Over the last six weeks of the 2026 FIFA World Cup we saw goals aplenty, sensational saves, and unforgettable moments. The sport of soccer won on the pitch, but the internet helped make this tournament immortal.
Long after Spain lifted the World Cup on Sunday, much of what people will remember from this summer won’t be found in any match report. It will live in the viral videos, photos, memes, TikToks, GIFs and moments that bounced across our phones and timelines at the speed of light.
For the first World Cup in history, there were 48 nations, 104 matches, across three countries in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The tournament didn’t just play out inside 16 stadiums across the continent, it unfolded across social media where every celebration, awkward interview, celebrity cameo, and facial expression became fuel for the internet’s insatiable appetite.
FIFA’s TikTok account generated more than 24 billion views during the tournament. Fans created over 20 million World Cup-related videos, and official livestreams like iShowSpeed attracted millions of viewers.
Here are the best viral moments from the 2026 FIFA World Cup:
“Oh no, grey card again“
The Messi Meme that will live forever
The Cucurella Cat
“I cannot speak English, but I am excited!”
New York Giants QB Jameis Winston partakes in Japanese tradition of cleaning up trash
Kylian Mbappe’s slow motion look
The AI-generated Erling Haaland eating video
Korean and Mexico fans uniting together
Norway supporters perform the Viking Row on an NYC subway train
Madonna has Ronaldo and Ronaldinho as her designated drivers
Anna Taylor No Joy
Posh Spice hates soccer
Lamine Yamal can’t pronounce his own name
Merlin the Duck breaks the internert
Erling Haaland leads the Viking Row after defeating Brazil
Dad buys giant World Cup ball
The loyal 100-year-old Messi Fan
Lamine Yamal’s little brother Keyne steals the show
Vozinha reunited with his mother
Erling Haaland takes a souvenir back to Norway
Mexico’s manager forgets we can lip read
The Tartan Army invades Boston
Curacao arrives to their first-ever World Cup in style
The Oranje Army takes over Kansas City
International fans try Texas BBQ for the first time
Mick Jagger after Argentina stunned England
Belgium trolls the United States by doing the Trump Dance
The decision is red card!
Balogun activated the Trump Card
Trump in the VAR room
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The Gianni Infantino Argentina Memes
Zlatan and Thierry Henry show Alexis Lalas how’s it done
Jordan Henderson’s bad night when England beat Mexico
The Messi statue in Argentina you can’t unsee
Canadian fan has instant regret while doing the wave
Lumumba makes it to the World Cup
Ghanaian with doctor curses Harry Kane
Harry Kane’s infamous postgame interview
IShowSpeed cries after Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal are eliminated
England fans sing Wonderwall
USA fans sing Country Roads
Enzo Martinez sends Pau Cubarsi flying in World Cup Final
The Odyssey Joke
