Two months later, UCSB soccer players reflect on the 2026 World Cup

Two months after the 2026 FIFA World Cup came to an end, UC Santa Barbara soccer players Devin Greer and Owen Beninga reflected on the teams, moments and traditions that stood out to them throughout the tournament.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup took place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, bringing soccer fans from around the world together for the tournament. Greer and Beninga followed the tournament on the road and at home with friends and family. 

Devin Greer, a forward for UCSB’s women’s soccer team and a third-year psychological & brain sciences major, followed the tournament closely and eagerly tuned in for all knockout stage matches. Greer’s commitment to the tournament was evident during her family’s road trip, where they watched the games on their phones. Greer enjoyed the tournament as a whole but did not support a specific nation.

“I was rooting for the underdogs,” she said. 

Greer highlighted the historic run of Cabo Verde, which made its first ever World Cup appearance.

“[Cabo] Verde was such a good story. I really wanted them to go farther, but they got close,” she added. 

The West African island nation caught the attention of soccer fans by reaching the Round of 32, where it faced Argentina in a hard-fought match.

Greer recalled the sensational goal by Cabo Verde’s Sidny Lopes Cabral, who scored to tie the game at 2-2 during extra time. However, Cabo Verde’s tournament came to an end moments later when Argentina scored, giving them a 3-2 victory. 

“That was one of the best goals of the tournament,” she said. “It was really entertaining … that was a crazy game.”

The tournament’s final between Spain and Argentina, played on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, was a disappointment for Greer. The match remained scoreless through regulation before Spain’s Ferran Torres scored the winning goal in the 106th minute of extra time.

“Man, I just wasted my time. It was so boring,” she added.

During the tournament, Greer also followed Norwegian fan favorite, Erling Haaland. Haaland, who was known for his goal-scoring capabilities, was Greer’s favorite player of the tournament. 

“He’s so entertaining, like personality-wise, and also he’s just really funny, dude,” she said. “His goals are just insane.”

Greer highlighted his effortless style and composure on the pitch, bolting off to score a goal at any moment. 

During the tournament, Norwegian fans celebrated with the Viking row, where supporters sit in lines and row in unison, chanting “ro” to honor Norway’s heritage. This celebration was a tournament favorite and was adopted by many fans in several matches. After it went viral on social media, it caught Greer’s attention. 

“It was funny. I loved the engagement,” she said.

Greer believes that the viral ritual increased viewing among Americans.

“It brought more American fans to soccer,” she said. “Soccer just isn’t ingrained in [American] culture as in other countries; the engagement of all the international fans was really cool,” she added.

Owen Beninga, a goalkeeper for UCSB’s men’s soccer team and a 2nd-year communication major, also followed the tournament this summer.

Eager to follow along, Beninga stayed updated throughout the tournament by watching one to two games daily. 

At home for the summer, he enjoyed the matches with hometown friends and family. 

Beninga supported the United States national team until their elimination in the Round of 16, when Belgium defeated the U.S. 4-1. He remembers the opening match of the U.S. against Paraguay as a showcase of the tournament hosts’ potential. 

“I thought that was a big statement game for the U.S.,” he said. “Showing that we were a good team, and that people shouldn’t doubt us.”

Taking place in Inglewood, California, at SoFi Stadium on June 12, the U.S. began the tournament with a 4-1 victory.

After the United States’ departure, Beninga focused his support on Norway’s national team because of his Norwegian heritage. He highlighted the importance of his Norwegian culture and what the popularity of the Viking row meant to him. 

“Seeing their culture come to the U.S. and get to show it off, I thought that was really cool,” he said.

He added that the Norwegian team surprised him throughout the tournament. Norway reached the quarterfinals for the first time before losing 1-2 in extra time to England.

“I like how far they went and how many goals they were able to score against good teams,” he said. “I thought Norway definitely was the most surprising team.”

Hydration breaks, made mandatory during the 2026 World Cup, were 3-minute breaks that took place midway through each half. Beninga thought this decision was purely profit-focused. 

In the U.S., broadcasting company Fox Sports cut to commercials until June 18, when they switched to a split-screen ad format during the Mexico and South Korea match. However, according to the Los Angeles Times, Fox resumed full-screen ads on June 19 during the U.S. and Australia match.

“I don’t think it was as much for the players as it was to make a little extra money,” he said.

With a new element added to the strategic game of soccer, Beninga believed the breaks had a significant effect on the game.

“Since the game has never been played like that, I think that it added a new level of strategy for coaches,” he said.

Beninga added that this gave coaches a chance to talk to their players before and after halftime, allowing for more feedback and coaching during the game. 

The 2026 World Cup final also featured the tournament’s first-ever halftime show. To celebrate this occasion, the performance was co-headlined by global pop stars Madonna, Shakira, BTS and Justin Bieber. 

Beninga thought that the 11-minute performance allowed artists from different countries to come together, similar to the purpose of the World Cup. 

“I think it’s cool, especially if they take artists from all over the world and put them in a performance together,” he said. 

With the World Cup now in the rearview mirror, Greer and Beninga prepare for their seasons ahead. With UCSB’s men’s and women’s soccer seasons underway, fans can find upcoming home games and ticket information on the UCSB athletics website.