The 2026 FIFA World Cup is still in its early stages, but it has already delivered unforgettable stories, historic results and some of the biggest surprises of the tournament. If there is one thing that makes a World Cup special, it is its ability to create unexpected moments that remain in the memories of football fans forever.
After only a few days of competition, we have already witnessed impressive scorelines, heroic performances and results that nobody saw coming. In this article, we look back at the best moments of the 2026 World Cup so far.
Germany Win 7-1 Again and Revive One of Football’s Most Famous Stories
One of the most curious moments of this early World Cup stage came in Germany’s 7-1 victory over Curaçao. The heavy win itself was not particularly surprising, but the scoreline immediately caught the attention of football fans around the world.
The reason? It was exactly the same score as the historic Germany 7-1 Brazil semi-final at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, one of the most iconic matches in the history of the tournament. Twelve years later, Germany has replicated that famous result and once again put the scoreline of 7-1 back in football headlines across the globe.
Cape Verde Capture Hearts Against Powerful Spain
If Germany provided the most historic moment so far, Cape Verde delivered the biggest surprise of the tournament.
On Monday, the Cape Verde national team faced Spain, widely considered by many experts to be one of the favourites to win the 2026 World Cup. With stars such as Lamine Yamal in their squad, Spain entered the match as overwhelming favourites, and many expected a comfortable victory.
Nobody told Cape Verde.
For 90 minutes, the African side withstood relentless pressure. Spain dominated possession for almost the entire match and created several scoring opportunities, but they came up against a monumental performance from goalkeeper Vozinha.
Save after save, Vozinha kept Spain out and was deservedly named Player of the Match.
A goalless draw would already have been enough to surprise the football world, but another detail made the performance even more remarkable: despite spending much of the match defending, Cape Verde committed just one foul throughout the entire game.
In a contest that was largely attack versus defence, the African side’s discipline, organisation and tactical awareness earned praise from fans and pundits across the globe.
By the final whistle, Cape Verde had not only secured a valuable point. They had also won the admiration of millions of football supporters and become one of the most popular teams of the tournament so far.
The Biggest Stars Shine Bright
While some national teams have already started to surprise fans, football’s biggest stars also wasted no time making their mark in the opening round of the tournament.
For France, Kylian Mbappé enjoyed a dream start, scoring twice in his country’s victory. Not only did he help Les Bleus begin their campaign on the right foot, but he also moved one step closer to the top of the FIFA World Cup all-time scoring charts.
At just 27 years old, Mbappé continues to build a legacy that could see him recognised as one of the greatest players in World Cup history.
However, the Frenchman’s achievement was soon overshadowed by a historic performance from Lionel Messi. At the age of 38, Argentina’s captain proved once again that he remains decisive on football’s biggest stage, producing a stunning hat-trick in the reigning champions’ opening match.
Those three goals took Messi to 16 FIFA World Cup goals, drawing level with Miroslav Klose as the competition’s all-time leading scorer. It was a memorable moment that further strengthened the legacy of one of the greatest footballers the sport has ever seen.
Another star who lived up to expectations was Erling Haaland. After years of waiting for his first World Cup appearance, the Norwegian striker needed just one match to show the world exactly what he does week after week for his clubs.
Haaland scored twice in Norway’s opening game, confirming his status as one of football’s most lethal finishers. If he maintains this form, he could become one of the leading contenders in the race for the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot.
Another player who made a strong start in the race for the Golden Boot was Harry Kane. England’s captain scored twice in the victory over Croatia and showed from the very first matchday that he remains one of the deadliest strikers in world football. Having already won the Golden Boot at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Kane appears determined to challenge once again for the tournament’s top scorer award.
DR Congo Returns to the World Cup and Makes History Against Portugal
One of the most inspiring stories of this early FIFA World Cup has come from DR Congo. Back on football’s biggest stage after more than half a century away, the Congolese side wrote a historic chapter by scoring the first World Cup goal in the nation’s history.
The achievement became even more significant because of the opposition. The goal came against Portugal, one of the strongest teams in the tournament and led by Cristiano Ronaldo. Despite Portugal’s status as favourites, DR Congo showed character, courage and quality to earn a draw that few had predicted before kick-off.
More than just a result, it was a proud moment for African football. In a World Cup that has already seen Cape Verde surprise Spain and Morocco arrive with high ambitions, DR Congo has also made its mark and demonstrated that African nations are ready to compete with any opponent.
For Congolese supporters, this draw will remain a cherished memory for years to come. And for Africa, it was yet another reminder that the continent continues to grow in strength and prominence on football’s biggest stage.
The World Cup Is Only Just Beginning
If these opening days are anything to go by, we are in for an unforgettable tournament.
We have already witnessed a historic 7-1 victory, one of the biggest surprises of the competition and several results that highlight just how unpredictable football can be. Best of all, we are still only at the beginning of the journey.
Over the coming weeks, we will continue following all the major stories, memorable moments and biggest surprises of the tournament here on the Premier Bet blog.
And what about you? Do you think other teams can still surprise us during this World Cup? Which nation has the potential to become the next sensation of the tournament?
Leave your opinion in the comments section and join the conversation.
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