The report says the expanded tournament features 48 teams, 104 matches and 39 days of competition across 16 host cities. That scale makes the local experience impossible to treat as a footnote.
A tournament spread across three countries will not produce one universal reaction. Some communities may remember packed public spaces and new interest in football. Others may focus on disruption, access, transport or whether the event reached people beyond the usual supporter base.
The most important verdict may be whether residents felt included rather than simply surrounded by football.
The invitation goes beyond asking fans to name their favourite game. Residents are being asked to share the atmosphere where they live, the moments that surprised them and the disappointments that shaped their view of the competition.
That approach matters because major tournaments are often remembered through small details: a local celebration, a first match attended, an unexpected connection with visiting supporters or an image that captures the mood of a city.
The report also says residents are being asked whether the World Cup has changed their view of football in their own country. That question reaches beyond the final score and towards participation, identity and the sport’s place in everyday life.
Legacy will be the hardest part to judge immediately. Stadium use, investment, tourism and grassroots engagement will take time to assess. So will the international image left by hosting the tournament across Mexico, Canada and the United States.
Once the final is played, attention will turn from the competition itself to those local verdicts. The next story will be whether the World Cup remains a shared memory-or becomes a lasting part of life in its host cities.