Was this the best world cup ever?

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I think so. Least that I have seen.
 
It delivered much more in terms of entertainment than the other 5 world cups I have seen.
 
Group stages were quite good, last 16 was poor, quarterfinals were great, semifinals were dreadful, final was the best ever.
 
Yes.

Entertainment levels through the roof. I'm still coming down from the high of that final
 
Nah. Recency bias.

France 98 for me. (Of the ones I’ve viewed)

Best final probably, yes.
 
Definitely of my lifetime (Since WC94).

That final was like the cherry on top. By far the best world cup final I've ever seen. I'm not French or Argentinian but I have no voice right now. Incredible.
 
I'd say it's the best since 86. This was probably more entertaining but that had more quality.
 
Leaving aside all the non-football stuff, it was easily the most entertaining World Cup of the 7 I can remember. With by far the best final.
 
The best? Probably not.

Only counting post 1970 world cups I say 1982/1986/1970 were better.

But the definitive top 3 notwithstanding it's up there.
 
Maybe the most narratives ever.

I'm not shitting on the tournament the football has been decent but there was no all time great side here.
 
Easily. Anyone that says 82/86 is just old and has brain fog.
 
Best final obviously but 2018, 2006, 1998 were all better world cups. 2006 in particular, all the big nations faced each other round after round, it was epic.
 
Very little frightful behaviour over the month that I’ve seen or read about during the tournament. A fitting final, with a great side story of Morrocco and Croatia in the semis.

What's not to like.
 
It's certainly the best since 86. Hard to judge before that. 82 in particular was excellent. In terms of goals 54 looked really fun even if quite tactically undisciplined, and 70 also stands out as a brilliant World Cup. It's right up there though. The other WCs of this century are nowhere near.
 
Not old enough to remember '02 but easily the best in the past 5 editions.
 
Maybe the most narratives ever.

I'm not shitting on the tournament the football has been decent but there was no all time great side here.

This for me. France 98 had (kind of) peak Zidane, peak Ronaldo, peak Batistuta, peak Rivaldo, a still great Laudrup, and the whole french team was just packed with legends. Also Del Piero, Vieri, Maldini, Suker, to name a few other greats
 
It’s been ok, the final was entertaining for the last 10 mins of normal time onwards, but the tournament as a whole doesn’t stick out to me anymore than the others
 
Don't know if it was the best but in germs of exciting results and final, it has to be up there. Which is a bit unfortunategiven.the circumstances
 
For me just behind 82 and 86 and above 98. 98 had a dreadful quarterfinal in France vs Italy.
 
I honestly haven't got into it until the 80th minute of the final (which was insane). I found the football meh overall and there were no proper great teams — the most memorable thing of this WC would be Morocco, probably, but even they haven't properly captured my imagination.

It's been decent and far from poor but the best ever? When the emotions of the final (which was the best ever) settle, I doubt that people will agree on it — I certainly wouldn't.
 
Not sure about World Cup but final was the best or one of the best. 1986 final Argentina-Germany (3:2) is very close.
 
No. Might be personal nostalgia but 94 was better (except for the final) and 2006 is probably always going to be my personal favourite.

The final was probably the best ever though.
 
100% the best final I've seen and I don't recall a better group stage than this one. Not sure about best tournament though, 1998 is probably my number one and 2006 I really enjoyed too.
 
I have really fond memories of 1998 and rate that higher, but it's been a great world cup.
 
So happy I experienced part of it during the group stages. Best World Cup ever. The final was incredible. Wow. I’m already planning 2026 now.
 
If not for anything else, just putting the Ronaldo vs Messi debate to rest, makes this the best wc in the modern era.

who am I kidding here :-(
 
Amazing tournament all told. Well done, Qatar.

I’d love to hear the feedback from the participating countries once the dust settles. I bet they loved the ‘closetness’ of the tournament - no major travel between games or upheaval from one base to the next should you progress in the competition. It was a masterstroke holding all the games within a 50km radius really but something that probably won’t be replicated ever again.