group that always stepped up, competed at the highest level, and defended these colours with pride, humility, and commitment." Keeper Martinez may 'step aside' from Argentina Fifa's disciplinary committee has appointed a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor to assess what happened and any player or coach involved could face suspension, while the Argentine Football Association may also be fined. Nahuel Molina, Leandro Paredes, Thiago Almada and assistant coach Roberto Ayala all appeared to be involved, with Paredes pushing Spain's Eric Garcia by the throat. Spain's Gavi tried to intervene, but was forced to the ground by Almada, before Paredes pushed Gavi to the turf by putting his hand in the Spaniard's face. Ayala then looked to be holding Garcia around the throat, before appearing to strike Spain midfielder Dani Olmo. While the match ended with ugly scenes broadcast around the world, questions remain over what happened behind closed doors prior to kick-off. There has been widespread speculation on social media about what was said in the Argentina dressing room before the game, including whether Lionel Messi informed his team-mates that the final would be his last match for the national side. It comes after Argentine television company RLC Noticias posted footage appearing to show Messi urging his team-mates to stay calm on their walk to the tunnel - and "forget about everything else". In the footage, which has not been verified by the BBC, Messi is seen saying: "Let's go, boys, [let's keep] calm people, calm. The main thing is for us to remain calm, boys, that we remain calm. "Let's just concentrate on playing, nothing else - calm, OK? Forget everything else. "Let's just play, let's just concentrate on playing. Let's go." The actions of the Argentina players on the pitch were heavily criticised by former England internationals. Ex-England captain Alan Shearer said: "Paredes threw two or three haymakers into someone's face. He went for them. There is no place or space for that. "We know how much it means to them and we know how much it hurts to lose, but there is a way to lose. Too many times we have seen that from Argentina. The reaction after the final whistle is terrible." Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart added: "The game's done, they can have absolutely no complaints about what happened. Disgusting behaviour." Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni attempted to calm the situation down in his post-match interview. He said: "We are gracious in victory, and we must be gracious in defeat. Today, we are showing that we know how to lose. "We lost the match, and we accept it, but that doesn't mean we stop living or forget everything we did to get here." Argentina, the World Cup winners in 1978, 1986 and 2022, won their first seven matches in North America, beating Algeria, Austria, Jordan, Cape Verde, Egypt, Switzerland and England before losing to Spain. Against Egypt, Argentina were 2-0 down before scoring three late goals to win and in the semi-final with England, the Three Lions led 1-0 until the 85th minute before goals from Fernandez and a Lautaro Martinez header gave them a 2-1 win. Several media outlets in Argentina have suggested the final could be Scaloni's last in charge and called it the end of an era, with talisman Lionel Messi, in tears at the end, unlikely to play at another World Cup. "The pain is immense, and this wound will take time to heal. But I also hold onto all the good things," Messi wrote on social media. However, the team were still greeted by thousands of Argentina fans with an open-top bus parade through the streets of Buenos Aires. Scaloni and 16 of his 26 players returned to the country and were welcomed by a red carpet and military band at Ezeiza International Airport. Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who made 11 saves during the final, was among the players in Argentina, but Messi was one of those who did not make the trip, instead returning to Miami where he plays club football for Inter Miami. Keeper Martinez may 'step aside' from Argentina When the World Cup finishes, the football continues on BBC Sport

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Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martinez says he is considering whether it is "time to step aside" from international football after his side's 1-0 defeat to Spain in the World Cup final. The 33-year-old has won 67 caps for his country and played every minute of Argentina's eight World Cup games, keeping two clean sheets and conceding eight goals. He was a World Cup winner in 2022, also claiming the golden glove award as the tournament's outstanding goalkeeper. "I dreamt we'd win it again, I dreamt of bringing it back to Argentina and making history once more," Martinez wrote in a post on Instagram., external "The truth is, the pain is hard to explain. There are many things to reflect on and how to move forward, and if it's time to step aside. "I'm so sorry, I truly tried my best to help my country and my team-mates." Martinez won the Yashin Trophy, awarded to the world's best goalkeeper at the Ballon d'Or awards, in 2023 and 2024. He has played for Aston Villa since 2020 and has a contract until 2029, but has been linked to a move to Italian side Juventus this summer. Fernandez defends Argentina as Messi questions remain When the World Cup finishes, the football continues on BBC Sport

