I celebrated Spain's victory over Argentina at a Cork pub — here's what happened

Fans gathered at Deep South in Cork, a popular spot for sports fans, to watch the World Cup final. Picture: Breda Graham.

From the Berwick Fountain in Cork city centre to the streets of Barcelona and the structural ruins of Gaza, football fans across the world celebrated Spain’s World Cup victory over Argentina loudly and proudly on Sunday.

After 90 minutes of looking in anticipation at a 0-0 scoreboard and many attempts from Spain’s strikers, Ferran Torres’ goal during extra time was met with roars of “¡Viva España!”, “¡Vamos España!” and “¡Sí se puede!” from the beer garden of Cork’s Deep South, where the Spanish kit significantly outnumbered Messi’s number 10.

One of the most popular spots in Cork to watch the big games, queues ran from the door of Deep South to Hillbilly’s on Grand Parade from early on Sunday afternoon – the big decision of the day being whether to wait it out for the guaranteed atmosphere once inside, or to chance a quieter spot in the hope that there would be an atmosphere.

Our small group was looking to soak up everything World Cup final day in Cork had to offer, but the long queues in the scorching 28-degree temperatures, sweating profusely while the thigh chafing worsened, didn’t seem the most appealing at the time.

Ultimately, we decided to walk up Oliver Plunkett Street and found ourselves a seat in front of a big screen, but what we had gained with a good view and comfortable seats, we lacked in atmosphere, and at half-time, we chanced our arm on Deep South again and walked straight in. Second time lucky.

There’s something about watching a game outside on a smashing summer’s day. That first sip of a cold cider hitting your lips, strangers becoming friends through a simple, “What was the ref’s reasoning there?” It can’t be beaten.

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And the ref was a hot topic – not only because he was a tall, tanned Slovenian, but because he was being recognised as the game went on as the only ref throughout the tournament to referee Argentina’s faults. We ALL saw it during the England-Argentina semi-final. We ALL know what I’m talking about.

On the flip side, there was a big question mark over what looked like a potential foul by Messi on Spain’s Mikel Merino six minutes into extra time, which divided the whole beer garden of nervous fans on both sides.

The match looked to be heading toward penalties as the air filled with an atmosphere of urgency and tension – which way could this go?

But Ferran Torres’ extra-time goal quietened (finally) the Argentinian fans and agitated the Argentinian players who assumed that the World Cup title would be theirs again this time around. But it wasn’t to be. Our Slovenian friend, Slavko Vincic, blew the final whistle, and just like that, the whole of Deep South erupted into celebration. Plastic cups full of warm beer went flying into the air, people were on shoulders, jerseys were being swung around in the air…. ¡Viva España!.

Now, admittedly, I’m not the biggest sports fan and didn’t play team sports growing up, which is a lot for someone from the Premier County to admit and a lot for the sporty side of the wider family to swallow. I came in first place in a table tennis tournament in primary school once, though. I think the friend I was playing against felt bad in the end and let me win. But a win is a win, and I’m still grateful to him.

So, I know good sportsmanship when I see it. A blow-in to Cork for the past nine years now, I bravely donned blue and yellow last summer to quietly cheer on Tipperary in the senior All-Ireland hurling final, surrounded by a sea of red and white. And even though Cork was hurt by what was the second half of that match, the table of women next to our group, after asking the one question nobody wants to have to answer at that moment in time: “Are you from Tipp?”, shared a collective and genuine: “Well done”, before having the chats about “that being the way sport goes”.

Watching the Spanish in Cork celebrate their home country’s win brought me back to last year’s Tipperary homecoming at Semple Stadium. Fans, standing together in celebration, not only of a sport being played how it should be played, but of their birthplace, their community, their people.

Spain's Rodri lifts the FIFA World Cup Trophy following the FIFA World Cup 2026 final against Argentina at the New York-New Jersey Stadium. 

And this is where I lean into the lack of sportsmanship shown by Argentina, not just during and after Sunday’s final, but throughout the whole tournament.

I feel as though by writing what you are about to read, I am putting myself forward to be ‘cancelled’, because not everyone is going to like what I’m about to say.

But last Wednesday evening, I found myself, a Tipperary-born, Cork-bound woman, hoping for an England win over Argentina.

Now that I have written it down, I can never take it back. So let me at least explain myself.

We are all very much aware, or at least those of us with our eyes open wide enough to see how the world really works, that the FIFA World Cup has unfortunately become about more than just football and has turned into somewhat of a diplomatic theatre.

Now, that’s not to say that politics doesn’t play a role in every part of everyday life, because it does. That’s why, when one particular regime forces genocide on a country, and people of influence who should be using their platform for good use the classic “I don’t get involved in politics” as their excuse for not, it bothers me.

Because *Mary*, you run a travel account, you’re actively ‘involved’ in politics by choosing the destination of your next trip that you will post about profusely.

But when it comes to the love of the sport, the want to be part of something greater than ourselves, the feeling of community and sharing of cultures, politics should be left at the stadium entrance.

And this is where I circle back to why I found myself – perched on a high stool in Forde’s Bar, where Tayto sandwiches and beers were the orders of choice – hoping to see the ball reach the English goal line.

Because the English team played better football and, to be fair to them, the English fans have shown a genuine passion for the game during the tournament, without causing havoc.

Opposing Argentinian fans, on the other hand, have let themselves down on this occasion, to say the least. Videos that circulated after their quarter-final clash against Egypt told me everything I needed to know about many Argentinian football fans (I’m very much aware that you can’t paint them all with the same brush). What unfolded following their victory against England in the semi-final clash was no better, with fans seen spitting and stomping on the English flag at Times Square in New York.

And as for the final? It was the players on the pitch who really let the side down. Because what we missed from the pitch after the final whistle while watching live on TV didn’t show the full picture. Social media later filled us in.

Fans gathered at Deep South in Cork, a popular spot for sports fans, to watch the World Cup final. Picture: Breda Graham.

Instead of accepting defeat with dignity, the pitch descended into chaos as Argentinian players became aggressive toward Spanish players while they celebrated.

Their behaviour told us everything we already knew about them. Egos were hurt, and their response was to react.

In many ways, they proved why it felt like most of the world was cheering for Spain on Sunday. Because in a world where it feels increasingly difficult to use our individual voices for the collective good and where money equals power, Spain’s win was a symbol of hope. A country that has been unequivocal and unapologetic in its support for Palestinian freedom.

And in the midst of it all kicking off on the pitch behind him, 19-year-old Lamine Yamal took time alone to kneel and give thanks to God. A poignant picture depicting two realities – a moment of peace in the middle of a storm.

And while last Wednesday’s semi-final may have seemed like choosing between the ‘lesser of two evils’ to win, to me, while I do understand that we Irish will shout for the team taking on England, no matter who that team is, it seemed nonsensical to shout for Argentina in the semis to then jump for joy at their downfall on Sunday.

As all of the final whistle aftermath was taking place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, oblivious Spanish fans cheered as they left Deep South and celebrated their victory by making their way up to the Grand Parade’s Berwick Fountain, chanting, dancing and cooling down in the fountain. Scenes that social media users later said looked straight out of the mid-2000s.

So there you have it. The World Cup final through the eyes of someone who, admittedly, doesn’t know a whole lot about football, but enough about morals, sportsmanship and real passion, to know a deserving winning team when I see one.