Jubilant Spain fans transformed iconic New York City landmarks into scenes of celebration on Sunday following their nation's World Cup victory. From Times Square to Hudson Yards and Rockefeller Center, supporters clad in red and yellow rejoiced, reveling in what many called a hard-fought but well-deserved championship win.
Cheers of "Go! Go! Espana!" echoed through Manhattan as fans hoisted a replica of the World Cup trophy. "I still can’t quite believe it,'' said Javier Morales, 42, from Madrid, who attended the match outside MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. "Argentina made the match very difficult... But Spain didn’t lose its shape or get desperate. They kept the ball, kept moving Argentina around and waited for the space to come."
The atmosphere in Times Square was electric, with one fan describing the excitement as "insane." Another supporter, Elena Ruiz, 36, of Miami, expressed relief that the tense match concluded, noting, "When you have that much of the ball and still can’t score, you start imagining the worst." She added, "Spain looked like the best team in the tournament, and tonight they proved it."
Meanwhile, Argentinian fans watched with disappointment. Some were seen weeping, contemplating that this could be the final World Cup appearance for their star player, Lionel Messi. "I really thought this was going to be our day. But what can you do?" said Santiago Ferreyra, 34, from Buenos Aires, who was outside the stadium. He described the loss as "brutal" but expressed pride in his team's fight.
Matias Benitez, 29, of Astoria, Queens, echoed this sentiment, stating that despite the loss, he was proud of the team's "heart." He lamented, "One break the other way, and maybe we’re talking about extra time."
The game drew fans from across the globe to the New York metropolitan area. Fernando Serlnanga mentioned flying from Argentina the day before the final, with tickets costing $9,000 per person. Santiago Gutiérrez Marín, adorned in face paint, spoke of the unparalleled excitement of watching his country in the World Cup final. Argentinian fans Andres Garin and Hector Espinosa detailed their extensive travel across the U.S. to follow their team throughout the tournament.