Intrigues, suspense, surprise, emotions, pains, disappointment, excitement and more. The FIFA World Cup 2026 has been won and lost. You don’t have to be a football fan to be soaked in the euphoria of the past five weeks, all thanks to the round leather game, the most loved and most popular sport on planet earth.
Except you isolate yourself from the internet, some events command global awareness that must compete for your attention, whether you like it or not. The death of the Pope and the election of another is one. The death and coronation of the British Monarch is another. Like or h@te America, the airwaves will not allow you to ignore the American presidential election.
Of all, the FIFA World Cup attracts the most attention. While the others are the internal affairs of a particular faith and jurisdictions, all countries are eligible to contest for the FIFA WC. Besides, supporters of different teams transcend race, skin colour, geographical boundaries and tongue. Football fans see themselves supporting their football heroes irrespective of the colour of their flag. Indeed, football unites.
I join all football lovers to congratulate Spain for a well deserved victory. To me, it is the triumph of team work. Of course, the Champions of Europe were no pushovers in the just concluded mundial but not many pundits gave them the chance to lift the trophy. Many football lovers drew their sentiments from the teams that fielded their football heroes. It is the beauty of football.
I took some useful life lessons.
📌 With football, I learnt that life is in two halves. If things don’t work the way you planned, there’s always a second chance to make it right. For the late victories and the late losses, I learnt that those who fail can still succeed and those who succeed can still fail except they keep doing the right things consistently.
đź“Ś I learnt that there is no template to success in life. While some keep scoring goals consistently and shattering ceilings, Spain proved to the world that you can stay disciplined to protect your values. If you keep gathering while your house leaks, you will become vulnerable. Spain scored fewer goals but conceded only one goal throughout the tournament. They are the world champions.
đź“Ś I reconfirmed that two can chase a million. The football legends around whom their teams were built were knocked out one after the other. The Spanish team has no superhero whose fans quarrel over that they are the greatest but collectively as one, the Spanish team have proven that they are the greatest in the world for the next four years.
đź“Ś There are superstars but there is no superhuman. The young and agile Spanish team had their eyes on the trophy. They focused on their focus. Their legs communicated with precision. None of them featured in the contest for the highest goal scorer. They got what they came for – the trophy.
đź“Ś Success is not permanent, neither is failure. At the most critical moment, the superheroes of modern day football could not find their wings to fly. They always give their best but their best could not deliver their teams at the most critical moment. Neither of the two world best scored a goal when it mattered the most. They are used to winning but they tasted losses and released their emotions on world stage. They are human after all.
📌 To managers of men and builders of destinies, every team needs a star performer but don’t build all your hopes around individuals. It may work for you some time but it does not work all the time.
The Spanish team has just confirmed the scripture in Ecclesiastes 4:12 – “Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken”. The multiple cord of the youthful Spaniards was too strong to be broken by the squads favoured by pundits to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The European Champions are the World Champions. Congratulations, Spain. Your team spirit inspires me.
©️Akin Oluwadare Jnr.
20 July 2026
