The Zócalo’s FIFA Fan Fest Reports Full House for the Last Match of the 2026 World Cup

ByElba Mónica Bravo

This article by Elba Mónica Bravo originally appeared in the July 19, 2026 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper.

The 23 degrees Celsius, with a heat index of 24, do not stop hundreds of people from staying at the FIFA Fan Festival Zócalo to watch the Spain-Argentina match, the final of the Soccer World Cup. The first fans arrived before six in the morning, having preferred to make their way to the Zócalo rather than stay home, for “the atmosphere” and because “the Zócalo is the Zócalo.”

The Plaza de la Constitución was painted green by the jerseys worn by the diehards of the National team, which did not reach the final, which is why some attendees expressed feeling sadness. Fans also arrived wearing La Roja, of the Spain team, and the blue and white of Argentina.

The sound of trumpets, the “viva México” chants, and even the singing of the National Anthem have been heard at the FIFA Fan Festival of the Zócalo.

Noé, from Naucalpan, said he arrived before six in the morning, that he “feels bad” about the absence of Mexico in the final. For Noé, who maintains that Argentina is a better team than Spain, “it was proven that the best stadium is the Zócalo.”

From Magdalena Mixiuhca came Amed Gómez and Sandra Hernández, dressed in the Cruz Azul jersey, because one has to show off that it is the Liga MX champion.

Also from Naucalpan came Cecilia and José with their son Johan Leonel, who wore the Spain jersey. They said that “living the final in the Zócalo is something historic,” even including the experience of enduring a long line, shoving, and a chaotic entrance to the Zócalo, where access was allowed moments before eleven in the morning.

Fidel Torres, from Gustavo A. Madero, said,

“I love the soccer atmosphere of the Zócalo, I prefer it a thousand times over the stadium.”

The Zócalo Filled Up

The Secretariat of Comprehensive Risk Management and Civil Protection announced that the FIFA Fan Festival Zócalo is full, so it asked fans to go to other soccer festivals to avoid crowding.

The city agency indicated, “the Zócalo has reached its maximum capacity, you can enjoy the final of the FIFA 2026 Soccer World Cup on the screens placed on the surrounding streets or at the soccer festivals.”

People on their own, families, and groups of friends arrived at the Zócalo from before six in the morning. At halftime, the presenters indicated that the Zócalo had reached its maximum capacity.