Argentina fans in New York share hopes ahead of 2026 World Cup final
Members of the Argentinian diaspora in Queens and a growing number of Bangladeshi New Yorkers in Brooklyn are eagerly preparing for Sunday's World Cup final between Argentina and Spain.
In the Queens neighborhood of Elmhurst, once known as "Little Argentina," only a handful of Argentinian restaurants and bakeries remain, but during the World Cup the block comes alive with sky blue and white. Local resident Christian Gimenez, owner of Rio de la Plata Bakery and a lead decorator, said that as a child everywhere was Argentinian and he tries to keep that spirit alive. His bakery features a permanent mural of Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona.
Seventy-four-year-old Beatriz Jaime, who grew up in Queens but now lives on Long Island, recalled watching Argentina's 1978 win over the Netherlands at Madison Square Garden and returning to find the neighborhood "loaded with people" celebrating. She said roots are both here and in Argentina, and you never forget that.
Henry Pachaco, 45, also from Queens, called fandom a family affair. He stood in the national team jersey while his mother wore a blue shirt with the phrase "Hand of God." Pachaco described the block as "the centre" for Argentinian fans, providing a stadium atmosphere on game days with a closed street, music, outdoor TV, and street food without the high cost. He said Argentina reaching the final and possibly Messi's last match is a convergence of worlds.
Meanwhile, in Brooklyn's Kensington neighborhood, known as "Little Bangladesh," the rapidly growing Bangladeshi community has brought passionate support for Argentina. Shafiqul Alam, 66, who has lived there for 36 years, said the area has transformed and on match days large screens are set up in plazas, with people crowding into his shop to watch. Alam stated: "Bangladeshi people love Argentina, and Argentina loves Bangladesh."
Sajid Bhuyan, 31, a local resident, estimated that at least 90 percent of the local Bangladeshi community backs Argentina. He recalled the semifinal comeback against England: "I almost died when Argentina scored the two goals in just minutes. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't talk, I had to take five or six minutes to calm down."
Addressing racist incidents that have marred the image of Argentina's fans, Gimenez stressed that regardless of race or ethnicity, if you support the team, you are loved.