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In an interview with Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, external, the head of the Spanish league also criticised World Cup hydration breaks, the final's lengthy half-time interval, the postponement of a suspension for United States striker Folarin Balogun, and the future possibility of a 64-team summer tournament. When asked if Infantino should quit, Tebas said: "In my opinion, yes, I think his time is up." However, he stated that the 56-year-old has the support of national federations, and claimed Fifa's election system is "rotten at its core". "There's no opposition candidate, nobody wants to stand just to lose," Tebas said. "He shouldn't stay, but the current state of affairs means he won't leave." The head of Spain's top flight was in the US to see his country win the 2026 World Cup. "These past few days here in America, I've heard many people who are against Infantino, who disagree with what he's doing," Tebas said. "They say it, but then they do nothing. I don't know what's worse, the silence or the complicity, because those who stay silent are perfectly aware of the damage football is suffering." Infantino is expected to be re-elected for a fourth term at Fifa's March congress, although Tebas believes Infantino could have been brought down as a consequence of his involvement in the case around Balogun. The 25-year-old US player escaped a suspension for his side's last-16 tie with Belgium following an intervention from US President Donald Trump. "The suspension of the American player's ban was absolutely serious. They were lucky that Belgium eliminated the USA, because otherwise a case could have arisen that might have cost Infantino his job," Tebas said. "Since Belgium won, they managed to bury the matter. But these things are just the tip of the iceberg." European football's governing body Uefa criticised Fifa's decision at the time, calling it "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable", and the decision was a factor in the organisation's president Aleksander Ceferin not attending the World Cup final. Infantino opened the door to a 64-team global tournament during this year's event, but Tebas argued that "not everything can revolve around the World Cup". "Increasing the number of national teams makes no sense. The football industry isn't just the World Cup," Tebas said. "It's the national competitions that sustain this sport. They are destroying the football industry, which generates tens of thousands of jobs, for an event that lasts 40 days and involves a minority of players. "Are the best players there? Clearly, but they are also in our leagues. We need fewer international matches and more protection for national football, at all levels. They don't realise they are making irresponsible decisions." The governing body said they were brought in as a commitment to player welfare, but critics have pointed to broadcasters using the breaks as a way to cash in with commercials. Meanwhile pop music giants Madonna, BTS, Shakira and Justin Bieber were among the acts to perform in the World Cup final half-time show, which extended the usual 15-minute half-time break to 27 minutes 22 seconds. "Fifa arranges things as it pleases, for what it wants, for its own interests, certainly not for football," said Tebas. "So, if they need a 27-minute half-time break, they'll have it. "Hydration breaks are a lie. We have them in La Liga, but only when it's genuinely hot. "Here, the pitches in Dallas, Los Angeles, Atlanta had air conditioning; I had to put on a jumper in the stands. It was a lie, a break for advertising. "It's proof that we are governed by an institution that does and decides what it wants, when it wants, following only its own interests without considering the rest of football. And in many cases, it acts to the detriment of football." BBC Sport has contacted Fifa for comment. The financial winners and losers from the World Cup Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast

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255 Comments "Thanks world, We'll take it from here." That's the message from Lionel Messi, Son Heung-min, David Beckham and dozens of Major League Soccer players in an advertising campaign urging new football fans created by the World Cup to check out MLS. The slick film showcases World Cup stars who play in the US top flight, inviting fans to join them as the regular season resumes. The league is even offering free tickets to new fans. "The World Cup has now exposed millions of people to Major League Soccer," says MLS executive vice-president Dan Courtemanche, who joined the league in 1995 before a ball was kicked. "We're going to continue to capitalise on that momentum." Could the lasting legacy of this World Cup be the rise of MLS into the band of elite leagues? Major League Soccer is itself a legacy product from the 1994 World Cup, when Fifa mandated the US to establish a professional league as part of its bid to host the tournament. The league started in 1996 with 10 teams and zero purpose-built stadiums. Thirty years later, MLS has 30 clubs and almost as many football-specific stadiums. Despite predictions of empty World Cup seats because of sky-high ticket prices, the stadiums were packed, and broadcast ratings were impressive as football joy spread across the United States - even after the USA were knocked out of the tournament. The US team's loss to Belgium at the last-16 stage delivered the most-watched football game on one network in US history - with more than 33 million watching on Fox. England's last-16 win over Mexico became the most-watched football game in US history with a combined 45 million viewers in English and Spanish watching across Fox and Telemundo. The ratings compare with games in the NFL - what Americans consider football - but are not up to the level of