Sunday evening in New Jersey saw Spain make history, adding a second star to their crimson shirts as they clinched the 2026 FIFA World Cup. But man, those 48 hours leading up to the final? They were absolutely dripping with a “there’s something in the air” vibe for La Roja, setting the stage for an unforgettable triumph.
Rodri’s Big Apple Moment That Felt Like Fate
It all kicked off Friday afternoon in Midtown Manhattan. Spain’s captain, Rodri, was at the massive building hosting both teams’ prematch news conferences, and he just found himself staring out a window in Room 504 of the Javits Center. With its incredible 70-foot-tall, floor-to-ceiling windows, he had a direct view of that mighty Hudson River stretch. We told him that spot was just a couple hundred meters from where Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger famously landed US Airways Flight 1549 after a double engine failure. Every single person saved! Rodri just stood there, jaw practically on the floor, wondering aloud how in the depths of winter, no one had perished. He then crushed our interview with his usual crystal clarity and intense communication. What a treat, right? He got back to Montclair, New Jersey, by road, riding with a police cavalcade escort, feeling like a boss.
From Messi’s Struggles to Madrid’s Celebrations
Meanwhile, the coach, Luis de la Fuente, was doing his own thing, flying high after being fêted by none other than Novak Djokovic and Kevin Hart, and getting a warm greeting from Lionel Messi himself. De la Fuente and two of his closest staff, including director of football and Real Madrid UEFA Champions League winner Aitor Karanka, hit the helipad and flew over to Newark on their way to temporary HQ. It was a whirlwind of high-profile encounters and unique travel for the squad’s leaders. The final itself was wild; Messi, despite his GOAT status, played poorly in the World Cup final, and his magic just couldn’t drag Argentina to back-to-back World Cups. After the final whistle, FIFA even said they’d investigate a players’ clash, can you believe that? The halftime show, though, was epic, with Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, and Shakira headlining. And get this: Real Madrid actually “won” the World Cup with more goals scored than any other club!
Back in Madrid, it was pure pandemonium. Throngs of fans greeted the World Cup champs, and Spain celebrated their triumph with an open-top bus parade that just shut the city down. What a scene! For Messi, the pain from the loss was ‘immense,’ and he’s now on hiatus for his next two Miami games. In other news floating around the tournament, we lost a legend: Kevin Keegan died at 75 after a cancer diagnosis, and Laimer signed a new 3-year deal with Bayern Munich.
Looking ahead, Spain is already the betting favorite to repeat at the 2030 World Cup. Can they pull off another one? After what we just saw, who would bet against them?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by ESPN.
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