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Houston’s now on the clock to get ready to help host the 2026 World Cup, but for a cadre of Argentina fans in the soccer-crazed Bayou City, there’s no hurry for the next four years to fly by.
Houston CBS affiliate KHOU reported that supporters of the South American team erupted in celebration when right-back Gonzalo Montiel nailed a penalty shot to clinch the coveted Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup trophy.
The kick capped what had been a thrilling battle between Argentina and France, the previous World Cup winner, in Qatar.
According to KHOU, repetitive “Argentina!” chants rang all over Discovery Green near the George R. Brown Convention Center (GRB) in Downtown Houston.
The third World Cup triumph for Argentina, Sunday’s victory was made all the more special by how superstar Lionel Messi finally won the one accolade that eluded him during a lengthy, storied career.
“We are going to be the ones telling our kids who Messi was,” an unidentified fan told the station.
KHOU reported some fans waited what could amount to a lifetime for the championship, the first in nearly 40 years.
Before Sunday, Argentina last won the World Cup in Mexico in 1986 and the 1978 tournament within its own borders.
"I feel like we deserve this after waiting 36 years," one supporter divulged to KHOU.
A penalty shot from Messi and a 36-footer from Ángel Di María in the game’s first half built a 2-0 lead for Argentina.
After halftime; however, France dug itself out of the hole thanks to a hat trick from forward Kylian Mbappé to knot things up at three in full time.
In penalties, Messi, Paulo Dybala, Leandro Paredes and Montiel chipped in shots past French goalie Hugo Lloris, ESPN reported.
The Qatar tournament was the last under the 32-team format.
Houston was selected to participate in the first tri-national and the first 40-team World Cup last June, Houston Daily reported.