the showpiece Super Bowl. In 2025, the most-watched Super Bowl in history attracted 127.7 million viewers across English and Spanish broadcasts and streaming in the US, although many Americans tune in solely for the half-time show, which was performed by Kendrick Lamar that year. MLS, which has shown strong growth since its first season 30 years ago, aspires to become an elite league on par with Europe's top competitions. "I think we're looked at as the top, one of the top leagues commercially," MLS commissioner Don Garber said at an MLS event to discuss the future of the league and the post-World Cup legacy. "We've cracked that code. Now we've got to crack the rest of it." In some ways, MLS is already up there with the big leagues across the world. There were 45 MLS players represented at the 2026 World Cup - including two in the final for Argentina, Messi and Rodrigo de Paul. MLS has a reputation for being almost a retirement home for superstars - a lucrative place to play for legends like Beckham and Messi after peak careers in Europe. But that reputation is outdated, Courtemanche says, with the average age of new international players in the league now 23.8 years. Though many of them have dreams of playing in Europe after experiencing MLS. MLS is changing its calendar in 2027 to adopt a summer-to-spring season, more aligned with Europe to make it easier for players to move between the leagues. And the competition's leaders are investing in youth development leagues. All MLS teams run youth academies. As LA Galaxy hosted a viewing party for the US victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina on a big screen, dozens of children ignored the match, instead battling it out themselves on three separate pitches, occasionally running to the big screen when the sound of a goal spread through the crowd. These were rare pick-up games in a culture full of highly scheduled children - and the skill level was high. Some of the kids played for MLS youth teams. Eight-year-old Landon - named after US star Landon Donovan - was one of the more skilled, moving from goalkeeper to forward with glee. His mother Jen Wing is a coach and says her children have attended MLS camps and play on travel teams at their home in New Jersey. Landon dreams of being a professional soccer player one day in MLS. "LAFC," he says, referring to his dream team. But critics say MLS will never compete with Europe until it sorts out its "pay-to-play" culture in youth development. At the top level, MLS academies train and develop youth players for free, much like their European counterparts. But to get to that level, where an MLS academy team would notice a teenage player, families typically pay thousands of dollars for private lessons and access to travel teams, a common theme in US sports. MLS officials say the development leagues are constantly evolving and improving when it comes to developing young talent, and that every team has scholarships available to talented players. Commissioner Garber says the league is always improving and is determined to get even better at developing young players so they can deliver "more and more to the men's national team and just be better, bigger, stronger, faster, all those things that give you energy to think of a better future". When it comes to attracting audiences, Messi is the league's biggest draw. But the cult of celebrity runs throughout the league. More than two dozen entertainers and athletes hold ownership stakes in MLS clubs, including Will Ferrell (LAFC), Reese Witherspoon (Nashville SC), Matthew McConaughey (Austin FC) and Magic Johnson (LAFC). Drew Carey was an original Seattle Sounders owner when the club joined MLS in 2009 for a $30m (£22m) expansion fee. The Sounders are now valued at more than $900m (£668m). David Beckham's 2007 LA Galaxy contract included the option to buy an MLS expansion team for $25m. He now owns Inter Miami CF, a club that experts have valued at more than a billion dollars. But as much as the US is experiencing a football frenzy right now, many believe US culture will always prioritise American football. Brian Udovich, whose 12-year-old son Croil plays in an MLS Next Level league in Southern California, says many talented youngsters leave the sport for American football when they become teenagers because of all the fanfare. On Friday nights, American football players get their names up in lights with marching bands and cheerleaders urging them on to glory in giant stadiums. Whereas soccer is typically played on Saturday mornings with mums and dads in folding chairs. "It just means so much more to other cultures than us," Udovich says. Michael Bradley, coach of the New York Red Bulls, says American culture is just different and that the legacy of the World Cup will make association football more prominent. "We don't have the long, storied football history that other countries do. I think for a long time that led to an inferiority complex that maybe football would never really survive in the United States," Bradley told the BBC, adding that now so many more fans in the US feel proud. "I think we can all unequivocally say in 2026, football is not going anywhere." Best goal, best player, best fans - BBC reporters' World Cup awards Messi says 'pain is immense' after losing World Cup final

