Football fans gathered at fan zones, homes and cinemas across the UAE for the FIFA World Cup final, as Spain’s victory sparked celebrations, emotional moments and brought strangers together through their shared love of the sport.
Scenes of celebration and heartbreak unfolded across the UAE on Sunday night as thousands of residents gathered at homes, fan zones and cinemas to watch Spain secure their second FIFA World Cup title with a dramatic 1-0 extra-time win over Argentina.
While some fans shared the excitement with strangers at public viewing areas, others gathered with friends and family, experiencing a tense final that kept football enthusiasts on the edge of their seats.
Three-year-old Nurai became a passionate Spain supporter early in the tournament, inspired by her 14-year-old sister’s love for the team. She stayed awake beyond her bedtime to watch her first-ever World Cup final.
“Her sister is a big Lamine Yamal fan, so she started supporting Spain when the tournament began,” said her mother, Azeeja Aman. “Nurai then began cheering for the ‘red team’, as she called them. She had her Spanish flag ready for every match and stayed up late to watch the games.”
Spain’s triumph marked their second FIFA World Cup title, with Luis de la Fuente’s side completing an unbeaten tournament run and adding the 2026 World Cup crown to their UEFA Euro 2024 success.
Football brings fans together
Spain supporter and KT staff member Laraib Anwer watched the final at Reel Cinemas in Dubai Mall, where she described the atmosphere as unforgettable.
“The entire experience was electric. Everyone was on the edge of their seats throughout the match, and when Spain finally scored, I celebrated with complete strangers. One child, who was a Messi fan, was shouting at the screen in frustration. It felt like there were no language barriers — football brought everyone together,” she said.
The spirit of the game continued even after the final whistle. While travelling home, Anwer’s car broke down on the highway. After struggling to arrange assistance, an Emirati motorist wearing an Argentina jersey stopped to help. He identified that the engine had overheated, shared coolant from his vehicle and stayed with her until her father arrived.
The two briefly discussed the match before the motorist accompanied them part of the journey to ensure they reached home safely.
For many Argentina supporters, however, the night ended with disappointment as their hopes of retaining the World Cup title faded. Dedicated fan Shabeer Chembakassery said he watched the final with more than 20 people, including families and children, at a friend’s home in Nad Al Hammar.
“It was a great experience. Only two or three people were Argentina supporters, while the rest backed Spain after switching from teams such as Portugal, Brazil and France,” he said.
Chembakassery said he was happy to have watched the match with a group of friends. “If I had watched it alone, I would have been extremely disappointed after the defeat. But being with friends helped me move on. It is unfortunate that Argentina couldn’t win. Spain played brilliantly and deserved the title. Still, Messi remains the GOAT (Greatest of All Time), and there is no doubt about that,” he said.
A new love for football
For some UAE residents, the tournament sparked a newfound passion for the sport. Dubai resident Mariah said she was not a football follower before the World Cup but developed a strong appreciation for the game during the tournament.
“I’ve truly fallen in love with football. Throughout the tournament, we visited several venues to experience the atmosphere. I watched the final at McCafferty’s in Dubai, and every location offered an amazing experience, with fans from different countries coming together. The final was thrilling, and being surrounded by passionate supporters made it a memorable event,” she said
She said she would miss the excitement of the tournament. “More than anything, I’m disappointed that it has come to an end. Following the matches became part of our daily routine in recent weeks, and it was such an enjoyable experience. We’ll miss the late nights, the atmosphere and having games to look forward to,” she said.
For many fans, the final whistle represented more than the end of a football match — it marked the conclusion of a shared journey that brought strangers together through their love of the sport. Many are already looking ahead to the next tournament.
