New York City's Times Square transformed into a scene of jubilation and chaos Sunday night as thousands of Spain fans celebrated their team's World Cup final victory over Argentina. The iconic landmark became a sea of red and yellow as supporters partied through the night, hours after Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in a nail-biting final played across the Hudson River at MetLife Stadium. Fans were seen singing, dancing, chanting, and waving Spanish flags, with many having attended public watch parties or flocking from across the city to join the festivities.
This celebration stood in stark contrast to the atmosphere just 24 hours prior, when Argentina fans had gathered to anticipate the match. Sunday saw only a handful of dejected Argentina supporters remaining in the area.
Despite the largely jubilant atmosphere, New York police were compelled to make several arrests. A spokesperson for the NYPD indicated that the exact number of arrests was still being processed late Sunday night, but confirmed that individuals were accused of disorderly conduct. Exclusive photos showed some fans being led away in handcuffs, including one wearing a Spanish player's jersey.
While some celebrations were curtailed by arrests, others continued into the early hours of Monday morning, with fans raising replica trophies, blowing horns, and crowd surfing. The Empire State Building was illuminated in red and yellow lights in honor of Spain's triumph. The High Line park in lower Manhattan also saw gatherings of red-clad revelers.
Times Square had served as a central hub for World Cup viewing throughout the tournament, with its numerous electronic billboards offering an accessible option for fans unable to secure expensive tickets to the matches. Some fans, however, did travel from Spain and Argentina, with reports indicating ticket prices reaching as high as $10,000 for the final.
In a separate event at MetLife Stadium, U.S. President Donald Trump made an appearance during Spain's trophy lift ceremony. Trump, who had been present in a stadium suite earlier with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum, joined Infantino on the field after the match. Trump and Infantino presented awards and were on stage as the Spanish team received the World Cup trophy amid falling confetti. Reports indicated audible boos from the crowd when Trump and Infantino made their way onto the pitch. Trump had previously expressed his thoughts on Argentina's star player, Lionel Messi, to Fox News, stating it was "hard to bet against Messi" before the match.