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Counterfeit football shirts worth over £18m were seized in the UK during the course of the World Cup because of safety concerns. The tournament produced a spike in the sales of fake shirts and kits, but the Fire Service has warned that these items are far more flammable and dangerous than the genuine articles. One raid involved 1,618 fake strips being taken from a warehouse in Birmingham, including replicas of star players such as France's Kylian Mbappe and Norway's Erling Haaland. Detective Sergeant Jamie Kirk, City of London Police, who took part in the operation, told BBC Sport: "I understand why people want to buy these shirts, people love football and the incentive is the lower price - but these shirts, they're not regulated and could be highly flammable. "They have dyes in them which could be harmful to skin, particularly children's skin. While the cost is lower - and that's the attractive part - potential damages to you and the people making them is just far too high." Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service tested the flammability of counterfeit shirts compared with genuine kit and found the fake kits were much more flammable. "It's quite clear that the counterfeit one melted as soon as the burner went on it," said watch manager Dave Jackson, who carried out the test by hanging them two at a time on an iron bar and used blow torches to set them alight. "I really had to try to make the genuine one ignite and melt. "It's extremely dangerous. It's something that can cause horrific injuries to your children. It's just not worth the savings." Kate Caffrey, head of intelligence at the Intellectual Property Office, warned that fake shirts are not regulated. "Counterfeit strips are not subject to health and safety regulations, British Standards [or] EU standards," she told BBC Sport. "We've got evidence that counterfeit goods are made in appalling conditions, so you just don't know what's in them, how they're being made and there's no way of providing any safety reassurances. "Counterfeiting is criminal, these are manufactured and supplied by criminal networks, criminal gangs and they're very adept at targeting markets where there's demand. So the World Cup, the forthcoming Premier League season - they're going to flood the market with fake shirts. "The price of a fake shirt, you don't know what you're funding with that money." Clearly the cost of genuine replica kits is a contributing factor behind the demand for cheap copies. We found several websites where counterfeit shirts were being sold for as little as £12. It can be tempting for parents to turn to an affordable alternative when it can cost up to seven times more for the real thing, with some Premier League official strips starting from £85.

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Rodri's stock at all-time high as he adds to trophy collection When the World Cup finishes, the football continues on BBC Sport

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Almost 3,000 websites have been blocked or seized for illegally streaming World Cup matches, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) has said. Enforcement agencies in America and across South America carried out the action under investigations named "operation offsides" and "operation red card". Ivan J. Arvelo, director of the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (NIPRCC), said unauthorised broadcasting of World Cup matches violated intellectual property rights and "fuels criminal organizations". The DOJ said at the end of last month it had taken down 400 webpages over illegal World Cup streaming. Now hundreds more have been taken down or blocked. "The sustained effort to seize more than a thousand domains dedicated to illegally streaming the World Cup confirms the administration's commitment to intellectual property rights and to the success of the 2026 FIFA World Cup," said the DOJ's assistant attorney general A. Tysen Duva. The enforcement has been largely overseen by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a federal agency that includes the NIPRCC. The illegal streaming of sports often happens through webpages or websites created specifically for the event. Companies and broadcasters have estimated, external the activity costs them billions of dollars a year. Due to its global popularity, football has been found to be pirated at an "industrial scale", according to analysts. The increasing cost of rights deals for matches has resulted in higher prices for fans at home, especially if they choose to pay for multiple services to watch their team play. It has led to some fans turning to illegal streams of big games to avoid such costs. Charles Rivkin, chairman of the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), which aims to combat digital piracy and helped in the police effort, said on Monday that the World Cup was the "kind of global live event that piracy networks move quickly to exploit". The crackdown on illegal streaming was also supported by Fifa, which organises the World Cup, beIN Media Group, NBC Universal, Ultimate Fighting Championship, and Warner Brothers. Much of Fifa's revenue comes from the sale of broadcasting rights to the various global media networks that want to televise matches. The Colombian Attorney General's Office said it had even made several arrests in connection with the operations. Four members of what was referred to as the "cybercriminal group" Los Ciberinfiltrados were arrested for allegedly gaining and distributing access to World Cup games illegally. Another 830 websites in Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil and the Dominican Republic were also taken down. As well as illegal streaming, police in Colombia conducted "nationwide search-and-seizure operations" around counterfeit sports clothing. The DoJ said 11 people in the country has been arrested and convicted for the illegal manufacture and distribution of fake sporting merchandise.

