FIFA World Cup 2026: The Show Before the Spectacle
On the eve of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, FIFA transformed New York's Javits Center into a fan park, hosting a celebrity-filled event. Argentina captain Lionel Messi, coach Lionel Scaloni, and Spain coach Luis de la Fuente shared a stage with tennis star Novak Djokovic, NFL legend Tom Brady, and NBA star Kevin Durant, who acted as interviewers. Comedian Kevin Hart and Rio Ferdinand served as masters of ceremony. Messi joked about a famous photo of him bathing a young Lamine Yamal, now a Spain player, and expressed hope Argentina would prevent Yamal from achieving historic success. The most touching moment came when Scaloni warmly embraced his former coaching instructor, de la Fuente. The event highlighted FIFA's focus on entertainment and spectacle, including monetized water breaks and a 30-minute halftime for the final's Super Bowl-style show. Accredited media were denied access to Messi, who skipped the official press conference.
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