‘Argentina needed to lose’: Spanish fans in Toronto excited to see team take home FIFA World Cup 2026 title

‘Argentina needed to lose’: Spanish fans in Toronto excited to see team take home FIFA World Cup 2026 title

Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in overtime in the tournament’s final match at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium

Toronto soccer fans gathered one last time Sunday to cheer on their favourite team and celebrate the FIFA World Cup 2026 winner: Spain.

Argentina and Spain faced off in the final match of the tournament at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium Sunday afternoon. Ultimately, Spain proved victorious with a 1-0 win against Argentina, to the great joy of La Roja supporters in Toronto.

Forward Ferran Torres scored the winning goal in the 106th minute of the match. This is Spain’s second FIFA World Cup title and the team’s first in 16 years.

“It was deserved, Argentina needed to lose, finally,” said Marya Al-Obaiei, who was at the FIFA Fan Festival in Toronto. “We’re really happy.”

Friends Yousif Al-Ovidi and Harit Beroy were standing side by side, supporting opposing teams.

“Argentina lost, I’m kind of sad but [Emiliano] Martinez did amazing today,” Beroy said. “We made it this far, I’m happy for that.”

When asked whether or not the friendship could continue despite this game, Beroy said that’s not something to worry about.

“It’s Toronto, we’re all together at the end of the day,” he told CBC Toronto.

While the city had already closed its chapter as a host, festivities in Toronto continued until the very end. For six weeks, supporters gathered throughout the Greater Toronto Area, biting their nails, holding on to their seats and screaming at televisions of all sizes to take in the captivating world of soccer.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow joined a large crowd of fans one last time at Nathan Phillips Square Sunday.

“There is something about soccer: all can play and all can dream, which is very much like Toronto because everyone is welcome here,” she said. “We have the world right here in this city.”

Toronto was an amazing place to experience this historic tournament, said Deputy Mayor and Coun. Ausma Malik (Spadina-Fort York).

“Toronto, you showed up and you shined,” she said. “We showed the world what we had.”

In a post to social media, Toronto police thanked fans, community partners and officers for their contributions during the World Cup.

“It has been an honour to welcome the world to Toronto, and we'll see you again,” Toronto police said in its post.

Mohaned Almasry, who has been playing soccer since he was a kid, told CBC Toronto Sunday it’s exciting to see Canada officially becoming more of a soccer country.

“People are seeing how the culture for soccer is,” he said. “It's nice seeing this many people watch my sport.”

Spain vs. Argentina: Fans brace for World Cup final showdown

Toronto fans gather one last time to cheer on Argentina and Spain in the World Cup Final

Vanessa Rodris and Vanessa Sese were both cheering for Spain at the FIFA Fan Festival in Toronto Sunday. They say it was exciting to be a part of this momentous time in the city.

“I’m happy Toronto hosted. I’m from Calgary but I came here, I saw it here and I love it,” Rodris said.

“It’s one of the great things about living in Toronto. You get to experience things like this and it brings the community together,” Sese said.

It may be the end of the tournament, but Toronto fans will get to reel in the memories, excitement and even disappointment until the next FIFA World Cup in 2030.

Gabriela Silva Ponte has been with CBC Toronto since January 2025. Currently, she works as a web writer, but has previously taken on a variety of reporting roles in ethnic media newsrooms and at Toronto Metropolitan University. Gabriela graduated from TMU with a Bachelor of Journalism. You can reach her at gabriela.silva.ponte@cbc.ca.