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Fifa's disciplinary committee has appointed a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor to assess what happened after the final whistle at MetLife stadium. Any player or coach involved in the fracas could face suspension, while the Argentine Football Association (AFA) may also be fined. Following their 1-0 defeat on Sunday, members of the Argentina team and backroom staff were involved in altercations with Spain players as they began to celebrate their World Cup success. Nahuel Molina, Leandro Paredes, Thiago Almada and assistant coach Roberto Ayala all appeared to be involved. It was incorrectly reported on Fifa's commentator information system that Paredes had been sent off by referee Slavko Vincic for pushing Spain's Eric Garcia by the throat. Paredes' red card was deleted shortly afterwards and Fifa has confirmed to BBC Sport that no disciplinary action was taken at the time. Argentina had already had one player dismissed, with Enzo Fernandez receiving a second yellow card in second-half stoppage time. As the final whistle blew in New Jersey, a few Argentina players - including Lionel Messi - slumped to the turf. Others stood there motionless as Spain's players raced across the pitch in jubilation. Rodri, who had been substituted in extra-time, ran over from the dugout to join his team-mates. As the Manchester City midfielder went past Molina, the Argentina defender appeared to punch Rodri on the arm or stomach. This was the fuse which ignited the trouble. Rodri confronted Molina, but it was the Argentina player who thrust forward in an aggressive manner. Garcia ran over to back up his team-mate at which point Paredes got involved too, jabbing Garcia in the throat. Unused substitute Gavi tried to intervene, only to be forced to the ground by Almada. Paredes then pushed Gavi to the floor by putting his hand in the Spaniard's face. Ayala then looked to be holding Garcia around the throat. He then appeared to strike Spain midfielder Dani Olmo. "Paredes threw two or three haymakers into someone's face. He went for them," Alan Shearer said on BBC One's coverage. "There is no place or space for that. "We know how much it means to them and we know how much it hurts to lose, but there is a way to lose. Too many times we have seen that from Argentina. The reaction after the final whistle is terrible." Joe Hart added: "The game's done, they can have absolutely no complaints about what happened today. Disgusting behaviour." But Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni, who had attempted to calm the situation, appeared to play down the incidents in his post-match interview. "We are gracious in victory, and we must be gracious in defeat," he said. "Today, we are showing that we know how to lose. "We lost the match, and we accept it, but that doesn't mean we stop living or forget everything we did to get here." Fifa's disciplinary committee has a number of options open to it. By appointing a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor, Fifa will look in more detail at offences rather than just potential violent conduct. There is a greater chance of stronger punishment if players or the national association is charged and found guilty. Article 13 of the disciplinary code covers offensive behaviour and the principles of fair play. The actions of the players and staff could be judged as "violating the basic rules of decent conduct" and "behaving in a way that brings the sport of football and/or Fifa into disrepute". The disciplinary and ethics prosecutor will take into account "both aggravating and mitigating circumstances", and it has the power to enforce a ban globally. Rubiales was banned from all football-related activities for three years in 2023 and lost an appeal to get it overturned. Uruguay striker Luis Suarez was suspended from all football-related activity for four months for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup. It meant the Liverpool player would have missed the first nine games of the Premier League season. But he was transferred to Barcelona during the summer, finally making his debut on 25 October. It is unlikely that Almada, Ayala, Molina and Paredes will face bans as long as this. The AFA, however, has had other issues with the behaviour of its players in recent years. Argentina faced charges related to "offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play" and "misconduct of players and officials" following the 2022 World Cup final. The South Americans beat France on penalties but were criticised for the way they celebrated. Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez made a lewd gesture with his Goalkeeper of the Tournament trophy, before being filmed in the dressing room mocking France star Kylian Mbappe. Argentina were fined £18,300 and no action was taken against any player involved. Following Argentina's 2024 Copa America win, Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez was forced to apologise for a video he posted which referenced the World Cup final win. The French Football Federation said the song was a "racist and discriminatory" chant. Martinez was then banned for two games in 2024 for 'offensive behaviour' in World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia. Martinez had repeated his infamous celebration using a replica Copa America trophy following a 3-0 win over Chile. Four days later, he hit a camera with his gloves as a cameraman approached him on the pitch after a 2-1 defeat by Colombia. At this World Cup, the AFA is already facing a probable fine for the banner held up after the England game. Their players celebrated while holding a cloth which read "Las Malvinas son Argentinas", which translates as "The Falklands are Argentine". In 2014, the AFA was fined £20,000 after its players held up a banner with the same message before a friendly against Slovenia. It is possible that Fifa could issue bans to the players who were holding it: Tottenham's Cristian Romero, former Spurs player Giovani Lo Celso and Manchester United's Lisandro Martínez. After Spain's 2-1 Euro 2024 final win over England, their captain Alvaro Morata and team-mate Rodri were banned for one game by Uefa after they chanted "Gibraltar is Spanish" during their victory celebrations. There is no timescale for Fifa's prosecutor to complete his investigation into Argentina's conduct. On 18 February, Uefa appointed an ethics and disciplinary inspector to look into alleged racist abuse by Gialunca Prestianni to Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr during Real Madrid's 1-0 win against Benfica. It was over two months, on 24 April, before Prestianni was given a six-game ban for homophobic conduct, with three matches suspended for two years. Could Infantino really push through a 64-team World Cup? Victory for football? Spain beat Argentina to win World Cup Sixteen titles in five years - why Spain are a dominant force How to watch the World Cup on the BBC and ITV

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While the Slovenian did travel to Mexico City for the opening game between the co-hosts and South Africa, he snubbed the trip to New Jersey on Sunday after a series of decisions taken by world football's governing body. This was a key factor in Ceferin's decision not to go to the final. "When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined," Uefa said in a statement. Ceferin is also firmly against many other changes driven by Fifa president Gianni Infantino, including half-time shows. They will not be introduced to the Champions League or the European Championship. Pop giants Madonna, BTS, Shakira and Justin Bieber were among the acts to perform in the event, which extended the usual 15-minute half-time break to 27 minutes 22 seconds. After referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the US before the tournament started, Uefa invited the Somali to officiate the Super Cup between Paris St-Germain and Aston Villa on 12 August. The high ticket prices have also proved controversial within Uefa. BBC Sport reported on Friday how Uefa has instructed its VARs not to consider diving under the new mistaken identity protocol, as Fifa has during the World Cup. This led to Switzerland striker Breel Embolo being sent off in the quarter-final defeat to Argentina. Players who cover their mouths in confrontations with opponents will not be shown red cards in Uefa competitions either. The issue of players covering their mouths became high profile in February when Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni raised his shirt while speaking to Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr during a Champions League game. The Argentina international was accused of racist abuse and provisionally banned for one match. Following a Uefa investigation, Prestianni was found guilty of homophobic conduct and banned for six matches - three of which were suspended. The law change for a red card was the brainchild of Fifa president Infantino, who wanted something which would have "a deterrent effect" at the World Cup. Paraguay's Miguel Almiron was the first player to be sent off in his side's World Cup group game against Turkey. Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie then saw red in Ecuador's last-16 exit to co-hosts Mexico. Could Infantino really push through a 64-team World Cup? Best goal, best player, best fans - BBC reporters' World Cup awards Lamine Yamal 'completes football' at 19 as Argentina betray Messi

