Spain's 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final gave Beverly Hills residents who packed the Roxbury Global Soccer Lounge one last reason to cheer on Sunday, July 19, capping a five-week city-hosted watch party series at Roxbury Park Community Center.
Substitute Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute, firing home on the rebound after Argentina's Enzo Fernandez had been sent off with a second yellow card in stoppage time at the end of regulation. Spain did not allow a single shot on target in the final while generating 20 shots of their own, according to Fox Sports.
The City of Beverly Hills announced the free, open-to-the-public event at 471 S. Roxbury Dr. on its official X account Sunday morning, inviting the community to the Roxbury Global Soccer Lounge for the final match.
The watch party was the finale of Beverly Hills' "Summer of Soccer" programming, which the City Council's LA28 and FIFA Ad Hoc Committee formally approved at a Thursday, May 7 special meeting. Council liaisons backed streaming World Cup matches in the Magnolia Room during business hours throughout the tournament, which ran from Thursday, June 11 through Sunday, July 19.
The city also installed two World Cup selfie stations for the duration of the tournament: one at Beverly Gardens Park near the iconic Beverly Hills sign, and another outside the Roxbury Global Soccer Lounge. Both were active from June 11 through July 19, according to the city.
Spain's dominant run
Spain captain Rodri earned the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player, while goalkeeper Unai Simón took home the Golden Glove. Coach Luis de la Fuente became the oldest World Cup-winning coach, according to Reuters. On the other side, Argentina's 39-year-old captain Lionel Messi became only the second player to appear in three World Cup finals and the oldest outfield player to feature in one.
Spain conceded just one goal across the entire tournament en route to its second World Cup title.
From World Cup to Olympics
The watch party series previewed the kind of community programming Beverly Hills is considering for the 2028 Olympics. The city's LA28 Olympics Liaison Committee, led by Councilmembers Friedman and Nazarian, held its first dedicated planning meeting on Monday, June 29. A staff report from that session noted the city is planning for a surge of visitors during the Games, which open Friday, July 14, 2028.
The committee is exploring public watch party locations and community events as potential Olympic programming. The city's FY 2026-27 strategic priorities also include preparing for the Olympics on security, transportation, and programming, and determining whether the Olympic marathon route can pass through Beverly Hills, according to council planning documents.
