Sunderland's World Cup Show Was Worth More Than Any Advertisement

Sunderland’s World Cup campaign ended with 12 players involved—an achievement the club had never matched before—after Granit Xhaka was the last of the record-breaking contingent to play. Xhaka reached the quarter-finals before Lionel Messi and Argentina ended Sunderland’s run. The article credits the recruitment and progression that brought Sunderland’s players to the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States, surpassing only Premier League champions Arsenal for squad size. Beyond headcount, it highlights moments such as Wilson Isidor’s goal for Haiti, Brian Brobbey’s strikes for the Netherlands, Noah Sadiki vs England, Nilson Angulo’s long-range effort against Manuel Neuer, and Chemsdine Talbi’s run for France.