Thousands of fans gathered in the Plaza de la Música in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to watch the World Cup final. Ferrán Torres' goal in the 105th minute sparked euphoria.
The shout of 'Champions!' echoed through the night in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The Plaza de la Música turned into a sea of red and yellow when Ferrán Torres, after a pass from Nico Williams, beat the Argentine goalkeeper in the 105th minute of extra time. Thousands of fans who packed the area hours earlier erupted into a celebration that lasted well into the early hours of the morning.
A red tide in the Gran Canaria capital
From 4:00 PM, families and groups of friends occupied every corner of the square. Beach chairs and homemade snacks were the essential gear for a day that promised strong emotions. The mayor of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Carolina Darias, and the sports councillor, Carla Campoamor, also joined in the festive atmosphere. The City Council had set up a giant screen and a fan zone with activities for all audiences.
“We came from Gáldar because we wanted to be surrounded by a lot of people and experience it in a big way,” said the family of Paco Vázquez and Sonia González, who came with their three children with painted faces.
The tension was palpable during the 90 minutes of regulation time and extra time. Every attack from Spain was followed with bated breath. The disallowed goal by Nico Williams in the first half of extra time caused an uproar among the attendees, who chanted “Robbery, robbery!”. But faith did not wane.
The key moment that unleashed madness
In the 105th minute, Ferrán Torres faced the goal and, after a dozen attempts, managed to beat the goalkeeper. The square went wild. The flags of Spain were raised in unison and hugs were exchanged among strangers. “Let’s go, let’s go!” shouted hundreds of voices. The goal calmed the nerves of a fanbase that had experienced the match with intensity.
However, joy had another scare in the 113th minute when a second goal by Ferrán Torres was disallowed for offside. “Another? Are they going to disallow another? If it’s a goal, we would have three by now,” complained some fans. But this time the score was already in their favour and victory was not lost. The Spanish National Team secured their second World Cup star.
“I’m a huge football fan; if Spain wins tonight, tomorrow’s hangover will be massive,” joked Carla González, a 23-year-old who came with her friends from 4:00 PM.
The hot day left some attendees with heatstroke, but nothing dampened the party. The Plaza de la Música became the epicentre of the celebration on the island, with an atmosphere reminiscent of great sporting events of the past.
A pride that unites the entire island
For many fans, the victory had a special taste. Paco and Sonia, from Gáldar, were clear: “We are totally convinced that this World Cup is ours, they played very well and deserve it.” The second star for Spain not only fills the national team with pride but also reinforces the feeling of unity throughout the country.
The night ended with chants of “Champions, champions, oe oe oeeee!” that could be heard in every neighbourhood of the capital. The hangover promises to be historic, as Carla predicted. The Plaza de la Música, a witness to the emotion, will once again be the meeting point when life calls for it.
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