The best feel-good moments at the 2026 World Cup (opens original article in a new tab)

The 2026 World Cup featured heartwarming moments including a young fan's viral story, a duck mascot, Japanese fans' cleanliness tradition, and upsets like Cape Verde's draw with Spain.

• A young Mexico fan wearing a Christmas sweater became a viral sensation and received an official jersey
• A duck named Merlin became an unofficial mascot for Mexico during the World Cup
• Japanese fans continued their tradition of cleaning stadiums after matches
• Cape Verde drew with Spain, with goalkeeper Vozinha becoming a breakout star