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Central Park hosts massive watch party for World Cup final
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Sports

Central Park hosts massive watch party for World Cup final

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Newswire From a news agency Outcome reported
  • Central Park hosted the world's largest official watch party for the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina.
  • An estimated 50,000 fans gathered in New York's Great Lawn, enjoying live music and food while watching the match on giant screens.
  • Fans from various backgrounds and countries attended, with some traveling from afar to experience the event in Manhattan.

New York's Central Park transformed into a massive celebration for the 2026 World Cup final, drawing an estimated 50,000 fans to its Great Lawn for the planet's largest official watch party. Three giant screens set against the Manhattan skyline provided the backdrop for a day filled with live music, food vendors, and a sea of passionate supporters.

We tried to buy tickets for the match, but it was impossible because they were too expensive.

— Daniel RoureExplaining why he attended the watch party in Central Park instead of the stadium.

The event attracted fans who couldn't secure tickets to the match itself, with many traveling significant distances. Daniel Roure, who traveled from Philadelphia with his son, expressed the difficulty of obtaining match tickets due to high prices. "We tried to buy tickets for the match, but it was impossible because they were too expensive," he told EFE.

Fans from diverse backgrounds and nationalities converged in the park, showcasing their support for either Spain or Argentina, or simply celebrating the global spirit of the tournament. Zuly, from Belize, wore an Argentina jersey, explaining that her passion for the team stems from childhood memories of watching football with her father. "I've been a big fan of Argentina for a long time. I grew up watching football with my dad, who was an Argentina fan, and it stayed with me," she said.

I've been a big fan of Argentina for a long time. I grew up watching football with my dad, who was an Argentina fan, and it stayed with me.

— ZulyExplaining her support for the Argentinian team.

Jerry González, attending with a Colombia jersey, emphasized the inclusive nature of the event, stating, "The final belongs to everyone." His friend, Santiago Pérez, wearing a Mexico jersey, admitted he was rooting for Spain. The celebration extended beyond Central Park, with other official and unofficial viewing locations across the metropolitan area, including Rockefeller Center and Brooklyn Fan Zone.

The final belongs to everyone.

— Jerry GonzálezCommenting on the diverse crowd at the Central Park watch party.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani highlighted the event's social impact, calling it a "once-in-a-generation event" that working-class New Yorkers deserve to experience. While Mamdani planned to watch the final at MetLife Stadium, where U.S. President Donald Trump was expected to present the trophy, the Central Park gathering stood as a testament to the unifying power of football.

This is a once-in-a-generation event, and working-class New Yorkers deserve to experience it, celebrate it, and benefit from it.

— Zohran MamdaniDescribing the social impact of the Central Park watch party.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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