Bay Area Soccer Fans Celebrate Spain's World Cup Win
The U.S. was out of World Cup contention earlier this month, Mexico — which has a large Bay Area diaspora that showed out in numbers to regional watch parties — even earlier and games haven’t taken place in the Bay Area in weeks, but San Francisco soccer fans still found something to celebrate for the tournament’s finale.
Hundreds took over Thrive City for hours this afternoon to take in a Spain-Argentina match that capped off the biggest World Cup ever – with 48 teams competing in 104 games.
Spain’s win against the defending champions didn’t come until extra time, when Ferran Torres scored the winning goal, bringing the score to 1-0 and sending the watch party into the loudest it had been all afternoon.
The Bay Area was lucky to host six games before the final match, including a knockout game the U.S. prevailed in that riled up chants and some feelings.
That was true of Thrive City’s packed watch party finale. Some watchers noted that the vibe wasn’t as rowdy as other parties, but fans erupted in cheers at all the right moments. The sole counted goal being one of them.
Adrian Coronel, who came down from Santa Rosa, said he was happy either way.
“It was good at the end,” Coronel said. “I mean, I always love a dramatic finish.”
Harsh Parikh, a San Jose resident and fan of Spain, said winning this World Cup would bring back memories of Spain’s last win in 2010.
“We played so well this tournament,” Parikh said. “The vibe [in the Bay Area] has been amazing, and I think it’s really going to kick off in this country now.”
The game drew lifelong fans and some just along for the tournament’s end, many from outside of the Bay Area.
Scarlett Carrillo, a Mexico fan who came to root for Spain, said the World Cup coming to the Bay Area on and off screen brought out even more of the region’s diversity.
“Even though people are from different countries, you have different people from different cultures and countries, and they’re all rooting for either Spain or Argentina. It doesn’t matter if you’re from there or not,” Carrillo, a Napa County resident who’s from Mexico, said.
But while most fans were happy either way, some — not including Carrillo, a Ronaldo fan — were upset that Messi failed to win another World Cup in what could be his last game.
“I grew up watching Messi my whole life. I love Messi, would have loved for him to win another one,” Abdalla Badri said.
The tournament has not been without some snags.
High ticket prices from FIFA and resellers — not a problem at Thrive City’s free event — have caused problems for fans. Tightened travel restrictions from the Trump administration, too, have been an obstacle for some players and officials.
Locally, at least some celebrations have seen violence erupt. Two stabbings and a pair of nonfatal shootings happened in San Jose after Mexico’s win against Ecuador.
Thrive City was tamer. Fans packed the viewing area, with many more waiting outside, and donned their team’s jerseys.
Francisco Abarrio, who attended with his family and watches every Argentina game, said the vibe was still great.
“We didn’t know what to expect was going on here, but definitely it’s the best place to see the World Cup in San Francisco,” said Abarrio, who is visiting from Miami.
“It was a great final,” Coronel said. “What a way to end it.”