I watched both the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinal matches live. It couldn't have gotten any better. Two matches, played within 24 hours of each other and yet they felt like they were from two completely different schools of football thinking.

Football has an uncanny way of teaching business lessons. Both games had moments that could have changed the outcome. Both featured talented players, experienced coaches and high-pressure situations. Yet the approaches adopted by the teams were remarkably different, leading to two very different outcomes.

As I watched the matches, I couldn't help drawing parallels with the challenges that MSMEs face every day. Whether it is teamwork, leadership, resilience or strategy, the lessons on the football field often apply just as much in real life.

Semifinal 1: Spain vs France

France's style had been Attack, Attack, Attack and Attack. Four star attackers. Spain on the other hand had a solid defense. A defense that was penetrated just once in the entire tournament. The penalty did give Spain the initial momentum and upper hand but what I felt was that France didn't play as a team. Due credit to Spain, but this match was more of France's undoing themselves rather than the opponent. Individual brilliance doesn't matter if it doesn't serve the team's purpose. France failed to convert because they didn't act like one unit in this match.

If you notice the stats - ball possession, passes were all nearly the same, yet the result was vastly different. That's because one number stood out: 3 saves by Spain. The defense played its part well while the performers didn't.

This is not uncommon in business either. Many MSMEs are built around one or two star performers — a top salesperson, a brilliant founder and a key technical hand. When that individual is on song, everything works. But when pressure mounts and the going gets difficult, if the rest of the team hasn't been built to complement and cover, the whole unit unravels. 

For MSMEs this means:

1. Prodigious talent has to be nurtured but ultimately no one is bigger than the company

2. When the going is tough, all hands have to be on deck

3. Don't simply stick to your role when the team is suffering

Semifinal 2: Argentina vs England

The first 15 to 20 minutes were brutal. I was wondering if they were playing football or rugby. Both teams carried bitterness and it reflected on the field without any apology. Neither ceded any ground.

In the second half, England got a critical breakthrough and scored. Ironically, what they did after scoring this goal led them to their defeat. Yes, they turned ultra-defensive.

This is a mistake I have seen many businesses make. The moment they get ahead with a big  win, close a good quarter, launch a successful product, they shift into protection mode. They stop doing the very things that got them the lead. England had momentum and chose to park it. In business, that is rarely a winning strategy.

The Argentines, desperate to equalize, mounted a series of attacks. The Argentine coach made smart substitutions and kept bringing in fresh energy. This was in direct contrast to England's approach. The equalizer gave more momentum to Argentina and they went on to score the second goal. Only after this did England realize their mistake and started a counter-attack but it was too late by then.

For MSMEs this means:

1. Being defensive in the market against an onslaught will only leave you weaker

2. Learn to create your chances even when there are none

The Leadership Lesson That Stood Out

I am not forgetting Kylian Mbappe's heroics or slighting his efforts, but I personally felt in the second half of the Spain game, he was waiting for chances to be created rather than take control. This was in direct contrast to what Lionel Messi was proactively doing when his team was in trouble against England.

Mbappe waited for the game to come to him. Messi went looking for it. Leadership under pressure is not about position or reputation. It is about who steps up when the team needs it most. On that night, only one of them did.

This distinction matters deeply in business. In most MSMEs I have worked with, the critical differentiator in tough moments is not strategy on paper. It when the leadership steps forward, takes ownership and drives the response. Titles don't lead. People do.

What It All Comes Down To

Winning or losing is decided by the approach you choose. What worked previously may not work now. What is important is the ability to iterate on the spot and take quick decisions on the fly.

For both France and England, it could have been a one-off game but it was the one that sent them off. The same is true in business. A single decision may not define your journey, but the approach you adopt in critical moments often does.

The best businesses, like the best teams, are not necessarily the most talented. They are the most adaptable.