Cape Verde's World Cup hangover, Portugal wins without Ronaldo & more: Takeaways from FIFA international window
After the longest-ever international window, USA TODAY Sports takes a look at one item from each continent.
The 2026 FIFA international window saw a variety of intense matches and notable performances across different confederations. Spain staged an impressive comeback against England at Wembley Stadium, while Haiti claimed a victory against Argentina in front of a large crowd. Lionel Messi made his final appearance for Argentina. Despite the busy schedule, good World Cup performances do not guarantee long-term success, as evidenced by Cape Verde's struggle in qualifying for the African Cup of Nations.
The team's young talent could inspire more dual-nationals to choose Cape Verde over other countries.
While the World Cup may not ensure future success, some players continue to make an impact beyond the tournament. Haiti's victory over Argentina, despite the team's struggles, showcased the growth of the Caribbean team. Curacao and Haiti both demonstrated their World Cup qualification was no fluke, as they both won their respective Concacaf Nations League group games.
Costa Rica also performed well, securing an undefeated group stage finish and moving on to the Nations League quarterfinals. Portugal, without its star player Cristiano Ronaldo, still managed to win against Denmark and Norway, suggesting they are not solely reliant on Ronaldo's contributions.
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