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Fans of Spain’s World Cup soccer team raised their voices, flags and arms in celebration in Winnipeg’s True North Square on Sunday, finally able to pull their fingernails from their teeth.
“Everybody’s super excited now. Our community’s pretty small so it’s nice to see how many people come out and support [the team],” said Alex Tulloch, whose family is from Spain and is part of the Spanish Club of Winnipeg.
It was a moment for which fans had been waiting more than 100 minutes — and 16 years.
Substitute Ferran Torres came off the bench and scored his first goal of the tournament in extra time as Spain edged defending-champion Argentina 1-0 to claim the FIFA World Cup Trophy at New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
The last time Spain won the World Cup was 2010.
Despite it taking late-game heroics by Torres, Tulloch never had her doubts.
“Spain had possession of the ball for most of the game so I knew they’d pull through,” she said.
Fans in Winnipeg celebrate Spain’s goal as they watch the 2026 World Cup final on Sunday in True North Square. (Gavin Axelrod/CBC)
It was domination by Spain, which had 65 per cent of possession and completed 762 accurate passes to Argentina’s 358.
Daniella Scerbo, who was among the more than 100 people watching the big screens in True North Square, wasn’t quite so certain about the outcome.
“Very stressed. My anxiety is like up here right now,” she said, waving her hand well above her head.
Irene Blanc Zoco and Eseemanie Montero are both Spaniards who’ve been in Winnipeg for three years, but only met on Sunday.
World Cup fans Irene Blanc Zoco, left, and Eseemanie Montero were all smiles over Sunday’s result. (Rudi Pawlychyn/CBC)
“We have new family, new friends,” Blanc Zoco said about her newly-expanded community.
She might need to rely on them a little more over the next few days. She’s married to an Argentinian and admitted it’s going to be “a little bit awkward tonight” at home.
Asked who has to sleep on the couch, Blanc Zoco had no hesitation.
“He does, obviously. I’m the champion,” she said, pumping her fist and wearing a Spanish flag as a cape.
Soccer fans watch the World Cup on a big screen outside on Sunday in the plaza at True North Square. (Rudi Pawlychyn/CBC)
Sara Molina was 10 the last time Spain won the World Cup and celebrated in her hometown of Madrid, Spain. Now she lives in Winnipeg, working for the NHL’s Jets and AHL’s Manitoba Moose.
“We’re super excited to be here celebrating in Winnipeg,” she said as other revelers shouted Viva el español around her.
“It was sensational. I’m so proud of being a Spaniard from Madrid.”
Though it had been 16 years since Spain hoisted the trophy, there were signs they were headed back to the top, Molina said, noting they won the UEFA European Championship in 2024.
“We knew the second star was coming,” she said, tugging on her jersey.
Teams that win the FIFA World Cup are permitted to add a star above their crest.
Winnipeg fans of Argentina’s World Cup team had to stand and watch as their team was shut out. (Rudi Pawlychyn/CBC)