The 2026 FIFA World Cup expanded in size and geography, but the biggest growth came in viral moments. From euphoric supporters to unbothered icons, the tournament became a meme factory long before the final whistle in Los Angeles. Here’s a roundup of the weird and wonderful moments that captured the internet’s imagination.
Japan fans take over Texas
It began with a perfectly deadpan exchange. A local reporter asked two supporters wearing Japan jerseys, “Where are you guys from?” One grinned and replied, “Texas is good, everything is big.” The clip encapsulated the joyful, surreal energy of Japanese fans, who became the tournament’s unofficial MVPs.
They descended on stadiums in sombreros and Mario outfits, were tossed into the air by a sea of Netherlands supporters clutching a Pikachu toy, and line-danced with the Dutch. The costumery alone spawned dozens of threads, but what resonated most was the sheer, unfiltered happiness—proof that football’s biggest stage is still powered by those in the stands.
Commentary chaos and a vibrating bass
Poor Thierry Henry. The French legend was simply trying to provide expert analysis when Alexi Lalas dropped a line no one was ready for. Reacting to the opening ceremony ahead of USA vs Paraguay, Lalas boomed on Fox Sports: “I thought that was awesome. My nether regions are still vibrating from the bass.” Henry’s stunned, thousand-yard stare became an instant meme, a perfect distillation of live television’s unfiltered glory.
A confused dog and a duck with dreams
Not all heroes wear boots. A Brazilian supporter’s dog went viral for its baffled reaction to a referee’s card, its head tilting as if to ask, “Grey card again?” The Spanish audio—“Ay no, tarjeta gris otra vez”—made it even more endearing. Meanwhile, Merlín the duck waddled into hearts in a tiny Mexico jersey. The duck became a folk hero, even meeting Mexico’s president before the co-hosts’ spirited run ended in the last 16. Merlín’s later absence from matches was mourned almost as deeply as the team’s exit.
Witch-doctors and an England curse
Ghanaian spiritualist Nana Kwaku Bonsam claimed to have placed a non-violent curse on Harry Kane ahead of England’s 0-0 draw with his nation. The self-proclaimed “most powerful spiritualist in the world” later insisted he released the England captain, but it didn’t spare the Three Lions from semi-final heartbreak against Argentina. Whether you believe in magic or not, the image of Kane battling invisible forces added a delicious layer of drama.
Beckham unbothered and Haaland’s new title
In the VIP seats, Victoria Beckham’s expressionless face became a canvas for communal projection. Whatever was happening on the pitch, she looked utterly unmoved, and the internet rushed to assign captions. Elsewhere, Erling Haaland earned the crown of “internet’s boyfriend.” Despite Norway’s early exit, the striker’s off-pitch presence—and that Viking row celebration—kept him trending long after his flight home.
With more teams, more games, and more chaos than ever, the 2026 World Cup proved that while titles are won on the field, the tournament’s soul lives in the memes we make along the way.