THOUSANDS of football fans turned up at Brentwood in Chaguanas yesterday to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at an event hosted by bmobile/Amplia, transforming the area into a sea of red and blue as supporters proudly wore the colours of the two finalists—Argentina and Spain.
UPBEAT: A Spain supporter shakes his maracas at yesterday’s World Cup finale hosted by bmobile/Amplia at Brentwood, Chaguanas. —Photos: JERMAINE CRUICKSHANK
Among those in attendance were Minister of Public Utilities and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Barry Padarath, Minister of Land and Legal Affairs Saddam Hosein, Minister in the Ministry of Public Utilities Clyde Elder, Minister of the People, Social Development and Family Services Vanadana Mohit, and Shivanna Sam, parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Public Utilities, among others.Long before kick-off crowds began to gather with families, friends and football enthusiasts filling the grounds to be part of what many described as football’s biggest day.While the game would have started slowly, the Spanish fans were vocal at each attempt on goal. Similarly, Argentina fans erupted each time their goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez would have intercepted the ball, keeping the Latin American country in the game. He would go on to set a World Cup final record with 11 saves against Spain.Flags were draped over shoulders, jerseys were worn with pride and strangers found themselves celebrating together. The colours of the competing nations dominated the landscape as hundreds gathered around the giant screen, creating one of the largest public football viewing events, with some joking that the event was more like a fete than a football viewing party.Eventually, when the game was won by 1-0 Spain, the stark contrast between those who supported the winning side and the Argentines could not only be seen, but also be felt.Some Argentina fans were even observed crying as they walked out of the area when the match was over, while Spain’s fans were celebrating the team’s second World Cup trophy (they last won 16 years ago in 2010).See Page 10
