The ball started rolling in the United States, but the epicenter of the excitement has moved to the center of Madrid under a generational motto: “We want to witness history”. The City Council, taking advantage of this World Cup event, has installed giant screens throughout the capital, although the largest is at the Movistar Arena. The public response has been an undeniable human tide. The 15,000 seats available to attend this venue sold out in a matter of minutes, transforming the pavilion into a true mix of red shirts that have pushed strongly from the first minute of the pre-match.
A noisy group of 11 friends, led by Alejandro and Hugo, well represented the youthful sentiment by claiming their prominence in the front row of the pitch, since at 18 years old they barely have conscious memories of the last star of the national team. The match has been felt in every corner of the Movistar Arena, uniting that youth with couples like Alberto and Yaiza, who came with their three-year-old daughter seeking to create an unforgettable moment for the little one, or other veterans of 60 years, like Jesús and Pilar, who decided to move their living room to this venue as their apartment was too small to host the whole family.
The transatlantic clash against Argentina has also left room for the multiculturalism of the capital in an atmosphere experienced with absolute sportsmanship. Amid the red tide, fans like Juanma, a Cuban settled in Madrid for three years, humanize the clash by confessing that his heart is divided due to his family ties with the Albiceleste, although he did not want to miss a party that he has defined as a “beautiful rivalry.” All of them held their breath, syncing their heartbeats with the thousands of kilometers that separate them from the American turf.
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The tension has increased as the minutes pass and the Madrid throats give no respite for a single second. Fans like Marina and Alejandra, who during the previous World Cup success had to settle for experiencing it on hospital duty, lead the chants of a stand that shouts, suffers, and celebrates every play as if their life depended on it. But above all, they boo when the broadcast focuses on the Argentine players or the US president, Donald Trump.
Outside the facilities, the madness has also infected hundreds of faithful without tickets like Pedro, who have packed the nearby bars to show that Madrid, tonight, has become the tireless lung of the National Team.
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