New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said that he will adopt a neutral position for the final match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Sunday.
Spain and Argentina are poised to compete at the New York New Jersey Stadium for the coveted trophy.
Mamdani addressed the media at City Hall when he was asked about his support for either team in the final.
He stated that he does not favor either team, as his support tends to lead to their defeat, and expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming match between Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi.
He said, “Honestly, everyone I supported has lost, so I feel like whoever I mention will end up losing, you know. What I can say is that this World Cup has been remarkable, and as someone who considers himself technologically savvy and capable of distinguishing between AI and real images, I initially thought the image of Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal was AI-generated.
“I don’t know if you’ve seen this image, but Lamine Yamal was selected from a group of children for a photo where he was bathed by Lionel Messi as a child.
“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. So I’m looking forward to it, and I will give the typical politician’s response; I’m eager for a great match,” he said.
The 2026 World Cup, which commenced on June 11 at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, is scheduled to conclude at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday. Out of 104 matches, 102 have already been played, leaving just two games to complete the tournament.
Mamdani’s New York will host the final, where South American champions Argentina will face off against European champions Spain in a quest for dominance. The two teams were originally slated to meet in the Finalissima earlier this year, but will now confront each other on the most prestigious platform of all.