Spain wins World Cup; Gainesville fans gather for watch party finale

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - Spain claimed the World Cup title Sunday, capping a summer of watch parties hosted by TV20 and Telemundo Gainesville for local soccer fans.

The final watch party was held at Las Carretas, where fans gathered to watch the championship match. The event was emceed by Laura Iglesias and Elio Piedra.

Sunday’s event was the last of five watch parties organized by TV20 and Telemundo Gainesville throughout the World Cup. The events were designed to celebrate the sport and bring English- and Spanish-speaking communities together.

Attendee Cat Pagia and María García said the Spanish-language broadcast was a draw for them.

“It’s wonderful — when I was looking for somewhere to watch the game, I wanted it to be in Spanish because I think the Spanish commentators are better, so when I saw that Telemundo was having a watch party, I was really excited,” they said.

Fans who missed this year’s events will have another opportunity. TV20 and Telemundo Gainesville plan to host watch parties for the Women’s World Cup in 2028.

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