Vancouver bids farewell to FIFA Fan Festival as Spain wins the World Cup

The energy at FIFA Fan Festival in Vancouver was unmatched as Spain defeated Argentina to take home the World Cup. After neither team found the back of the net in the game’s 90 minutes, the match went to extra time, and Spain finally broke through. The victory marks Spain’s second World Cup title, following their 2010 win. But for Argentina supporters, there was disappointment as Lionel Messi fell short in the final FIFA match of his career. “I think all these people came here to watch their idol, Messi, and it’s really sad, but he worked really hard,” one supporter told CityNews. Open Gallery 9 items And for some fans, this match felt like the passing of a torch. Ahead of the final, a viral photo of two players who would later share the field generated plenty of buzz: Lionel Messi bathing a young Lamine Yamal. Yes, those photos you’ve seen are real. More than 18 years ago, a baby named Lamine Yamal and his mom Sheila met Lionel Messi at a UNICEF fundraising photoshoot. Today, their achievements on the pitch inspire millions. Off the pitch, both Messi and Lamine Yamal use their voices… pic.twitter.com/TSoUPDxia2 - UNICEF (@UNICEF) July 16, 2026 The image came from a charity calendar photoshoot after Yamal’s mother won a raffle. Nineteen years later, the two met again on the pitch, this time as stars of the game. Sunday’s match also marked the final live broadcast at the PNE Fan Fest, which opened last month.