Spain captures second FIFA World Cup title as hundreds gather in Wilmington for watch party
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Hundreds of soccer fans gathered at Riverfront Park in Wilmington on Sunday to watch the FIFA World Cup final, turning the downtown waterfront into a celebration of the world’s most popular sport.
Supporters of both Argentina and Spain packed the park to watch the championship match, while fans sporting jerseys from countries including Brazil, Norway and the United States demonstrated the tournament’s global appeal.
“We are fans of all the teams,” one attendee said. “We love USA, but we also love Messi, so we’re here to watch Messi play.”
The free community watch party featured food, soccer activities and a large screen broadcasting the final, allowing fans of all ages to experience one of the world’s biggest sporting events together.
Spain supporter Ruben Alanis said he was impressed to see Wilmington host an event that brought the community together around the World Cup.
“Wilmington is doing a great job trying to get the community together,” Alanis said. “I know a lot of people don’t watch it enough, so this is a good opportunity to get the community together, support the World Cup, and root for whatever country they go for.”
Argentina supporter Ramon Pereira traveled from Fayetteville to cheer on the team, saying watching the World Cup alongside fellow fans makes each tournament memorable.
“I’m blessed because I’ve already seen the first World Cup Argentina won, so I’ve seen every World Cup Argentina has won,” Pereira said.
The match remained scoreless through regulation before Spain broke through late in extra time with the game’s only goal, securing a 1-0 victory and the nation’s second FIFA World Cup title.
As the final whistle sounded, emotions varied throughout the crowd. Some Argentina supporters left disappointed, while Spain fans erupted in celebration.
“Look at the crowd. Some people are leaving, but I’m so thankful that Spain won. Let’s go Spain, let’s go,” Alanis shouted after the match.
“I wanted Messi to win one more before he retired, but Lamine is a great player. I think he is the next prodigy, so congratulations to Spain,” said one fan.
While the result crowned Spain as world champion, many attendees said the event was about more than the final score. Fans from different countries and backgrounds came together in Wilmington to celebrate the game, creating an atmosphere that reflected the international spirit of the World Cup.
