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![\"JOHN](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/4409372_web1_260719_world_cup_winnipeg_12.JPG\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJOHN WOODS \/ FREE PRESS
\nFans of Spain cheer as they watch the World Cup game during a community viewing at True North Square Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was amazing. Spain definitely deserved that,\u201d said Lacap, who had the red and yellow Spanish flag gripped tightly for much of the game.<\/p>\n
Living in Barcelona for a year in 2014 and die hard fan since 2010, the last time Spain won the World Cup, with a huge smile on his face, he kept it humble.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll respect to Lionel Messi and Argentina, they obviously deserved to be at the final. At the end of the day, we\u2019re all winners and it\u2019s just a great came to go and watch.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of the dozens dealing with heat that climbed to 38 C with the humidex, Lacap said Canada\u2019s role as World Cup host and its strong showing on soccer\u2019s world stage have elevated the country to a new level.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it brought a lot of eyes and a lot of new fans to the sport,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Canada had its best showing ever in World Cup 2026<\/a>, as the team logged its first two wins in FIFA history, defeating Qatar 6 \u2013 0 and South Africa 1-0, making it to the knockout round before being eliminated by Morocco 3-0 on July 4.<\/p>\n Vancouver and Toronto hosted a total of 13 games over the course of the tournament, the final of which took place in New Jersey and was watched on the big screen in the heart of Winnipeg\u2019s downtown over the weekend, which Spanish fan Adeebah Osman said was also a celebration of diversity.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re including everybody,\u201d she said of the gathering.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \u201cI just love the energy here,\u201d said friend and fellow Spain fan Nikki Moore.<\/p>\n David Lado, sporting an Argentina jersey, didn\u2019t let his disappointment show after Spain took the lead in Sunday\u2019s final, saying it\u2019s not all about the scoreboard.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the end of the day, people are rooting for separate teams, but we\u2019re all for the same game and I think that\u2019s a beautiful thing.\u201d<\/p>\n Rooting for Spain to honour his Spanish grandfather, Alexis Labra said he\u2019s glad to see favoured Argentina get toppled by an underdog.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been waiting for anybody to beat Argentina for the last few years,\u201d he said, noting while he\u2019s glad two Spanish-speaking teams made the final, \u201cthe better team won.\u201d<\/p>\n He expects the sport to continue to grow in the country, calling Canada\u2019s overall participation \u201cfantastic.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s great for the game in Canada,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t Raouf Elnagar, a life-long Messi fan, said he was adopted by the Spanish fans at Sunday\u2019s event when the conclusion of the match drew near, red and yellow face paint on his cheeks a sharp contrast to the blue-and-white jersey he donned.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJOHN WOODS \/ FREE PRESS
\n\u201cSpanish euphoria\u201d was on full display at True North Square.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n