France had the deepest squad in the tournament and played with pragmatic intelligence. Deschamps set them up to defend and counter-attack through Mbappé's devastating pace. They beat Argentina 4-3 in a classic round-of-16 match, then dispatched Uruguay, Belgium, and Croatia. Griezmann, Pogba, and Kanté formed a balanced core. Varane and Umtiti were immovable in defence.

Croatia had played 90 extra minutes across three knockout rounds and were running on fumes. Mandžukić's own goal and a controversial VAR penalty (Griezmann's free-kick, Perišić's handball) gave France a 2-1 half-time lead. Pogba's curling strike and Mbappé's thunderbolt he was 19, the first teenager to score in a final since Pelé made it 4-1. Mandžukić scored at both ends. France 4, Croatia 2. Deschamps joined Zagallo and Beckenbauer as a winner as both player and coach.

VAR, video assistant refereeing, would be used at a World Cup for the first time. Germany arrived as defending champions. France had assembled a young, extraordinarily talented squad, with Mbappé just 19 years old. Iceland, with a population of 330,000, had qualified for their first World Cup. Russia's own team was ranked lowest of any host nation in history.

The first World Cup in Eastern Europe arrived amid geopolitical tension. The Skripal poisoning in England, election interference allegations, and Western diplomatic boycotts of the opening ceremony shaped the pre-tournament atmosphere. The tournament's organisation would be widely praised once play began.

Moscow (two venues), Saint Petersburg, Sochi, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, Volgograd, Rostov-on-Don, Yekaterinburg, Saransk, and Kaliningrad hosted matches. The geographic spread stretched from the Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad to Yekaterinburg in the Urals. Teams were based at dedicated training sites across the country. High-speed rail connected Moscow and Saint Petersburg, but travel to Volga cities required flights.

Russia's $11.6 billion investment was the largest in World Cup history. New airports were built in Rostov-on-Don and Samara. The Moscow metro was expanded. Smaller cities like Saransk and Kaliningrad received infrastructure investment that transformed their connectivity. An estimated 3.4 million spectators attended matches. International perception of Russia shifted during the tournament, with visitors praising hospitality and organisation. Several host cities saw sustained tourism growth in subsequent years.

Kylian Mbappé, 19, became the first teenager since Pelé to score in a World Cup final his pace was from another sport entirely. Luka Modrić won the Golden Ball, his control of tempo and space orchestrating Croatia's run to the final. Harry Kane scored six goals to win the Golden Boot, most from penalties and set pieces. Antoine Griezmann was France's most important player, tireless in pressing and clinical in finishing.

Mbappé's two goals against Argentina in the round of 16 a blur of acceleration that defenders simply could not track announced the next era of football. Modrić and Croatia needed 90 extra minutes across three knockout matches and still reached the final. Germany's group-stage exit as holders shocked the world. South Korea's injury-time goals against Germany in Kazan sealed the defending champions' fate.