On a bright Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium in New York, Spain lifted the World Cup trophy for the second time in their history, defeating Argentina 1-0 in extra time. The winning goal came from Ferran Torres in the 113th minute, sending Spanish fans into celebration mode after a tense match that failed to produce much open play. But even those who found the game itself disappointing couldn't deny they had witnessed something unprecedented. From a star-studded half-time show to a visit from the American president, this final had more spectacle than any World Cup before it.
The match itself was tight. Spain had never reached a World Cup final before their 2010 triumph, and this was their second time ever winning the tournament. Argentina, backed by their passionate supporters, pushed hard but couldn't find an equaliser. The single goal proved enough, and Spain's players celebrated by the trophy, though not before some unexpected company joined them on stage.
Before kickoff, actor Tom Cruise gave a dramatic speech during the closing ceremony, and Robbie Williams performed alongside Nicole Scherzinger. But the real show came during halftime. The break was extended to 27 minutes — the longest in World Cup history — to accommodate a Super Bowl-style concert featuring Madonna, BTS, Coldplay, and Shakira. Shakira's song "Dai Dai" had been named the official anthem of the tournament months earlier. Justin Bieber also appeared, playing an acoustic version of "Everything Hallelujah" after receiving what the broadcast described as a pep talk from characters in the TV show Ted Lasso.
Not everyone was impressed. Former England striker Wayne Rooney, watching from the BBC studio, offered a blunt verdict: "I thought it was crap. I thought the performances were bad. The timings were bad. Just let us play football." Fans inside the stadium seemed divided, though the music clearly provided excitement for many.
President Donald Trump attended the match, marking his first appearance at any game throughout the tournament. He arrived by helicopter and took his seat alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino about 20 minutes before kickoff. During the trophy ceremony, Trump helped present medals to both teams. Some reactions were cool — at least one player, Argentina defender Cristian Romero, walked past the president without shaking his hand. Trump lingered briefly near the trophy but left before Spain's players could celebrate fully in front of it.
For Spain, though, none of that mattered. They had done it. They were world champions again, and for the players and fans who had traveled across the Atlantic, this was a moment worth savoring — regardless of what was happening around the pitch.