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363 Comments As Spain captain Rodri lifted the World Cup trophy high into the New Jersey sky, he added another trophy to his already glittering record. A Ballon d'Or, one European title, one Nations League, four Premier League trophies, one Champions League and numerous other domestic triumphs. And now the greatest prize of them all. The Manchester City playmaker has long been revered for his club exploits, but now his stock is at an all-time high as he added world champion to his list of accolades when Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup final on Sunday in New Jersey. Not only did the Spain captain steer his side to a first triumph since 2010 and stitch a second star on the national shirt, but he was also crowned player of the tournament. The 30-year-old becomes only the fourth men's player to win the World Cup, Euros, Champions League and Ballon d'Or, joining legends Gerd Muller, Franz Beckenbauer and Zinedine Zidane. But until recently, this level of success perhaps seemed out of reach for Rodri. After rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in 2024, questions were asked about whether he could ever really return to the heights that saw him clinch the Treble with City in 2023 and claim the Euros with Spain a year later. Such a major injury takes time to recover from and it is only in glimpses during last season that we saw the Rodri of old. Now it seems the Spaniard was simply biding his time, patiently waiting for a full return to fitness in order to peak at the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Rodri's future in Manchester remains uncertain with only one year left on his contract and Real Madrid reportedly coming knocking. It begs the question what next for Spain's conductor? If 19-year-old Lamine Yamal is the flair and creativity of the Spanish team, Rodri is the puppet master. His role in the middle of the park may often go under the radar, but he is the one stringing it all together. Throughout Spain's World Cup campaign he completed 756 passes, the most in a single edition on record since 1966. He featured in all eight of La Roja's matches en route to glory, topping the metrics for touches (910), passes in the opposition half (428), line-breaking passes (122) - including in the final third (76). There are only three instances on record (since 1966) of a player completing 100+ passes in a World Cup final. Brazil's Dunga in 1994 (130), defender Pau Cubarsi (121) and Rodri (101) - both in this year's edition. "Rodri was absolutely outstanding," said Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague. "He is not only the guy who ran the longest in the whole tournament and average per game, the amount of passes he gives to beat defenders, he is at his sharpest, he is at Ballon d'or level. This is Rodri's team." A second Ballon d'Or does not seem out of reach, although he has perhaps not played enough club football to make him the favourite for the individual accolade in a stacked field. Rodri is currently being linked with a move to Real Madrid, where returning manager Jose Mourinho is reportedly very keen on the composure, defensive ability and ball control of the former Atletico and Villarreal midfielder. New City boss Enzo Maresca is unlikely to be interested in letting Rodri go but, with only one year left on his contract, there is naturally a degree of uncertainty about the situation. One thing is for sure, his performance at this World Cup has placed him as a hot property - one that City would surely not want to part with but would also fetch a premium price if they did. Returning from an ACL injury is a notoriously difficult task. Having suffered the injury in September 2024, mere months after Spain's Euros triumph, Rodri missed the rest of that season then featured sporadically last campaign. He made 33 appearances across all competitions for City but suffered a number of injury setbacks and, at times, looked a shadow of the player he was before the injury. Former City boss Pep Guardiola predicted in October last year that we would not see the best of Rodri until the World Cup. And, as has so often been the case, the Catalan was right. "I've gone through a logical process that every football player has to go through after an injury like this," Rodri said after Spain's triumph. "It takes a year to get back to your best fitness level and then one more on top of that to feel like yourself again as the player you were. "You need to be patient, and you need to believe and be confident in yourself." It was a frank conversation with Guardiola, where Rodri told him he needed to stop to get his body right for the World Cup, that changed the trajectory of his recovery and ensured he was back to his best for the summer tournament. "To get where I am today in my current form, I had to be clever," Rodri added. "I had to know when to stop playing and when to carry on when I needed to, and that's part of what you need to do to recover properly. "It's been a very tough time. I just want the new generations to see my example as an opportunity. "When you go down, you can rise again. This is my philosophy for my entire life. "Of course, sometimes things go well, things go wrong, but always the positiveness." Best goal, best player, best fans - BBC reporters' World Cup awards Victory for football? Spain beat Argentina to win World Cup