Men’s World Cup final draws thousands to Helsinki fan zone

Thousands of spectators are expected to gather in central Helsinki on Sunday evening to watch the men’s FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain.

The free fan zone, built next to the Helsinki Music Centre, offers live broadcasts on large screens and can accommodate up to 5,000 people at a time. Since its opening five weeks ago, the official FIFA fan area has drawn more than 400,000 visitors, according to organizers.

“Days with multiple matches have been particularly popular,” said Nicolas Prieto, communications officer for the fan zone, in an interview with Yle.

Spanish fans at the venue described the atmosphere as cheerful and lively, with long queues forming on the busiest evenings. Sandra Navarro and Emina Mykkänen, both supporting Spain, said they planned to celebrate into the early hours if their team wins. Navarro highlighted forward Lamine Yamal as her favorite player, while Mykkänen praised Spain’s music and dance culture.

Argentinian supporters also filled the fan zone, displaying images of Lionel Messi on clothing and signs. Ali Layth, who identified himself as a Messi fan, predicted a 2–1 victory for Argentina and called the match difficult but crucial for seeing his favorite player on the field.