FIFA World Cup 2026: Times Square erupts in Argentina colours as fans rally behind Messi and co. before final
New York, July 19
Argentina fans turned New York's Times Square into a sea of blue and white as they rallied behind their team ahead of Sunday's FIFA World Cup 2026 final against Spain.
Supporters clad in Argentina's iconic blue-and-white jerseys filled Times Square with flags, chants and songs in tribute to Lionel Messi, expressing hope that the defending champions will retain the FIFA World Cup title.
The vibrant gathering drew football fans from across the globe, with many stopping to soak in the festive atmosphere, join the celebrations and capture the spectacle on camera.
Defending champions Argentina staged a dramatic comeback to defeat England 2-1 in the semifinal, overturning a first-half deficit. Enzo Fernandez restored parity with the equaliser before Lautaro Martinez struck a stoppage-time winner to send Argentina into the title clash against Spain.
The win over England sent Argentina into the World Cup 2026 final, while England's hopes of reaching their first World Cup final since 1966 came to a heartbreaking end.
Spain, on the other hand, secured a place in the FIFA World Cup final for the first time since their 2010 triumph after defeating France 2-0 with a composed performance.
Lamine Yamal played a key role in the win, winning a penalty after dispossessing Lucas Digne, which Mikel Oyarzabal converted in the 22nd minute to give Spain the lead.
Pedro Porro doubled Spain's advantage after the break following a fine move with Dani Olmo, while France struggled to create clear chances.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Heartbreaking for England—that stoppage-time goal by Martinez must have hurt so much. But I'm honestly torn between Argentina's legacy and Spain's fresh, dynamic style. This World Cup has been full of drama, and I'm just glad we're not having to watch penalty shootouts decide everything. 😅
As an Indian football fan, it's incredible to see how the World Cup unites people—even in Times Square. While we're still dreaming of 2050, watching Messi's Argentina vs. Spain's new generation is a privilege. I just wish India would take notes from Spain's youth development system! 🇮🇳⚽
I was actually in Times Square yesterday! The energy was electric—fans from all over just celebrating football together. That's the magic of the World Cup. Honestly, I hope Spain wins just because Lamine Yamal at 19 is ridiculously talented. But a part of me wants Messi to get one more fairy-tale ending.
Super excited for the final! 🇦🇷 vs 🇪🇸 Both teams play beautiful football—Argentina's grit and Spain's tiki-taka from the past but with more directness now. But please, can the match timing be better for us in India? 2:30 AM finals are tough when you have work the next day. Yet, no complaints—this is football, yaar! ❤️
I'm still not over England's loss—they played so well in the semis! That said, Spain vs Argentina is a mouth
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.