The only FIFA World Cup highlights you need to read

The FIFA World Cup 2026 kicked off just over a week ago and, even if you're not a football fan -- sorry, as a Brit I am just compelled to use the correct term for the Beautiful Game! -- you have to love some of the stories emerging from the major tournament that's attracting billions of viewers worldwide.

While some headlines have a faith angle, others simply celebrate friendship, community, and joy. I mention joy not only because of England's rather glorious 4-2 triumph over Croatia Wednesday night, but because there is something delightfully impossible to resist about people having a good time together. Even those of who claim not to care about football can find themselves smiling at crowds singing in the streets, families gathering around televisions, and fans celebrating as though they personally scored the winning goal.

While many media outlets might be providing you with the results and statistics of the matches being played, I couldn't help but think it would be wonderful to also share some of the stories appearing on social media that really lift the spirits, and remind us that even when a team doesn't lift the trophy, tournaments like this leave behind plenty of victories worth celebrating.

Here are just a few of my favorites... so far:

One Scots fan was only able to make it to Boston to watch his beloved team play thanks to the generosity of the Sisters of the Carmelite of the Aged and Infirm. The fan in question decided that these helpful religious needed to get to know his country's football chants, and in the video below, there's something so endearing about watching these sisters chanting "No Scotland, no party!"

You might have seen various videos going around social media with Norway's fervent fans really getting in sync to cheer on their team. The Northern Europeans are taking their role very seriously in spreading cheer and supporting their fellow countrymen, while also giving the world a glimpse of their history. The fans have mastered the Viking Row that they perform not only in the stadium, but as you'll see below, in shopping malls, too!

It was a wonderful sight to see that Scots fans cleaned up after themselves after a night of partying. While around 2,000 supporters had gathered to cheer on their team, with a few drinks being shared over the evening, a Boston city worker arrived to start the tidy up, but the Tartan Army had made sure to do the job themselves.

When Felix Nmecha scored a goal for Germany in their game against Curaçao, the devout Catholic made sure to put Christ at the center of his glory. In a video that has spread online, the midfielder takes his time to place the Crown at Christ's feet, as you can see below:

After that same game, the players from both teams joined together to pray. It was a very public display of faith, one that is becoming more and more visible in the footballing world. As the German goalscorer Felix Nmecha shared: “During the game we are opponents, but after the game we are all Christians. We are all brothers.”

There will no doubt be many more wonderful stories coming from the World Cup, especially if England continues performing as they did last night, and if those new Scottish-adopted Sisters learn their chants! But if you have any personal favorites we'd love to hear about them in the comments.