Spain won the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final 1-0 against Argentina after extra time (goal by Ferran Torres in the 106th minute), becoming world champions for the second time (after 2010).

The article reflects on the massive global appeal of the World Cup, attributing it to healthy competition, private sector efficiency, and governments using it for propaganda and national cohesion, while noting FIFA’s enormous profits and the benefits of private ownership in football (e.g., in Europe and MLS).

It contrasts Argentina’s economic struggles (high state intervention, low approval for President Milei) with more successful leaders in the region, suggesting that perceived economic progress matters more to citizens than ideology.

After a campaign for the history of football, in which both teams showed great play, professionalism, courage and resilience, the Spanish national football team triumphed over Argentina and is now World Champion for the second time in its history, the first being in 2010. 

Now, why are the World Cups so popular, in fact, the 2026 World Cup was the biggest event in human history. It is a combination of a healthy passion for sport and the always hated but highly beneficial competition, the efficiency of the private sector and a vicious circle of governments that take advantage of propaganda and promote it.

Many benefit, sponsors, television, the press, shirt sellers, but particularly FIFA that obtains, between cups, net profits of up to USD 13,000 million and that, like the International Olympic Committee, although they are private organizations, due to their business with the States they seem to be corporations that seek to receive as much state funds as possible.

Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski assure, in their book “Soccernomics”, that the only motivation that the........

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