NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Refuses to Pick Spain or Argentina Ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup Final

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has revealed that he will remain neutral ahead of Sunday’s highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, saying he doesn’t want to jinx either side.

Speaking to reporters at City Hall, Mamdani joked that every team he has backed during the tournament has ended up losing, making him reluctant to publicly support either of the finalists.

“Honestly, everyone I supported has lost, so I feel like whoever I mention will end up losing,” he said with a smile.

Despite refusing to choose a favourite, the mayor described the tournament as remarkable and shared his excitement over one of football’s most talked-about storylines — the meeting between Spanish teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and Argentina captain Lionel Messi.

Mamdani recalled the widely circulated photograph showing a young Messi bathing baby Yamal during a charity photoshoot years ago. He admitted that when he first saw the image online, he thought it had been created using artificial intelligence.

“I initially thought the image of Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal was AI-generated,” he said. “There exists a photo of Lionel Messi and baby Lamine Yamal in a bathtub, and now these two are set to compete this Sunday in New York City in New Jersey, which is quite extraordinary.”

Rather than backing a winner, the mayor said he is simply hoping for an entertaining contest, adding that he was giving what he described as “the typical politician’s response.”

“I’m eager for a great match,” Mamdani added.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup began on June 11 at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City and has featured 104 matches across host venues in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Sunday’s final at the New York New Jersey Stadium will bring the tournament to a close.

The clash will see reigning South American champions Argentina take on European champions Spain in what many fans consider a dream final. The encounter also comes after the two football giants were initially expected to meet in the Finalissima earlier this year before the fixture failed to materialise.