Unlike a lot of this magazine, sports don’t really have best and worst moments. The reality is the best moment for Spain was the worst for Argentina. The only genuinely guilt free moment was probably number one on this list. So here are what we consider to be five sporting moment that defined 2026.
5. Auckland City FC win the A League
Weirdly this one was forgotten the first few times we compiled this list but that is because in two years Auckland FC established an expectation that the Phoenix never did. That they are ready from day one. With the supporters group “The Port” chairing them on Auckland did the impossible on their second time trying. Now hopefully they can go on a generational run as the Breakers did for New Zealand Basketball.
4. Jake Paul gets his jaw broken
There was real debate about putting the All Blacks v Springboks in here, Netball and Sprint Commonwealth Games wins, Lando claiming the title, or the Warriors fandom, but at the end of the day, on a visceral level, was there anything more satisfying than watching a genuine boxer not far removed from his prime dishing out real consequences to one of the Paul Brothers. Yes Jake Paul made millions from it, but he also produced a a whole Netflix event so a global audience could see him take an involuntary nap. This is why we love sports,
3. Football wins at the World Cup
Jake Paul may be a douchebag, but has there ever been a more corrupt cartoonish villain than FIFA President Gianni Infantino? Aside from being the best choice for Brett McEwan’s Halloween Costume, Infantino did everything possible to turn off an audience. From water breaks to Halftime shows. Infantino and America tried to remake the beautiful game into “Soccer”. But the players and fans refused to let it happen! Belgium ended America with Henry and Zlatan the Lion cheering them on. The Tartan Army of Scotland bought the party. And the crescendo to it all was one of Football’s axis of Evil: Argentina (Germany, and Italy are also villains) got played off the park while doing everything possible to amputate a few of the Spanish players. The game proved it is globally bigger than one person, and one person cannot be the voice of football… Unless that one person is Shakira.
2. Knicks in Five
We all have our teams… unless you are one of those “My team is LeBron” losers, but we all managed to put that aside to get caught up in the rush that was Knicks in Five. So many great stories along the way from Jaylen Brunson’s date with destiny or Wemby and the future of the sport to booing a snoring Donald Trump added to the drama. At the end of the day, the Knicks in Five was a moment of unbridled passion and catharsis for fans and non-fans alike. It also had the added bonus of a man meeting the moment, politics aside; Zorhan Mamdani fell like the embodiment of the fans’ journey rather than someone winning votes. The whole experience was brilliant.
- Jai Arrow takes his flowers
When Queensland and Australia forward revealed he was Diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease in May of 2026 it was a shockwave heard around the sporting world and resulted in his immediate retirement. Tributes began to flow in from across the sporting world, including NFL players, footballers, and NBA Stars.
However, Arrow’s retirement was rescinded for one more “Hit Up” in September when the South Sydney Rabbitohs named Arrow for the game against the Roosters to allow him a 100th and Final appearance for Souths. The NRL Administration even allowed Souths to have an extra interchange so Arrow could be subbed off after the kick-off. What followed was the embodiment of everything that is good about Sports. From Arrow being shown in the changing room with his coach and surrogate father figure, 76-year-old Wayne Bennett helping Arrow with his boots to Stand By Me and You’ll Never Walk Alone being sung by the crowd. Even the NRL Final Half Time Tribute couldn’t come close to this genuine and affecting moment.
