Data Vis Dispatch, July 21: 2026 World Cup champions, wildfire smoke, and humanoid robots

The 2026 World Cup final took place last weekend, with Spain securing their 2nd men's title.

With the tournament now having come to an end, visualizations show the longest goals, analyses of games and players, the journeys of the semi-finalists, team values, and kit base colours. For viewers, the games were accompanied by high costs and controversy surrounding hydration breaks.

While several countries are still battling ongoing wildfires, smoke from wildfires in Canada has covered the skies of many US states. While wildfire smoke is dangerous for the lungs, these fires can rapidly spread uncontrollably.

Turning to U.K. politics, Andy Burnham has become the new prime minister, tasked with addressing immigration and dealing with government spending. Meanwhile, the Texas Senate race is proving expensive, with fundraising being vital.

Maps have been used to visualize animal transport routes, scam centres in Myanmar, and recent Ukrainian strikes in or near Crimea.

And finally, we wrap up this Dispatch with a selection of other interesting topics: humanoid robots and Germany's mechanical engineering industry!