Boston City Hall plaza was just about ready to explode as the World Cup final went to the second period of extra time.
For more than two hours, a massive crowd had gathered to watch Spain take on Argentina at the city-hosted watch party. Some brought chairs or blankets. Others stood. Many simply sat on the bricks that had been baking in the sun.
Spain played the better game by just about every measure, but had yet to put the ball in the net. Even with Argentina playing a man down after Enzo Fernandez got a second yellow card in stoppage time of the second half.
Dread wound up like a violin string for the Spain fans as the prospect of the match going to penalty kicks started to sink in. Then, finally, Spain found the release it had been looking for all game.
And here what it was like when Spain finally hit the goal they had been looking for all day pic.twitter.com/HBwD2PsKRx
— Esteban Bustillos (@E_Bustillos4) July 20, 2026
Spain’s Ferran Torres hit what ended up being the match-winning goal less than a minute into that second extra period. Argentina would have a furious last few gasps, but couldn’t get past a Spanish defense that had stifled them all day.
When the final whistle blew, the Spanish were World Cup champions for just the second time. And Spain fans gathered for the city’s final World Cup watch party could finally celebrate.
Those fans in red and yellow had all sorts of reasons to cheer on La Roja. Ryan Ridolfo had a Spanish flag, but was more about rooting against Argentina.
“I was rooting for England. Argentina knocked them out,” Ridolfo said. “I’ve had enough of Messi, it’s time for somebody else.”
Musab Seid isn’t Spanish, but is a fan of Spanish pro club Real Madrid and was confident throughout of Spain’s chances.
“Especially after that red card, I [knew] that it was our moment,” Seid said.
After the game, Spain fans were all smiles as they partied in the plaza. There was plenty of Spanish flags waving in the wind. Argentina fans, who just just a few days earlier had their own celebration, would not get to revel in their squad going back-to-back.
Amadeo Casas is from Spain, but now lives in the Boston area. While at at City Hall plaza with his family, he said he’d never seen this many Spain fans in the U.S.
“In Spain, yes, but not here,” he said. “And this is an incredible experience. I’m, like, flying.”
For Casas, Boston was the right place to be during this World Cup.
“It’s been an amazing experience to be honest, to be here in Boston during the World Cup,” he said. “I took my kids to see Norway-Iraq as well, so we were part of the whole events as well and we had a blast. I’m so happy that we were in Boston during the World Cup.”
