Fans gathered at Moore Square Park in downtown Raleigh to watch the match, staying on the edge of their seats in the Carolina heat before Spain scored in the second round of extra time.
"Pura Espana. Pura Espana. Espana el mejor equipo del mundo!" Spain fan Manny said after the victory. For longtime supporters, the win was especially meaningful.
"I was 18 years old, I am 34 years old now, I waited 16 years for this moment," said Justin Carrington, a Spain fan. Another supporter described the victory as unforgettable. "But Spain winning the World Cup is probably one of the best feelings that I've ever had in my life. And being here is one of the best experiences that I could have experienced," the fan said.
Throughout the tournament, watch parties brought soccer fans together across the Triangle as interest in the sport continued to grow.
"The World Cup is such a cool thing to see people from all over the world enjoy futbol it's really gotten me into the sport, or should I say soccer," said Noah, a soccer fan who said he had joined the Spain bandwagon and wore a makeshift jersey.
Argentina supporters also turned out for the match, though many were disappointed their team could not repeat its success from four years ago. "I feel like Argentina played very well today and did their best but Spain's defense was so good today," one fan said. Another fan added, "I got to say Spain did really good today."
Despite the disappointment for some supporters, the atmosphere reflected sportsmanship. After one interview, an excited Spain fan took time to comfort an Argentina fan, underscoring what many attendees said was the broader appeal of the event: bringing people together through the sport.