Hyderabad stays awake as Spain’s FIFA World Cup triumph against Argentina sparks midnight celebrations
Football fever gripped Hyderabad well past midnight as hundreds of fans gathered at People’s Plaza in Necklace Road despite intermittent rain, to watch Spain defeat
Football fever gripped Hyderabad well past midnight as hundreds of fans gathered at People’s Plaza in Necklace Road despite intermittent rain, to watch Spain defeat Argentina in the FIFA World Cup final on a giant screen in the early hours of Monday (July 20, 2026). The open-air screening turned into a carnival of football, with cheers, fireworks and emotional celebrations keeping the fans in the city awake until dawn nearly. People began arriving at the venue on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, with the crowd steadily swelling as kick-off approached. Organisers had set up a large LED screen at the plaza, while a heavy police presence was deployed to manage the gathering and ensure smooth movement of traffic. By the time the match began at 12.30 a.m., the ground was filled with supporters wearing football jerseys, waving flags and chanting for their favourite teams.
Even persistent drizzle failed to deter fans, many of whom came prepared with raincoats and umbrellas. Others improvised, covering their heads with plastic sheets, while several who had arrived on two-wheelers simply kept their helmets on to shield themselves from the rain. “We were planning to watch the match at our friend’s place, but then we saw on Instagram that there was a live screening at People’s Plaza, so we decided to come here,” said Mohd Abdul, an IT professional. The atmosphere remained electric throughout the contest. With neither side finding the breakthrough during regulation time, every attacking move was met with loud cheers and collective gasps from the crowd. As the match entered extra time, tension among supporters was palpable. The deadlock was finally broken at around 3.15 a.m. when Spain found the back of the net in extra time, triggering celebrations among Spanish supporters.
Fireworks illuminated the sky as fans erupted in joy, while Argentina supporters were left visibly disappointed. When the final whistle confirmed Spain’s victory shortly before 3.30 a.m., celebrations intensified. Hundreds of fans pulled out their mobile phones to capture the historic moment as another round of fireworks lit up the night sky. Many stayed back to watch the post-match trophy presentation, while others began making their way home. “We wanted Argentina to win, so the result hurts. But watching a World Cup final with hundreds of fans, despite the rain, was an unforgettable experience. If this is Lionel Messi’s last World Cup, I’m glad I witnessed it like this,” said Shashank Reddy, a college student. The simultaneous departure of hundreds of spectators led to brief traffic congestion around People’s Plaza and Necklace Road, though police personnel quickly cleared the bottlenecks and restored normal traffic flow.
The BriefWire