This is a contribution from a Swampscott High School student, as part of the Swampscott Tides Big Blue Student News selection. 

Story by Sasha Fafel

Soccer fans gathered at the Swampscott Town Hall to watch Argentina and Spain face off for the FIFA World Cup final Sunday afternoon. 

The Swampscott Recreation Department began hosting World Cup match screenings this summer in collaboration with the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, Charlotte Daher de Garcia, the department’s director, told the Swampscott Tides.

“The idea came from wanting to create a free, family-friendly community gathering around one of the biggest sporting events in the world,” said Daher de Garcia. “We worked closely with the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism to navigate the FIFA licensing process, and we’re so grateful for their support.”

The town’s World Cup screenings have attracted families and soccer fans from Swampscott and surrounding communities.

Attendees said events like these brought together not only neighbors but also fostered a strong sense of culture and community. Residents from neighboring communities, including Lynn, also made the trip to Swampscott to attend the events. One attendee from Lynn even noted that she’s been to about ten of the screenings.

“The final was a wonderful way to cap it all off,” Daher de Garcia said. “The lawn was filled with so much energy, and it was great to see so many people enjoying the match together.”

Sunday’s match resulted in a championship win for Spain, after tense hours of playing for both teams. Ferran Torres of Spain scored the deciding goal in the 106th minute. The final went to an additional 30 minutes of extra time after no goals were scored during the standard 90 minutes.

The World Cup final took place at New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium).

Before this year’s triumph, Spain’s men’s national football team had won one FIFA World Cup title, defeating the Netherlands in the 2010 final. The team also captured the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) European Championship in 2024.